The Best Creme de Menthe Roundup – Green and White
As liqueurs go, creme de menthe doesn’t have the most sterling of reputations. Many drinkers are understandably put off by the pungent mint aroma and the technicolor green hue, which is invariably due to a whole lot of artificial color. Of course, creme de menthe comes in two varieties, and in fact, most higher-end creme…
Review: Wallenpaupack Oktoberfest Marzen
Hawley, Pennsylvania’s Wallenpaupack Brewing doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue, but if you’re looking for a beer to celebrate the final days of Oktoberfest, this festive marzen should do the trick. Authentically Germanic, made with Munich malt and noble hops, it’s got that ruddy, bready maltiness that cries out for a sausage, or at least…
Review: Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignons – 2016 Monte Rosso and 2017 Napa Valley
We’re back with Louis Martini and two new Cabernet Sauvignon releases, a mainline bottling from 2017 and an upper tier offering from the 2016 vintage. 2016 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard – This Sonoma-grown single vineyard wine (93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec) is one of Martini’s highest-end bottlings. The…
Hands on with Master the World Blind Wine Tasting Kit
Tasting wines blind — where you don’t know what you’re drinking — is an extremely helpful and informative way to learn about wine. And it’s not just a party trick for the professional sommelier crew. If you don’t know what you’re drinking when you taste it, you eliminate your preconceptions about what’s in the glass,…
Review: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon
Have we hit peak “toasted barrel”? Michter’s got the trend started (IMHO), then we had Woodford Double Oaked, Barrell Dovetail, Wilderness Trail, and more. (Don’t call me on the timeline, I’m throwin’ seeds here.) With Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon, the technique has pushed even further into the mainstream. The concept, for those unfamiliar, is…
Review: Two 2018 Grillo Wines – Zagra and Timeo
Grillo is a native grape varietal in Sicily that shows up increasingly on our shores. Known for its mineral notes and relatively low alcohol level, Grillo is better in warmer months (and served with lighter fare), but it has a depth of flavor that works in colder months as well. 2018 Valle dell’Acate Zagra Grillo…
Review: 4 Whiskeys from Pinhook, 2019-2020 Releases
I’m not going to lie: The flood of releases, both bourbons and ryes and all named after race horses, is daunting and confusing. There were at least 6 special editions in 2018, and 4 so far in 2020. Keeping track of what’s what isn’t easy. Today we look at 4 releases from Pinhook, two of…
Drinkhacker 2020 Wine Cheat Sheet / Vintage Chart
Every October, we update our “Vintage Chart Cheat Sheet,” a handy document designed to tell you, in general, whether a vintage of wine is particularly good or not. The sheet, as always, is designed to keep in your wallet. But you can always bookmark this page on your phone if you want to go paper-free.…
