Review: Alfred Giraud French Malt Whisky – Heritage and Harmonie
The Giraud family has long been associated with Cognac, but fifth generation Alfred Giraud’s tastes seem to run more to barley than grapes. Late last year saw the launch of the man’s eponymous French Malt Whisky, which are both made from French barley, malted in France, and double distilled in the open flame-heated Charente copper…
Review: 2018 Elouan Pinot Noir Oregon
Elouan is Joseph Wagner’s (of Copper Cane fame) outpost in Oregon, where pinot noir is the name of the game. This 2018 expression — reportedly drawn from a variety of vineyards up and down the coast of the state — fits the profile well enough, with notes of cherry and blackberry countered by a moderately…
Review: Rome de Bellegarde XO Cognac
In 2018 the defunct Cognac brand Rome de Bellegarde made headlines when a shot of its brandy, produced in 1858, sold for more than $14,000, making it the most expensive shot of Cognac ever sold. Shortly thereafter, sensing an opportunity perhaps, the brand was revived by the latest generation of the Bellegarde family, and its…
Review: Windsor 2017 Viognier and 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
A pair of wines from Windsor Vineyards, which is based in Sonoma County’s Santa Rosa, California. 2017 Windsor Viognier California – This immediately struck me as pretty off-target for viognier, with aromas running to coconut water, lemon peel, and melon — with none of the expected florals and peach/apricot notes evident. On the palate the…
Review: Suntory Ao World Whisky
It’s safe to say that a whisky like Suntory Ao is one of the most unique whiskies the market has ever seen. The idea, however, is simple: Gather up whiskies from the five most noteworthy whisky regions in the world — Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the U.S. — and blend them into a perfect…
Review: NV Avaline Sparkling Wine (2021)
Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power’s Avaline project began with a humble pair of white and rose wines, but now the brand’s success has led to new expressions, including a red wine and a sparkler, which we review here. This nonvintage bottling is actually a Spanish wine made from the same grapes as the white —…
Get to Know This Ridiculously Good Rum From a Proud Trinidadian Maven
SPONSORED CONTENT The brainchild of Proud Trinidadian Marc Farrell, Ten To One has recently been taking the Spirits Awards scene by storm, winning Best Rum of 2020 at both the LA Spirits and Asia International Spirits competition, and quickly gaining a reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the market. Ten To One’s…
Review: Mayor Pingree Rye and Bourbon 13 Years Old (2020)
We know Michigan-based Valentine Distilling best for its eponymous vodka, but the company also produces gin and a number of whiskeys, two of which we review here. What’s in these bottles of “Old Ping,” named after a beloved Detroit mayor who served in the 1890s? We’ll describe each in turn. Mayor Pingree Rye Whiskey (Orange…
