Book Review: Behind Bars: High Class Cocktails Inspired by Low-Life Gangsters
Within the cocktail world over the last decade there has been an aggressive and endless nod to Prohibition/pre-Prohibition aesthetics for inspiration. This trend does not appear to be making an exit any time in the foreseeable future, which is unfortunate: there is no stone left unturned, no magical cocktail recipe or elixir which hasn’t seen…
Review: Cardhu 12 Years Old (2020) and Game of Thrones Cardhu House Targaryen Gold Reserve
When measured against its reputable Diageo siblings, Cardhu would not be the first choice of many a seasoned single malt aficionado. A quick glance at reliable sources shows independent offerings are rare on the market, and with the exception of the occasional special release in a limited-edition collection, there are seldom expansions beyond two or…
Review: Jeppson’s Malort Curling Edition
Malört is spiced liquor flavored with wormwood, and is Swedish in origin. Sometime during the 1930’s, innovator/sadist Carl Jeppson thrusted his variation of Malört, a word that translates literally as “moth herb,” upon an unsuspecting Chicago public for reasons beyond comprehension. This innovation was quite helpful to residents of this working-class Midwest metropolis. Were it…
Review: Barrell Bourbon Batch 24
For their latest bourbon batch, Batch 24, the folks at Barrell seem to have stuck to the same general script as Batch 21 and Batch 23. This one is comprised of bourbons sourced from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana, with some as old as 15 years. The youngest barrels in the batch, however, skew slightly younger…
Review: Signatory Glenlossie 2008 9 Years Old from Binny’s
While unhealthy for the pocketbook and the credit card balance, a multi-state road trip to Binny’s in Illinois always seems to satisfy the spirit, soul and basement bar. It is a most welcome pilgrimage to escape the day-to-day decline in which we seem to find ourselves. With a full shopping basket and a full heart,…
Review: Templeton Rye Barrel Strength 2020
For three years running now, the folks at Iowa’s Templeton have released a barrel-proof expression of their well-known rye, a sourced whiskey from MGP made with its trademark 95% rye and 5% malted barley mash. This is our first encounter with the release, though you can probably find 2018 and 2019 expressions lingering here and…
Review: Busch Light Apple
It is really hard to know what to make of this, why this happened or for what audience it is intended. A few guesses: an apple-flavored beer, a beer-flavored cider, Johnny Appleseed, The Village Green Anti-Cider Society, Matt “Them Apples” Damon, patrons of Applebee’s happy hour or fans of the FX show What We Do…
Review: Tomintoul 25 Years Old
Fair or not, Tomintoul has acquired a reputation of being safe and pleasant, but nothing that quickens the pulse at the sight of a fresh bottle. I would imagine it to be the kind of malt my father would consume nightly, were I able to claw the can Labatt Blue Light permanently affixed to his…
