Review: Evan Williams Egg Nog
Don’t want to whip up eggnog from scratch? I don’t blame you: Going with something already bottled is so much simpler, less messy, and, arguably, safer to consume, since it’s been pasteurized. Evan Williams’ Original Southern Egg Nog involves a monster of a recipe, including real cream plus the addition of Kentucky straight bourbon, blended…
Review: Logía Pisco Puro Quebranta
For roughly a decade, there has been talk of a Pisco revival as this distinctive grape distillate made in Peru and Chile has slowly become more available in the U.S. Recently, Piscologica introduced a Pisco certificate course that focuses on Peruvian Pisco, to educate discriminating drinkers about this appellation of origin spirit. We have detailed…
Review: Juan Lobo Tequila Reposado
I don’t know who country singer Jon Wolfe is, but I’m impressed by his new tequila, Juan Lobo, at least the reposado expression of it, which we recently received for review. While the name of the tequila doesn’t exactly connote quality, it turns out that “Juan Lobo” is Wolfe’s alter-ego/nickname, so I suppose it will…
Review: 2017 Quintessa Rutherford Red Wine
Technically billed as Quintessa’s “Red Wine” on the label, this is a blend of 92% cabernet sauvignon, 4% merlot, 3% carmenere, and 1% petit verdot — so, basically, cabernet. And what a lush cabernet it is: big with currants and chocolates both milk and dark, rum raisin syrup, a light balsamic character, and loads of…
Review: Puni Italian Malt Whiskies
We’ve brought you coverage of whiskey from Sweden, Germany, even Finland. Now we’re getting our first taste of whiskey from another unusual location: Italy, which is hardly a country known for producing the spirit. Turns out Puni has been being produced here by the Ebensperger family in the Alpine town of Glorenza, Italy for 10…
The Top 10 Whiskeys of 2020
With 2020 finally about to kick itself to the curb, it’s time to look back on the year that was — at least in terms of whiskey. While 2020 will be reviled for just about everything else, it was actually a delightful year for brown spirits, and paring down our list of top whiskeys of…
Review: Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Very Fine Rare Bourbon
It’s 2020, and everything you know about the Woodford Reserve’s Master’s Collection has been upended. Woodford Master Distiller Chris Morris once described the series as an ongoing experiment looking at the “five sources of flavor” in whiskey: water, grain, fermentation, distillation, and maturation. With 2020 — 17 years after Morris took the reins at Woodford…
Review: 2018 Wente Cabernet Sauvignon Wetmore Vineyard
There’s an immediate kick of licorice candy in this upscale bottling of cabernet sauvignon from Wente’s Wetmore Vineyard in the Livermore Valley. Seductive and silky, its tannins are nicely integrated with notes of fresh raspberry and blueberry, with hints of vanilla and milk chocolate emerging later in the experience. Slightly sweet with a punch of…
