Review: Wines of Franciscan Estate, Summer 2024 Releases
Franciscan was founded in 1972 by Justin Meyers and Raymond Duncan, and was christened as such in tribute to the Franciscan Friars who brought viticulture to California. Since then, the brand has built a venerable reputation for consistency and quality without escalating costs. The label also produces a critically acclaimed Meritage Bordeaux-style red blend, but…
Review: Westward Single Malts – Vienna Malt and Vintner’s Cuvee High Proof
Portland, Oregon’s Westward Whiskey has dropped its first two two club releases for 2024, single malt special editions that are, as always, available direct from the distillery to members of its Whiskey Club subscription program (though you might also check at the distillery should you drop in for a visit). We got bottles of both…
Review: Pinhook Kentucky Bourbon Cask Strength 5 Years Old 2024
Pinhook is a non-distilling producer of ryes and bourbons and has been on a steady clip of releases since 2014, albeit somewhat an uneven and quizzical one. After a run of limited releases, Pinhook only then began building a stable of core expressions. (Spoiler alert: Horse racing analogies abound, both in their marketing and from…
Review: The Busker Small Batch Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
When we first reviewed The Busker Irish Whiskey line in 2021 we found their Single Pot Still variety our favorite of their four offerings. Three years later, we’re excited to try Busker’s newest release, which is a Small Batch version of that Single Pot Still. The whiskey does not have an age statement, but it…
Book Review: How to Taste
Sometimes we eat and drink. Sometimes we taste. Many of us like to read the thoughts of those who taste and relay their experiences. Prior to purchasing a new spirit, it’s common to read the impressions given to us by others. Perhaps you run to Google to find a written review? Perhaps watching video reviews…
How Should You Store Non-Alcoholic Wines?
With the NA movement in full swing — and non-alcoholic wines getting better every day — it’s natural to ask the question: How should you store them? How long will they last? And how do you deal with open bottles? There’s lots of information on traditional (with alcohol) wine storage, but nothing I’ve ever seen…
Review: Pentire Coastal Spritz Non-Alcoholic Aperitif
Pentire is a UK-based brand of non-alcoholic spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails, and we open our coverage of the brand with this NA amaro, a hearty concoction made from “naturally distilled coastal botanicals carefully blended with Blood Orange, Sea Rosemary and Oakwood.” The idea, as the name of the product suggests, is to evoke the sea……
Review: Glengoyne 30 Years Old and Teapot Dram Batch 009
I had the chance to visit Glengoyne for the first time this spring. This smaller scale single malt distillery is famously the “slowest” in Scotland, reportedly producing spirit at a third the normal rate of most Scotch distilleries which allows for exceptionally long copper contact in the stills. The distillery campus also straddles the Highland/Lowland…
