Review: The Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey
A new Irish whiskey, The Fighting 69th, landed on our shores late in 2019, but the inspiration for this bottle reaches way back in American history. After immigrating from Ireland to New York in the mid-1800s, the men that eventually formed the city’s “69th” had a long history of heroism. Robert E. Lee christened the…
Review: 2019 Domaine de Cala Coteaux Varois en Provence
We’ve given the backstory on Provence-based Domaine de Cala before, so won’t repeat ourselves. Today we dig in to the winery’s entry-level rose, a blend of grenache (48%), cinsault (35%), rolle (6%), syrah (5%), carignan (4%), and grenache blanc (2%). Again, this wine is so pale that it could pass for a white wine. Floral…
Review: White Wines of Alois Lageder, 2020 Releases
Italy’s Alto Adige is a mountainous region that borders Germany, and it’s here where the nation makes some of its most interesting and unusual white wines. Alois Lageder is a longtime icon of this region, where his family has been producing wine since 1823. Recently we had the chance to check out three new whites…
Review: Tequila Partida Single Barrel Reserve Reposado – Medio
Partida Tequila is getting into the single barrel action, launching three different limited-edition reposado bottlings, each designed to “explore the versatility” of the style. Per the company, “Ligero offers notes of fresh agave, maple syrup, toasted oak and caramel; Medio provides flavors of cooked agave, vanilla and butter; and Intenso, dried fruit, nuts and coffee.…
Review: 3 White and Rose Wines from Northern Spain, 2020 Releases
Rioja is iconically known for its red wines, but today we’re looking at three lighter styles from this region and its neighbor, Valdeorras. Grown in a hot climate, these exuberant wines are clearly built for summer sipping. Let’s dig in. 2019 CVNE Monopole – A 100% viura white wine from Rioja. Clean but rather perfumed,…
Review: Slapjack Jackfruit Flavored Vodka
Hey, I know I’ve eaten jackfruit before, but for the life of me I can’t remember what it tastes like. The monstrous green fruit, when cleaned and shredded, has a texture remarkably similar to pulled pork, and you’re most likely to encounter it as a base for vegan barbecue. Slathered in spices and sauce, the…
Review: Stagg Jr. Bourbon Batch #13 (2020)
When Stagg Jr. was first released in 2013, who knew it would become such a phenomenon? It’s a controversial one, perhaps, but a phenomenon nonetheless. In early 2020 Stagg Jr. — which is released twice each year — hit batch #13. After seven years, we figured it was time for a fresh look at this…
Review: Peroni Nastro Azzurro (2020)
Italian beermaker Peroni recently unveiled a gold-dipped bottle called Peroni D’Oros. That made us realize we’d never reviewed Peroni before — gold-dipped or otherwise — so why not do so now? Peroni Nastro Azzurro is the most commonly available expression of Peroni in the U.S., a Euro-style lager that any drinker of the green-glass-bottled icons…
