Review: Red Spot Irish Whiskey 15 Years Old
The famed “Spot” Irish whiskeys have been slowly resurfacing on American shelves over the last decade, starting with Green Spot in 2014, Yellow Spot in 2015, and then a handful of Green Spot special releases (see here and here). In 2018, the much-anticipated Red Spot finally graced our shores. At 15 years old, it’s the…
Review: Pierde Almas Mezcal Espadin Joven
Oaxaca-based Pierde Almas produces at least 8 different mezcal expressions, including this unaged joven bottling made from 100% espadin agave, naturally fermented in small wooden vats and double distilled in copper pots. No flavorings or additives. Boldly smoky on the nose, this is a very intense mezcal that pours on the campfire character. Notes of…
Review: The Clover Single Barrel Bourbon and Rye
Last summer, we introduced you to The Clover, a line of sourced single barrel whiskeys named for famed golfer Bobby Jones and the good luck charm he wore in every tournament. We were impressed with the 10-year-old Tennessee offering, but the lineup also includes a sourced bourbon and rye expression (presumably from MGP). Read on…
Review: NV Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Nature
Champagne Billecart-Salmon’s Brut Nature expression wasn’t quite released when we had our recent tasting with Mathieu Roland-Billecart, so we’re excited to get a look at it on its own. It’s the newest expression in the Billecart-Salmon family, a blend of 40% Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay “sourced from the best Crus in Champagne.”…
The Top 10 Gins of 2020
Spring is just around the corner, and that means it will soon be time to break out the limes and crack open the tonic for a classic G&T or two. Or, should you live somewhere where the groundhog has not smiled on you, perhaps it’s still martini season. Either way, you’ll want a solid gin…
Review: 2019 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Dairyman Russian River Valley
I suppose one could describe this as a pinot noir for the cabernet lover, if one was being charitable. Intensely fruity, actually quite jammy, the 2019 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Dairyman is inky purple in color — completely opaque. The palate is also completely opaque: An exploration of black fruit and licorice, with a backbone…
Recipe: A La Louisiane
Like a lot of major social events of the past year, Mardi Gras has come and gone with fewer people and less fanfare. We’ll get back to our annual street partying ways again soon, but in the meantime, if you’d like to bring a little bit of New Orleans into your cocktail rotation this winter,…
Review: Snowaters Organic Vodka
Snowaters is a Polish vodka, made from single estate, organic Dankowskie platinum rye, that’s slowly making its way into the U.S. (Expect this to be hard to find for the time being.) Let’s give it a whirl. Old World in construction, this vodka has an innocuous but mildly medicinal nose, with gentle granary notes and…
