Review: Glen Scotia Victoriana
Although overshadowed among Campbeltown whiskies by the more widely known Springbank distillery, Glen Scotia has been drawing greater attention in recent years with a solid line of distinctive whiskies. Their core lineup includes the Double Cask, a 15 year old, 18 year old, 25 year old, and the NAS Victoriana. The Glen Scotia Victoriana is…
Review: Waterford Distillery Single Farm Origin Single Malts: Rathclogh 1.1, Dunmore 1.1, and Dunbell 1.1
Ireland’s Waterford Distillery is the next act for former Scotch whisky pioneer Mark Reynier, who famously resurrected Bruichladdich in the early 2000s (and sold it in 2012). The distillery is located on the site of a former Guinness brewery in the city of Waterford, which sits not far from Ireland’s southeast coast. Since 2015, they’ve…
Review: 2018 Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir Estate
Domaine Carneros’s Estate Pinot Noir is always a winner, and this 2018 expression is no exception. Rich with notes of chocolate and dusky baking spice, this pinot offers a bold and slightly tannic punch to the palate, informed by a rolling earthiness and notes of licorice. The dark black cherry notes at the core are…
Review: Skeptic GinQuila Reposado
What’s ginquila? It’s gin finished in tequila barrels. Yes, that’s a crazy idea. Or is it? With GinQuila, Chicago’s Skeptic Distillery was inspired by a cocktail called the Cantarito, a Paloma style cocktail served in a clay pot. “Fusing this concept with the vibrant flavors of South America, we infused a gin base with fresh tropical…
Review: 2017 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Meredith Estate
Meredith Estate was an apple orchard until 1996. Now it’s the source for this opulent pinot from the incredibly skilled Merry Edwards, loaded with the kind of effusive flavor that’s endemic to Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. The flavor profile includes notes of currents, blackberry, chocolate, and spice, all whipped up with a rich palate of…
Review: Benriach Original 10, Original 12, Smoky 10, and Smoky 12
Four years after its acquisition by Brown-Forman, Speyside’s BenRiach has relaunched its entire core lineup — and dropped the capital R. It’s formally “Benriach Distillery” now. That’s hardly the most interesting thing about the relaunch, though. The new core of four single malts includes two 10 year olds and two 12 year olds — two…
Tasting the Wines of Castello di Fonterutoli, 2020 Releases
Castello di Fonterutoli is a venerable producer in Chianti Classico, with vineyard holdings throughout the small region. In 2017, the Mazzei family changed the way it was producing its wines, focusing more on microterroirs and single vineyards within the Chianti Classico area. In an effort to highlight the biodiversity of the region, it now markets…
Review: Frerot Extra Cognac
Frerot Extra is a 100% Grande Champagne Cognac made from eau-de-vies with an age ranging from 30 to 50 years old. That kind of age isn’t remotely common, so I approached this brandy with significant enthusiasm. Results? It’s perfectly agreeable, but to be honest, it’s vaguely disappointing. The nose is fragrant and floral, very light…
