Review: Finlandia Vodka – Classic, Grapefruit, and Raspberry
Finlandia — which is legitimately made in Finland, distilled from Suomi barley — has been around forever, but the brand got a shakeup a few years ago, such that none of the Finlandia expressions we’ve previously reviewed are still available in the U.S. Today, the States have just three versions of the vodka to experience:…
Review: High West Barrel Finished Cocktails – Old Fashioned and Manhattan
I may be one of the few people who remembers High West’s first pair of barrel-aged, bottled cocktails, The Barreled Boulevardier and The 36th Vote, both of which have been off the market for years (and which were apparently only available at the distillery). Now High West is back with a pair of new and…
Review: Abelha Cachaca – Prata and Ouro
Abelha is a Brazilian cachaca that got its start in 2009, but which is only just now making its way into U.S. distribution. (It’s currently available in a handful of states in the northeast but has national availability online.) The organic, pot-distilled cachaca is available in two expressions, a standard silver and an ouro which…
Review: Westward Single Malts – Stout Cask and Pinot Noir Cask
It’s been far too many years since we’ve revisited the offerings of Westward American Single Malt Whiskey, formerly bottled under the House Spirits brand in Portland, Oregon. (Once things open up again, it’s a great place to visit and taste.) Westward’s stout-finished whiskey was in its infancy when we last visited in 2018, and now…
Review: ‘Merican Mule Fire Mule
In 2019, we reviewed ‘Merican Mule*’s flagship brand of pre-made cocktails in can, along with Tropical and Mexican style iterations. Now the gang has returned straight outta Long Beach with impeccable timing and a winter variation: the Fire Mule. This one’s a mix of bourbon (no word on the sourcing origins), ginger and cinnamon that…
Review: Bandero Tequila Blanco
Bandero’s agave is grown in the Guachimontones region of Jalisco, making it a Lowlands tequila. Available only as a blanco, Bandero lays claim to being “the world’s smoothest sipping tequila,” which is as bold a statement as it is meaningless. That aside, let’s give it a taste. Bandero calls its character heavy on florals, but…
Review: Ron Colon High Proof Rum and Coffee Flavored Rum
El Salvador isn’t widely known for its rum production — there is actually only one rum distillery in the country, last I heard — but Ron Colón Salvadoreño is looking to change that. To be fair, despite the name this rum is not entirely produced in El Salvador. Rather, it is a blend of Salvadoran…
Review: Peloton de la Muerte Mezcal – Criollo and Pechuga
Peloton de la Muerte (literally “death squad”) is a mezcal brand that’s offered a single Espadin-based expression for about three years. We haven’t reviewed it, but we recently received samples of Peloton’s two new line extensions, Criollo and a vegan Pechuga. Both mezcals are produced with wild agave grown in the Mexican state of Guerrero.…
