Review: Rock Rose Gin Original and Navy Strength
Dunnet Bay Distillers’ Rock Rose Gin is the latest entry into the increasingly crowded Scottish gin market — where more than 170 different gins are currently in production. The brand dates back to 2014, the result of 55 experiments to find the right botanical blend. The final recipe is an exotic mix that includes juniper, rose…
Review: Firestone Walker XXIII Anniversary Ale
Another year and another Anniversary Ale from Firestone Walker. The info sheet for this one (nicely tucked inside the packaging) reminds the drinker that it was Firestone’s tenth anniversary ale, X, that actually introduced the world to their first spirits barrel-aged beer. And boy have they come a long way since then with the Proprietor’s…
Review: Joseph Magnus Murray Hill Club Special Release #2 (2020)
We reviewed Murray Hill Club, one of three core whiskey expressions from Jos. A. Magnus Distillery, back in 2017. In 2018, the brand got an extension with a small Special Release line to showcase the exceptional blending and finishing abilities of Magnus’s Master Blender and long-time industry maven, Nancy Fraley. The first release, which we…
Review: Wines of Oda al Vino & Am, 2020 Releases
Oda al Vino and Am are Chilean wine brands owned by St. Stephen Organic Vineyards, which is co-located in Chile’s Colchagua Valley and San Jose, California. St. Stephen produces only organic wines and is so devoted to sustainability that it recently addressed the United Nations Climate Change Division on the matter. We tried the most…
Review: New Riff Single Barrel Rye
When we reviewed New Riff’s rye whiskey release last spring, we mentioned that, like its bourbon, a single barrel program wouldn’t be far behind. Well, sure enough, New Riff single barrel rye started popping up last summer, although private barrels don’t seem to be quite as prevalent as the bourbon. On a recent trip to…
Review: Crew Bottle Co. Bottles
If you want to make your own bottled cocktail, the conventional method has been to simply upcycle an empty 750ml bottle by washing it out and filling it with your own ingredients. Crew Bottle Co. offers an upscale take on the idea, taking a standard 750ml bottle and outfitting it with a rubberized, removable base.…
Review: Jefferson’s Reserve Very Old Very Small Batch Bourbon (2020)
We first reviewed Jefferson’s Reserve seven long years ago, and it’s high time for a revisit. As far as we can tell from the packaging, this “Very Old, Very Small Batch” bourbon remains unchanged, but since the father and son owners, Chet and Trey Zoeller, have always been up front about the fact that they…
Review: Wines of Enrico Serafino, 2020 Releases
Let’s take a little trip to Italy, courtesy of producer Enrico Serafino: In the steep hills of the Northwestern Cuneo province in Piedmont lies the Roero subregion. The region is often overlooked given its prestigious neighbor, Langhe, but Roero commands its own attention and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its enological…
