Review: Deschutes Brewery Rip City Lager and Royal Fresh Imperial IPA
Two new beers from our friends in Bend, Oregon at Deschutes Brewery. Let’s go for it. Deschutes Brewery Rip City Lager – A light lager created in combination with, of all brands, the Portland Trail Blazers. Lemon is the dominant element here, paired with straightforward notes of fresh cereal and bitter hops. There’s really not…
Review: Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum – Belize 2005 and Barbados 2009 Port Cask
Two new rum offerings from the independent bottlers at Holmes Cay, including a second go-round with Barbados, Holmes Cay’s first release that undergoes a secondary casking (this one’s finished in Port). Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum Belize 2005 – Produced at Travellers Liquors Distillery in Belize, this 15 year old rum is column distilled and…
Review: 2016 J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles
Jerry Lohr proudly proclaims this Paso Robles bottling as his “statement” cabernet sauvignon. It’s 80% cab, blended with small amounts of Saint-Macaire (a rare French import), cabernet franc, petit verdot, and malbec. The wine is supple and opulent, a sultry investigation into the varietal that any cab lover will thrill to. Intensely dark currant notes…
Review: Van Winkle Wolverine 1000 Mile Work Boots
A few weeks ago, we published a short dispatch regarding an auction happening in partnership between Wolverine Boots, Old Rip Van Winkle and TV Presenter/Workforce Advocate Mike Rowe. Wolverine created a limited edition of boots partially furnished from Van Winkle barrels, with all proceeds going to benefit Rowe’s foundation mikeroweWORKS, which provides scholarships and financial…
Review: Cardhu 11 Years Old Limited Edition 2020
Normally Diageo’s Special Releases — its annual release of ultra-rare cask strength Scotch whiskies — don’t arrive until Christmas or beyond. But now we’re in the time of Covid, so anything goes, I suppose. To be sure, we’re not looking this gift horse in the mouth — and neither should American Scotch fans, who are…
Review: 2017 Angove Shiraz Warboys Vineyard
This is a rare, single vineyard shiraz from Angove Family Winemakers, located in Australia’s McLaren Vale. The wine spends 10 months in French oak puncheons. The wine is a bit sweet at first blush, but some air helps the macerated currant and raspberry notes to find a more even footing, where notes of licorice, dark…
Review: Paul John Nirvana
Paul John, made in Goa, India, has launched a new single malt called Nirvana. It’s made from six-row barley grown in India and matured in ex-bourbon casks. Aside from the origins of the grain (and the spirit itself), the unique element here is the six-row barley, as the lower-protein/higher-starch two-row barley is more commonly used…
Review: Inchmoan 12 Year and 25 Years Old Single Malt (2017)
Western Highlands’ Loch Lomond has quite a few brands under its care. Aside from eponymous releases, the distillery serves as home Inchmurrin, Inchfad, Glen Douglas, Craiglodge, and Croftengea, amongst others. Over a dozen stills crafted in four different styles afford Loch Lomond the ability to be pretty versatile. Today’s consideration, Inchmoan, can be a bit…
