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.…
Review: Centenario Rum 18 Years Old Reserva de la Familia
When we reviewed the core lineup from Centenario Rum back in 2018, we mentioned that this Costa Rican-based distillery produces a massive number of expressions, from 7 to a whopping 30 years old. Well, sure enough, there was an 18 year old expression that we missed at the time. Centenario Rum Reserva de la Familia…
Review: 2018 Chev Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Chev is a new project from Kosta Browne co-founder Michael Browne, one of pinot noir’s most notable names. This winery is located in the Russian River Valley. Some backstory: Michael, the consummate craftsman, has realized a dream of creating a regional wine brand, that draws inspiration from an industrial age when artisans spent countless hours of…
Review: Bardstown Bourbon Fusion Series #3 and Discovery Series #3
Bardstown Bourbon Co. impressed us back in 2019 with the inaugural releases of its Fusion and Discovery Series whiskeys. As a reminder, the Fusion Series showcases blends of BBCo’s house-made whiskey and an older sourced spirit, while the Discovery Series is merely a blend of entirely sourced whiskeys. We somehow missed the sequel to both…
Review: Semi-Sweet Wines of Bordeaux, 2020 Releases
When one thinks of sweet wines from Bordeaux, a single region/style comes to mind: Sauternes, which are some of the most iconic and collectible wines produced anywhere. But it turns out that sweet wines — or semi-sweet wines, at least — are made throughout the region, with 8 different appellations of sweet white wines produced…
Review: Old Carter Rye Batch 5
We’ve already checked out a single barrel and small batch bourbon expression from Old Carter, so now it’s time to check out their straight rye whiskey. There haven’t been any single barrel rye expressions yet from the Carters, but as of this writing, they’ve released six different batches of straight rye since starting the brand…
