Review: Ban Poitin and Micil Poitin
Poitin (puh-cheen) is Ireland’s answer to moonshine, a pot-distilled spirit which can be made from a variety of base starches (much like vodka). A recent event rounded up three Irish poitin bottlings to help elucidate how different various expressions of this spirit can be. We aren’t re-reviewing the barley-based Mad March Hare here, so please…
Review: Plantation Rum – Peru 2004, Barbados 2005, and Fiji 2009
Believe it or not, living in the epicenter of the bourbon universe has its drawbacks. While we are — or were — usually first to market with numerous special and limited edition bourbon releases, there is a painful deficit of new and special rums and single malts to keep things interesting. So when a select…
Review: Summery Italian White Wines, Summer 2020 Releases
This collection of white wines from all over Italy may look like a bit of a hodgepodge, but they do have one thing in common: All are built for sipping ice cold, in hot weather. Here’s a quick look at this summery quintet. 2018 Tenuta di Fessina Erse Etna Bianco DOC – 90% carricante from…
Review: Hollywood Oasis Vodka
Technically Hollywood Distillery Oasis Unfiltered Vodka, but likely to become known more by the giant “Hollywood” on the bottle vs. the tiny “Oasis,” this new spirit is unique in that it is distilled not from wheat, potatoes, or even wine grapes but — drum roll — organic Medjool dates. Outfit with an ultra-premium price and…
Review: Crook & Marker Spiked Lemonade – Classic, Watermelon, Raspberry, and Blueberry
We already walked you through Crook & Marker’s spiked tea offerings earlier this summer, so now here’s a look at their line of hard lemonades. As with their boozy teas, this lineup from the health-conscious makers of Bai is about as wholesome and natural as alcohol in a can gets. Each is 4% abv, sugar…
Review: Bardstown Bourbon Chateau de Laubade
The upstart Bardstown Bourbon Company continues to make a name for itself by collaborating with any number of unusual — arguably obscure, even — brands, using a whole bunch of oddball barrels to finish its wares. The latest limited release is a collaboration with French brandy-maker Château de Laubade, taking 12 year old MGP bourbon…
Review: Chronic Cellars 2019 Rose and 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Chronic Cellars is a cheeky brand from Paso Robles best known for its fanciful product names. Here’s a look at two new releases from the outfit. 2019 Chronic Cellars Pink Pedals Rose – 100% grenache. Strawberry juice in a bottle, this ultra-fruity rose is dripping with berry notes, sweet cream, and an edge of vanilla. Sweet…
Review: Barrell Rye Batch 1 and 3
They may be referred to as Barrell Bourbon, but Joe Beatrice and crew blend more than just America’s native spirit (see here and here, for example). It took a few years, but finally in 2017, Barrell introduced a rye whiskey to their lineup. Unlike the bourbons, which have seen 2 or 3 different batch releases a year…
