Review: Bowling & Burch Gin
Kentucky’s Limestone Branch Distillery, best known for Yellowstone and Minor Case whiskeys, has added its first gin to its arsenal. Bowling & Burch Premium Gin “is named after Head Distiller Steve Beam’s two sides of the family who were in agriculture and also horticulture enthusiasts. ‘This new world gin was born from the passion my…
Review: Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky
We’ve been fans of the Indian distillery Amrut for some time (reviews can be found here and here), but haven’t previously reviewed one of their most popular offerings, Amrut Fusion. This NAS single malt whisky was introduced in 2009 and has a popular following around the world. Its name derives from the fact that it…
Review: Portland Brewing MacTarnahan’s Northwest Amber Ale
Pyramid-adjunct Portland Brewing recently dropped this tartan-clad but fairly straightforward amber ale, hopped solely with Cascade. Burly with roasted malt notes, it’s toasty and bready but backed up well by the hops, which give it a straightforward, piney bitterness on the back end. The malts rear back up on the finish, though, making this beer…
Review: Nosotros Tequila Reposado (2020)
Nosotros’ initial tequila — a blanco — was nice enough to make our Top 10 Tequilas of the Year feature. Alas, we only sampled the silver at the time. Now we get to take a second spin with Nosotros by reviewing its other 100% agave expression, a reposado. (An anejo expression remains unproduced.) Let’s dive…
Review: 2016 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Louis Martini’s 2016 Napa cabernet — be sure to note the appellation if you’re shopping — offers iconic Napa character at a reasonable price. Big with notes of milk chocolate, currants, and well-integrated tannins, the wine pushes a bittersweet agenda that culminates in a finish of licorice, cloves, and toasty oak. A solid buy when…
The Top 10 Wines for Summer 2020
Summertime, and the drinkin’s easy, or at least it should be. Following up on our Top 10 Wines for Winter, 2020 edition, we’re looking back at our recent reviews to pick out our 10 favorite bottlings for warm weather drinking. From cool whites to high-acid reds (think pinot) to summery sparklers, there’s a little something…
Review: 2017 J Vineyards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
Last year’s release of this wine didn’t impress, and while J’s Russian River pinot retains some of that vintage’s heavily extracted, overtly fruity character, it’s dialed back enough here to approach a much more fulfilling drinkability. Cola notes are almost immediate, alongside a short grind of black pepper, with notes of tarragon, cloves, and dark…
Review: Dictador Solera System Rum 12 Years Old
This bottling of Columbia-distilled Dictador is courtesy Flaviar’s new spirits club. Despite the significant age, this is actually one of Dictador’s youngest rums — if not its very youngest. Dictador 12 is made from “the fermentation of virgin sugar cane honey distilled partly in copper alembic and partly in steel continuous column, to achieve a…
