Review: Elysian Contact Haze, Rolling Stone Lager, and Salute the Sun
Today we’re freshening up our coverage of Seattle’s Elysian Brewing, with a look at three beers — two permanent editions, one seasonal. Elysian Contact Haze – This is a very light take on the hazy IPA formula — both in fruit (a touch of mango and a squeeze of pineapple) and in body, which is…
Review: Rhum J.M 10 Years Old Vintage 2008
At the top of Rhum J.M’s Martinique-based lineup stands this infrequent bottling, a vintage-dated rum that spends 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels before bottling. This expression (still column-distilled rhum agricole from estate-grown sugarcane, with no sugar added) hails from the 2008 vintage; you’ll find various other vintages on the market (including 2001, 2003, and 2006).…
Review: Pricklee Superfruit Water
The latest plant to lay claim on the “superfruit” moniker is the cactus fruit, aka prickly pear. Pricklee is a line of non-alcoholic beverages which compete in a vague sense with coconut water. Non-carbonated and sugar free, they’re made with water and prickly pear puree, and are sweetened with agave nectar. “Crafted by pharmacists” as…
Review: Hirsch The Horizon Bourbon
The return of the Hirsch brand to liquor store shelves continues with The Horizon, another MGP-sourced that’s made from a blend of two mashbills, and while it doesn’t carry an official age statement, it’s effectively a 5 year old bottling. Here’s the minutiae: The Horizon combines two straight bourbons distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN, and is…
Review: Cragganmore 12 Years Old
We’ve had the privilege of reviewing numerous special releases from Cragganmore in recent years. The humble and unassuming Speyside distillery was one of the original six in Diageo’s Classic Malts series, and has yet to receive low marks from us: a testament to both quality and consistency. So it stands to reason the flagship expression…
Review: Islay Storm Peated Single Malt
Everyone enjoys a good bargain, and Trader Joe’s has a reputation in the United States for selling tasty things at reasonable prices. Islay Storm could possibly be an exclusive to Trader Joe’s in the United States, as I haven’t seen it available at any other retail outlet or chain shop of note. This line of…
Review: Square One Organic Canned Cocktails
Square One is now officially making a little bit of everything to satisfy the cocktail thirsty consumer. They remain best-known for a line of high quality straight and infused vodkas, and earlier this year, the company introduced several organic, low-sugar cocktail mixers. Now, they’re getting into the ready-to-drink game with a line of sparkling canned…
Pappy Van Winkle, Wolverine Boots and Mike Rowe Team Up For Charity
Mike Rowe is one of the good ones. His longstanding commitment to the American labor force and its skilled trades has been documented through countless TV shows, testimonials before Congress about the vital importance of competent, skilled labor, and numerous education initiatives via his foundation, mikeroweWORKS. The fine folks at Wolverine boots have partnered with…
