Review: 2018 Quilt Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
We last encountered this Copper Cane-designed Napa cabernet in its 2014 vintage, but this 2018 is a big departure from where we last left off. Here we find the arrival of a much more beefy, smoky body — an effect of 2018’s massive fire season, perhaps? — filtered through notes of blackcurrants and some rhubarb.…
Review: Basil Hayden’s Bourbon 10 Years Old (2020)
In 2018, Basil Hayden’s dropped its first 10 year old version of its classic bourbon. Since then the bottling has become an annual affair, dropping in the later months of each year. Recently we received a sample of the 2020 release of Basil Hayden’s Bourbon 10 Years Old, the third release of this whiskey from…
Review: 4 Drnxmyth Ready-to-Drink Cocktails, 2021 Releases
Drnxmyth — formally stylized in all caps — offers a ready-to-drink cocktail unlike any other on the market. For starters: These are real cocktails, featuring fresh juices, uncommon ingredients, and real booze, all stored in a unique bottle that keeps fresh juices in a separate chamber from the booze. When you’re ready to drink, you…
Review: Mijenta Tequila Blanco
Mijenta is a new highlands tequila (originated by a former Bacardi CEO) that bills itself as carbon neutral and having a “distinct flavor profile.” For now it is available only as a blanco. A reposado and additional expressions are coming down the line. Ana Maria Romero, who created Volcan de Mi Tierra, serves as Maestra…
Review: Wines of Primus, 2020 Releases
Here’s a look at a trio of new releases (all bottled in late 2020) from Chile-based Veramonte’s Primus label, which is almost always a solid way to get an above-average wine at an affordable price. 2017 Primus The Blend Apalta – A busy blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, carménère, petit verdot, and cabernet franc. The…
Review: George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey Single Barrel 15 Years Old
George Dickel is clearly sitting on sizable stocks of well-aged whiskey. The release of their Bottled in Bond in 2019 (first a 13 year and recently a more modest 11 year) and the ever-growing list of brands relying on older, sourced Tennessee whiskey have suggested as much, but now we have this, a new single…
Review: Castle & Key London Dry Gin (Autumn 2020 Recipe)
Alas, here’s another seasonal product that slipped through the cracks, but we’re finally getting to it. The good news is this limited edition gin from Castle & Key should still be available for purchase should our tasting notes move you to make a buy. Here’s the backstory: In 2019, Castle & Key launched the first…
Review: Kooper Family The Prodigal Son Bourbon
Dripping Springs, Texas-based Kooper Family has been slowly ramping up its product line since we first encountered them 5 years ago. Our latest find is this bourbon, a 4 year old sourced from Kentucky (though no mashbill info is available). Like most/all of Kooper’s releases, the whiskey was largely aged in central Texas and it…
