Review: 2020 Lucky Rock Sauvignon Blanc County Cuvee
Lucky Rock’s 2020 County Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc is a similar wine to last year’s, this one born from a single vineyard in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley. The wine was aged for 6.5 months in 92% stainless steel barrels and tanks, and 8% new French oak barrels. And for the first time ever, it’s also available in…
Review: Ramazzotti Aperitivo Rosato
Ramazzotti is best known for its delightful amaro, and recently the brand extended into a “rosato aperitivo,” which is made with “natural aromas of hibiscus and orange blossom.” Designed to be consumed Spritz style — with a 1:2 ratio of Rosato to Prosecco — plus basil leaves and ice, the Piedmont-distilled product isn’t exactly a…
Review: Radeberger Pilsner and Zwickel
Our final look at the beers of Radeberg, Germany-based Radeberger includes these two eponymous, classic pilsners, one filtered and one not. Radeberger Pilsner – A crisp and unassuming lager, malty and fresh with plenty of cereal notes dominating. It’s as straightforward as a pilsner can get, though notes of lightly undercooked dough on the back…
Review: Merry Edwards Pinot Noirs, 2019 Vintage
Merry Edwards hits the ground running this summer with a collection of five pinot noirs from the Russian River Valley, including four single vineyard offerings from the region. We tasted all five and found quite a surprising range of flavors to explore. Let’s dig in. 2019 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley – No…
Review: Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon
Elmer T. Lee was one of Buffalo Trace’s longest serving Master Distillers, and perhaps more importantly, he’s credited with launching Blanton’s, the very first commercially available single barrel bourbon. In 1986, not long after his retirement, Lee was honored with this bottle, an eponymous single barrel of his own. In recent years, Elmer T. Lee…
Review: 2018 Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Bianco
This Tuscan blend is composed of 50% Trebbiano Spoletino, 30% Grechetto, and 20% Chardonnay 20%. Immediately on the strange side, the wine kicks off with a blend of herbal notes and a strong melon character. Lightly vegetal for a moment, it takes some time to open up before the more fruit-forward elements of the wine…
Review: Thrasher’s Coconut Rum (2021)
Washington, DC-based Thrasher’s makes four different expressions at present, all from an equal blend of blackstrap molasses and raw turbinado sugar and distilled in a pot still. Today we look at the coconut rum, which is not directly flavored with syrups or other ingredients but rather infused with toasted coconut in a botanical basket, similar…
Review: Ardbeg Scorch
Ardbeg’s latest Committee Release is Scorch, a bottling made by aging the whiskey in ultra-charred “alligator” casks (all ex-bourbon barrels). No age statement, which is typical. Reviewed here is the cask strength Committee Edition of the release; the Standard Edition is bottled at the usual 92 proof. From the nose, the name seems fully apt.…
