Review: Pokeno New Zealand Single Malt – Totara Cask, Triple Distilled, and Winter Malt
Just last year we introduced you to the impressive core range from Pokeno, and now the Kiwi whisky maker, which has only been distilling since 2017, is out with another lineup of unique single malts. Pokeno’s Exploration Series is a line that is intended to showcase the distillery’s most innovative whiskeys with emphasis on the…
Review: Kilinga Bacanora – Silvestre, Blanco, and Reposado
Sure, let’s start with the basics: What’s bacanora? In the northern Mexico state of Sonora, bacanora is a type of mezcal traditionally made from a particular strain of agave, Agave angustifolia. Like Tequila, Bacanora is also a town that is the spiritual home of the beverage, though it can be and is made all over…
Review: New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon 8 Years Old
While they are known for their “riffs” on American whiskey traditions, Kentucky’s New Riff Distillery is out with a new bourbon that’s about as straightforward as they come. That said, it is twice as old as the flagship bourbon they debuted in 2018, making it their oldest rye bourbon yet (a more limited eight-year…
Review: M&H Apex STR Single Cask
We got our first taste of an M&H Apex single cask single malt back in 2022. Several single casks, in fact, including a stripped and recharred cask like this latest expression that recently crossed our desk. As a reminder, Apex is the top of the Milk & Honey portfolio featuring both small batch and limited…
Review: Hirsch The Single Barrel Bourbon Double Oak Second Edition
The latest release from Hirsch is a second edition of its Single Barrel Double Oak release, Kentucky distillate made from 72% corn, 13% rye, and 15% malted barley, bottled at 9 years old. The first 8 years were spent in a new American oak barrel, char #4, followed by another year in a #1 ultra-light…
Review: 2022 J. Lohr Pinot Noir – Fog’s Reach and Falcon’s Perch
It’s been a few years since we last encountered J. Lohr in these pages, but we’re finally back with a pair of pinot noirs from the winery’s Monterey County operations. Let’s pour a few glasses. 2022 J. Lohr Fog’s Reach Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco – Not “Fog’s Ranch,” as I first read the cursive label. Big,…
Review: Glenmorangie The Nectar 16 Years Old
Glenmorangie already tweaked the Extra Matured Range portion of its portfolio five years ago with age statements becoming a little more prominent for The Lasanta and The Quinta Ruban (the latter jumping from 12 to 14 years old). The exotically named, Sauternes-finished Nectar D’Or, however, suspiciously went from being a 12-year-old single malt to a…
Review: 2022 Herzog Late Harvest Orange Muscat California
A lively dessert wine made from orange muscat grapes, this wine hits all of 8.5% alcohol in the bottle, making for a decidedly crushable after-dinner experience. Surprisingly, it’s far less sweet than most late harvest wines I’ve encountered, with notes of apple cider and orange blossoms hitting first, a light vinegar quality adding some peppery…
