Review: Eastern Standard Provisions Pretzels

Oktoberfest may not be the raucous affair we’ve come to expect this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring the experience to your home with some good oompah music, German beer, and a solid pair of lederhosen. What’s missing in this equation? Why, pretzels, of course — and sorry, but Snyder’s just isn’t going…

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Review: Jose Cuervo Tradicional Tequila Anejo

While most drinkers know to keep Jose Cuervo’s mixto tequilas at bay, the Jose Cuervo Tradicional line — the brand’s most budget-priced 100% agave tequila — isn’t bad as a mixer. For years this line has included only a silver and a reposado version. Only now has the lineup finally been rounded out with an…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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