Why Don’t Whiskey Corks Dry Out? (And What You Should Do If They Do)
Drinkers of both wine and whiskey (and other spirits) must have considered the cork paradox at some point. Here it is: Wine corks dry out, so collectors must store bottles on their side, in order to keep the cork wet and, thus, intact. But spirits are known to damage cork material, so whiskey and other…
Review: 2016 Chateau Malescasse Haut-Medoc Cru Bourgeois
This Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux (read: a second-tier bottling) from Haut-Medoc’s Chateau Malescasse is a blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and petit verdot, but on the nose it’s more fragrant elements don’t immediately come across. Instead, heavy notes of licorice and forest floor dominate, with a subtle pine needle element hanging in the air. The palate…
Review: Barrell Bourbon Batch 23
It’s a new year, which means new batches of Barrell Bourbon from Barrell Craft Spirits. We recently received the latest, Batch 23. This one is a blend of straight bourbons from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana, all of which are aged at least ten years (similar to Batch 21). Let’s see how this one stacks up,…
Review: 2016 Chateau Lassegue Saint Emilion Grand Cru
Lassegue’s 2016 Bordeaux is an earth-fueled monster, layering notes of mushroom and leather with cassis and blackberry. A licorice kick spars with notes of graphite and crushed slate, plus a modest balsamic note. The finish folds together chocolate and a significant violet character clearly driven by the merlot in the blend (about 60-65%). Complex and…
Review: McClintock Distilling Epiphany Vodka and Forager Gin
McClintock Distilling can be found in Frederick, Maryland, north of Washington, D.C. One of the younger craft distilleries, they only just began to distill in 2017 inside a historic, warehouse space on Frederick’s downtown riverwalk. Their initial portfolio, not surprisingly, focused on clear spirits with an emphasis on the quality of their ingredients. As one…
Review: 4 Wines from Ribera del Duero and Rueda, 2020 Releases
Today it’s a look at a quartet of Spanish wines, all from the Ribera del Duero region and nearby Rueda. Ribera is home to red wines, Rueda is for whites. For the most part, these wines are more affordable than those in Rioja, a bit further to the east. Let’s dive in to the four…
Review: Old Pulteney Huddart, 12, 15, and 18 Years Old (2020)
Old Pulteney recently (well, in mid-2018) revamped and relaunched its core lineup, bringing its core to three age-statemented releases and a single NAS release. They’ve been slow getting to the U.S., but we’ve finally tracked down all four for review. (A harder-to-find 25 year old expression is also in the standard lineup, which we reviewed…
Review: 2017 Wente Pinot Noir Riva Ranch and Cabernet Sauvignon Wetmore
Here’s a pair of wines from Wente, two big reds built for the winter. 2017 Wente Pinot Noir Riva Ranch Vineyard – This Arroyo Seco (Monterey) sourced wine is quite intense and rich, a punchy wine that builds on a rather jammy base to showcase notes of fresh raspberry, some violets, and a touch of…
