Review: Ron Barcelo Imperial Onyx and Gran Anejo Dark Series Rum

We’ve covered the rums of Ron Barcelo in the past, but we’ve missed a couple of its darker-themed expressions, including Barcelo Imperial Onyx and Barcelo Gran Anejo Dark Series. What makes these rums so dark and onyxy? Heavily-charred bourbon casks are used to age both of these rums. Additional details can be found in the…

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Review: Pratt Standard Old Fashioned Syrup

We reviewed the whole lineup of Pratt Standard cocktail syrups earlier this year, and we were suitably impressed. Just in time for the holidays, the Washington, D.C.-based apothecary is out with their newest concoction, Old Fashioned Syrup. While Pratt Standard’s other offerings are exceptional additions to a slew of somewhat complicated cocktails, this newest is…

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Review: Talisker 8 Years Old Limited Edition 2020

At 8 years old this is the youngest whisky in the 2020 Diageo Special Releases (2019’s was a 15 year old Talisker), though it does offer one unique spin: It’s aged in refill casks then finished in pot-still Caribbean rum casks, a first for this distillery (and, I think, a first in the Special Releases…

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Review: 135 East Hyogo Dry Gin

Kaikyo Distillery has become best known in the U.S. as the producer of the two Hatozaki whiskies which are available on our shores. Now America is being introduced to a white spirit from Kaikyo, which was originally launched in the country in 2017. 135 East Hyogo Dry Gin is named for the longitude line which…

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Review: Nik Weis 2019 Urban Riesling and 2018 Wiltinger Kabinett

Nik Weis St. Urbans-Hof is a riesling winery in Germany’s Mosel region. Thanks to its gentle sweetness, hearty body, and low alcohol level, riesling is a great choice for white wine for cooler months. Today we take a look at two of Weis’s new bottlings, both available fore $20 or less. 2019 Nik Weis Mosel…

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Review: Schofferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen (2020)

We first encountered Schofferhofer Grapefruit back in 2015, and since that time it’s been reformulated. No longer made with cochineal color — it now uses beta-carotene to give it its orange-pink hue — and it’s now billed formally as a blend of 50% hefeweizen and 50% grapefruit soda, though that fact could have eluded me…

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Review: Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish 12 Years Old

Glenmorangie’s core lineup includes a 10 year-old whisky aged exclusively in ex-bourbon barrels along with several varieties that start as the 10 year-old and then spend additional time finishing in other barrels. There is The Lasanta finished in ex-sherry barrels, The Quinta Ruban finished in ex-port barrels, and The Nectar d’Or finished in ex-sauternes barrels.…

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Review: Troegs Mad Elf Ale and Beer Cheese

We like beer collaborations. Beer and cheese collaborations? Even better. Made Elf Beer Cheese is a wild mashup of Hershey, Pennsylvania-based Troegs and Caputo Brothers Creamery in nearby Spring Grove. This is the third cheese collab between the two brands. Here’s how this one works: Mad Elf Beer Cheese starts with 100% Pennsylvania cow’s milk. At…

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