Review: Belvedere Heritage 176 Spirit Drink
Following up on its single estate vodka releases, Belvedere is back with another limited edition, Heritage 176, a vodka blended with malted rye spirit (essentially a white whiskey). What’s the idea? “Heritage 176 delivers a unique taste experience by emphasizing the rye from which Belvedere is made. Using a centuries-old technique of malting, the rye…
Review: Lyon Coffee Rum, Rock & Rum, and Orange Curacao
When we reviewed the core lineup of Lyon Rums last month, we mentioned that the distillery also dabbles in liqueurs and other unique rum-based products. Well, we’ve got three of these side projects on tap today for review: Coffee Rum, Rock & Rum, and their house-made Orange Curacao. Thoughts follow. Lyon Coffee Rum – Lyon…
Review: Bright Cellars Wine Club
With an overabundance of subscription services of all sorts being delivered to mailboxes and front porches, standing out and earning a loyal customer base in a crowded market can prove challenging to even the most stout-hearted of operations. So it should come as no surprise that the wine world is saturated with services promising to…
Review: 2017 Austrian Reds – Esterhazy Blaufrankisch and Brundlmayer Pinot Noir
Among wine drinkers, Austria is normally associated with gruner veltliner, if it’s associated with anything. But a variety of red wines hail from this country as well, including a few varietals you might have heard of. Here’s a look at a pair of Austrian reds, both from the 2017 vintatge. 2017 Esterhazy Blaufrankisch Austria –…
Review: The Whistler Oloroso Sherry Cask, Imperial Stout Cask, and Calvados Cask
Boann Distillery’s Whistler Irish Whiskey brand is back with three new expressions, all built around particular wood finishes — some expected, some unusual. “The Imperial Stout and Calvados Cask Finishes are annual releases that will be produced in February of each year with limited availability. Currently 3,000 bottles for each of the Imperial Stout and…
Review: Shady Vodka – Recount 2020 Limited Edition
Ft. Lauderdale’s Shady Distillery makes its spirits using a “blend of old world and new world technique along with the best ingredients,” including a vodka distilled from corn and bottled with no additives or sweeteners. This special “Recount 2020” edition ups the proof from 80 to 81, and features a custom label designed to celebrate…
Review: Dry Land Whiskeys and Cactus Spirit
Longmont, Colorado is home to Dry Land Distillers, a true grain-to-glass craft operation “influenced and inspired by Colorado’s landscapes.” “With a focus on single grain 100% wheat whiskeys, prickly pear cactus spirits, native Colorado gin and pure cane sugar rum, Dry Land spirits represent the authentic flavors of the American West,” per the company. Today…
Review: 2017 Benovia Blanc de Blancs Russian River Valley
Just because it’s January doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate. Benovia’s 2017 sparkler is 100% chardonnay, a bright and lively wine that offers a substantial, fizz-focused base against which notes of honeydew melon, tangerine peel, almond, and some coconut all emerge at various points in time. The finish — again, heavy with carbonation, almost racily so…
