Review: Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask 46.89
A few months ago, a particular Glenlossie (courtesy of Signatory) made for an enjoyable summer evening experience. When the email announcement arrived that there was an opportunity to purchase another bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, it seemed quite appealing. Regrettably, I had let my membership lapse but was lucky enough to trade for…
Review: Wines of Diora, 2020 Releases
Diora is a winery located in San Bernabe Vineyard, in the tiny San Bernabe AVA in Monterey County. When first planted to grapes in the 1970s, the vineyard was optimized for large-scale commercial winemaking, with wide vine spacing to accommodate machine picking and pruning. Delicato Family Wines, owned by the Indelicato family, purchased the San…
Review: Balcones Lineage
Waco, Texas-based Balcones Distilling is expanding its line of single malts again with the launch of Lineage, “a marriage between Scotch and American whisky-making tradition.” The concept? Lineage is made from barley grown in Scotland and Texas, and it’s aged in both refill and virgin oak barrels, the former the traditional method for aging in…
Tasting Report: Sparkling Rose Wines, 2020 Releases
“There sure are a lot of girly drinks in the fridge,” my wife said as I prepared to tuck into this roundup of sparkling rose wine. And she’s right. Some of these sparkly bottles look like they belong on my daughter’s desk, not on the bar of the discriminating drinker. So it goes. Not every…
Review: M&H Classic Single Malt, Elements Sherry, and Levantine Gin
Earlier this year we brought you a first look at two whiskies from Tel Aviv-based M&H (Milk & Honey) Distillery, Israel’s first whisky distillery, both bottled under the “Whisky in Bloom” brand. Now the brand — which has actually been around since 2012 — is expanding its U.S. presence with three additional releases, M&H Classic…
Review: Clynelish Indies: Signatory 11 Years Old and Adelphi 17 Years Old
Clynelish gets plenty of love from here and today is no exception, as we consider a double dose from the distillery. These two expressions differing mildly from one another courtesy of two independent bottlers: one from Adelphi and one from Signatory. Signatory Clynelish 11 Years Old – Distilled in 2008, bottled in 2019, and aged…
Blending Whisky with Bruichladdich’s Adam Hannett
Along with Compass Box, Bruichladdich has been at the forefront of the Scotch transparency movement, a rejection of the intense secrecy rules that the Scottish government has long demanded around the production of whisky. For those not in the know, it’s actually illegal to share too much information about the components of a Scotch whisky.…
Book Review: The New Craft of the Cocktail: Everything You Need to Know to Think Like a Master Mixologist
Some recipe books end up dog-eared and well-worn beyond acceptable levels for even book lovers to keep on shelves. However, for those who call upon their wisdom with regularity, they become a badge of honor and reliable wisdom on which to lean. They are filled with Post-It notes of numerous colors peeking out from the…
