Review: Sabor Dominicano Mamajuana
I was delighted to discover — if only so I could say it out loud — the unique beverage Mamajuana (sometimes Mama Juana) on a recent visit to the Dominican Republic. Dating back to the 1950s, Mamajuana is the unofficial national beverage of the Dominican, an odd combination of rum, honey, and red wine that…
Review: NV Faire la Fete Brut and Rose Cremant de Limoux (2020)
Faire la Fete is a brand of Cremant-style sparkling wines, made in the Limoux region of far-southern France and known for its restraint in the use of sugar in its wines. (Faire la Fete Brut has 6 g/liter of sugar, while Veuve Clicquot “Yellow Label” has 9.5 g/liter.) Today we take a fresh look at…
Review: Reservoir Distillery Hunter & Scott Bourbon
We reviewed the core offerings from Richmond’s Reservoir Distillery back in 2017. Their unique mashbills (all 100% single grain locally sourced) and small barrel aging program made them unique among many craft-whiskey producers at that time. Fast forward three years and Reservoir is probably even more unique today, as many craft distilleries have traded small…
Review: 2018 Umani Ronchi Vellodoro Pecorino Terre di Chieti IGT
This bottling of budget-friendly pecorino from Umani Ronchi is born in the Terre di Chieti region, in the foothills of central Italy’s Abruzzo region. Ultra-floral on the nose, this wine hovers closely around notes of jasmine, lavender, and honeysuckle, with hints of clover honey, buttered biscuits, and lemon peel all working their way into the experience.…
Review: Writers’ Tears Double Oak Irish Whiskey
We reviewed the core offering from Writers’ Tears back in 2016 when it finally came ashore from Ireland courtesy of Walsh Whiskey (which also produces The Irishman line). The Writers Tears expressions include several unique finished whiskeys, as well as a rare cask strength offering, none of which we’ve been able to track down, unfortunately.…
Review: Highland Brewing Metal Rat
This is our first spin with Asheville, North Carolina-based Highland Brewing’s beers, and we’re starting off big. Metal Rat is a collaboration with Seattle’s Lucky Envelope Brewing, making this a true cross-country collaboration. Designed to celebrate Chinese New Year, the beer is unique hazy IPA that’s brewed on both coasts and is made with Lotus…
Review: TOPO Vodka, Wheat Whiskey, and Spiced Rum (2020)
We tasted the clear spirits of Top of the Hill Distillery (TOPO), including their white whiskey, way back in 2013. The Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based distillery has been hard at work tweaking, adding new products, and barrel-aging their whiskey since then, so we thought we would check in on their latest offerings. TOPO is one…
Review: Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer
When it comes to making Moscow Mules and Dark & Stormies, there’s a new mixer choice in town: Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer, billed as “Extra Spicy.” Available in cans and bottles, it is the usual high-end offering, made with cane sugar and bottled unfiltered with visible specks of ginger in the mix. (A sugar-free version, made…
