Review: Bristow Gin
Bristow Gin is a product of Mississippi-based Cathead Distillery, whose additional products we’ll be exploring in the coming weeks. But we’re starting out with this gin, which starts with Cathead’s vodka, infused with 10 botanicals for two weeks, then redistilled and brought to proof. The botanic bill is fairly standard: Juniper, Angelica Root, Cardamon, Cassia…
Review: Mortlach 26 Years Old Limited Edition 2019
With a 26 year old Mortlach — “the Beast of Dufftown,” you know — aged in first-fill sherry casks, the 2019 Diageo Special Releases series hits its high water mark, at least in terms of price. At $2000 a bottle, it’s more than twice as expensive as the next priciest whisky in the collection. Let’s…
Review: Wines of Cameron Hughes, Late 2019 Releases
Four new wines from Cameron Hughes, the recently relaunched American negociant. 2017 Cameron Hughes Lot 689 Chardonnay Sonoma Valley – Standard issue California chardonnay, heavy on oak and butter, but laced with a solid amount of fruit — lemon, apricot, and white peach — with hints of coconut on the back end. Perfectly acceptable. B+ /…
Review: California Fernet
“Created by Geijer Glögg Inc.,” California Fernet is an amaro with a story, and not just because the dog is drinking a glass. Let’s hear it: Geijer Spirits is a San Francisco based beverage company producing hand-crafted spirits under the “California” brand that blends Scandinavian tradition with California flavors. Martin Geijer founded Geijer Spirits and…
Review: 2018 Pfendler Petaluma Gap Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
We’re excited to dip back into the wines of Pfendler, which recently brought in a new winemaker, Erica Stancliff. While she didn’t work on the 2018 vintage from start to finish, she did oversee the final blend. More importantly, you’ll note that Pfendler’s wines now both sport the newly minted Petaluma Gap AVA on the…
Review: Papa’s Pilar Rum Marquesas Blend
By my count, this is the sixth release of Papa’s Pilar Rum — named in honor of Ernest Hemingway — with four of those releases limited edition (and semi-experimental) bottlings. Papa’s Pilar Rum Marquesas Blend is a blend of seven rums “aged up to 24 years and sourced from countries spanning the Caribbean, U.S. and…
Review: Guillotine Vodka – Straight and Heritage Edition
Guillotine Vodka hails from France (where else?) where it produces two versions of the spirit. The standard vodka is, like many French vodkas, distilled from grapes, while the Heritage Edition is “aged” (their quotation marks) in Cognac and Armagnac barrels “made from very special Limousin oak.” We tried both. Let’s dig in. Mind the price…
Review: Lagavulin 12 Years Old Limited Edition 2019
A 12 year old version of Lagavulin is invariably a part of the Diageo Special Releases, though this one isn’t going to be available in the U.S. There are no big surprises in this release, aged in refill bourbon barrels, and that’s probably for the best. The nose is heavy on the smoke, the usual…
