Review: Wines of Oleandri Vineyards, Spring 2024 Releases
A collection of wines crafted from elite California AVAs, Oleandri showcases the unique terroir of Napa Valley and coastal vineyards. Their focus lies in delivering award-winning Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet Francs, but they’re also producing limited-run Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from appellations like the Sonoma Coast and Santa Rita Hills. Somewhat surprisingly, this is our…
Review: Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey Calvados Cask Finish Aspen Exclusive
To celebrate the launch of the new Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge in Aspen, the Denver-based distillery is rolling out a series of exclusive and limited blends. The first is a six-cask blend of their core single malt, each aged at least eight years with two and four of those years in ex-Calvados casks. It’s a premium-priced…
Review: Method and Madness Garryana Oak Irish Whiskey
Several Irish distilleries have taken to experimenting with new approaches to making whiskey of late, but few more boldly than Method and Madness. Today we look at their newest expression, which is Single Pot Still Irish whiskey that was first aged in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in Garryana white oak casks from Oregon. Method…
Review: Little Book Blended Whiskey Chapter 8: “Path Not Taken” (2024)
The 8th year of Beam Little Book releases has arrived, and while last year we were invited to consider Little Book “In Retrospect,” now we journey onto the “Path Not Taken,” which is a reimagining of American rye whiskey designed to showcase, in essence, that rye is not as boring and same-same today as you…
Review: 2021 Waypoint Chardonnay Russian River Valley Ritchie Vineyard
Looking for a crowd-pleasing chardonnay for the summer? Check out Waypoint, from the Russian River Valley, which produces this wine from Wente clone grapes grown in an iconic single vineyard in the region and ages it for 18 months in 62% new French oak. In tasting, no big surprises here: This is a well-oaked, classically…
Review: Michter’s Single Barrel Straight Bourbon 10 Years Old 2024
After taking a hiatus in 2022, much to the dismay of many a bourbon lover and collector, Michter’s returned its 10-year-old single barrel bourbon last year in impressive style with one of the best releases to date. Can they outdo themselves for 2024? Let’s find out. As always, this is a single barrel expression of…
Review: Giffard Alcohol Free Liqueurs – Elderflower, Pineapple, Ginger, and Grapefruit
What is the difference between a non-alcoholic liqueur and a syrup? Giffard‘s new line of Alcohol Free liqueurs are distinguished by their use of the shrub technique to craft them: fruits and herbs are not laced with alcohol but rather macerated in wine vinegar as a replacement for booze — a production process that reportedly…
Review: A. Smith Bowman Abraham Bowman Oak Series: French Oak
Virginia’s A. Smith Bowman Distillery has been on fire of late with its limited editions. The annual Cask Strength releases, each impressive, have become instant unicorns, and the most recent Abraham Bowman, a rum-finished 15-year-old bourbon released in 2021, was similarly spot on. After a two year hiatus, Abraham Bowman has returned with the first…
