Review: 2017 Domaine Anderson Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Domaine Anderson is part of the Roederer family of wines, but here the focus is on still wines, all produced in the Anderson Valley. While the two wines below represent entry-level offerings, I was incredibly impressed with them and look forward to sampling their vineyard designates down the line. 2017 Domaine Anderson Chardonnay Anderson Valley…
Review: Tenth Ward Absinthe Nouvelle and Genever Style Gin
Tenth Ward Distilling can be found in downtown Frederick, Maryland, where it produces a dazzling array of craft spirits, ranging from honeyjack (distilled mead) to Maryland’s only absinthe. Today we look at a pair of releases from Tenth Ward, the aforementioned absinthe and a genever. Tenth Ward Absinthe Nouvelle – “Distilled [from a base of…
Review: Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey Edition Eight
This is our third go-round with Roaming Man, Sugarlands Distilling‘s attempt to move beyond sugary liqueurs and into the world of craft whiskey. Like all the other Roaming Mans (Roaming Men?), this edition was offered in minuscule amounts and sold out immediately upon release. Oddly, it’s got the same amount of age as Edition Six:…
Review: Old Carter Single Barrel Kentucky Bourbon 12 Years Old
After Kentucky Owl was sold to Stoli Group in 2017, Mark and Sherri Carter, one half of the team behind the cult brand, decided they wanted to stay in the whiskey business. Enter, Old Carter Whiskey Company: The Carters were hooked on the process of making and blending whiskies, as well as the state of…
Review: NV Scharffenberger Brut Rose Excellence
Scharffenberger is known for its high-end chocolate, but this Anderson Valley winery actually came first. Today it is primarily known for sparkling wines, a blanc and a rose. This nonvintage sparkler is a blend of 55% chardonnay and 45% pinot noir, all sourced from Mendocino. In 2020, the wine is drinking with a thick, biscuity…
Tasting Report: Wines of Temecula Valley, 2020 Releases
While you rarely see Temecula Valley-grown wines in stores, the region is hopping with tons of wineries, all hot destinations for southern California tasters, thanks to its convenient location about an hour northeast of San Diego. With travel shut down, visiting Temecula isn’t an option right now, so in lieu of bringing media to the…
Review: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A120 (January 2020)
By now you know the drill: This is Elijah Craig’s latest release in the erratically-scheduled Barrel Proof bourbon series. The A120 batch number means it’s the first release of the year (A), and it came out in January (1) of 2020 (20). Contrast with A119. As always, it’s a 12 year old expression bottled at…
Review: East Brother Gold IPA
One of the few beers in Richmond, California-based East Brother‘s stable that we haven’t reviewed, this Gold IPA is an American style IPA with an undisclosed hop bill. The quite dark gold-colored brew kicks off with an attack of nutty malt, slightly sweet with almond paste and honey notes rather than aggressively bitter as you…
