Review: Amass Dry Gin
Amass is a new gin distilled and bottled in downtown Los Angeles, with a whopping 29 botanicals in the mix. (The company also makes a vodka… in Copenhagen, Denmark.) The Amass Gin botanical list is right on front of the otherwise spare label, and it’s a doozy: Juniper, Coriander, Cedar Berries and Bark, Angelica, Orris…
Best 10 Signature Wedding Cocktails
ADVERTISEMENT Thinking about organizing your wedding bar? Here’s a collection of fun and delicious signature wedding cocktails that are sure to be a hit on your big day. One important aspect of your wedding planning should be the drinks to be served at your wedding reception. And one of the best wedding ideas for wedding…
Tasting the Wines of Carinena, Spain, 2020 Releases
Cariñena can be found in northeast Spain, about midway between Midrid and Barcelona. One of the oldest operating wine regions in the world, the region is considered the origin of the carignan grape, hence its name. (In Spain, however, carignan is more commonly known as mazuelo.) That said, a whole lot of wine varieties are…
Review: Balcones “1” Peated and Rumble Cask Reserve (2019)
Waco-based Balcones recently dropped two special releases, both twists on two of its mainline whiskeys — “1” Single Malt and Rumble. “1” Peated is, as the name suggests, a peated version of the “1” Single Malt. Rumble Cask Reserve is an update/rebranding of Rumble, completely revamped and bottled at cask strength. Let’s dig in. Balcones…
Review: Stella Artois Midnight Lager
The venerable Stella Artois recently put out a limited-edition winter seasonal: Midnight Lager, described as “a black lager with notes of Belgian dark chocolate and freshly brewed espresso.” (It isn’t brewed with any of these things, though — just dark malts to give it an inky brown color.) And… it’s fine. It’s a lager at…
Review: Dry Fly Distilling Straight Wheat Whiskey Finished in a Beer Barrel
It’s been several years since we last checked in with Washington-based Dry Fly Distilling, but we’re finally back with a look at a whiskey from its new Cask & Release Series, which involves partnerships with breweries to finish its whiskey in shared barrels. First up is this offering, a wheat whiskey finished in barrels from…
Review: 2018 Lucky Rock Pinot Noir County Cuvee
Last year’s County Cuvee from Lucky Rock was a marvelous pinot noir at a stellar price, and now the winery is back again with its 2018 vintage release. This year’s vineyard breakdown is 42% White Sage and Grava Ranch Vineyards (Monterey), 39% Vista Verde Vineyard (San Benito), and 19% Morelli Lane Vineyard (Sonoma). Once again,…
Review: Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon – Limited Edition (2019)
The annual release of the cask strength version of Angel’s Envy bourbon has arrived, and (as seemingly always) we’re a bit late in getting our review up. As always, this is Angel’s Envy Bourbon Finished in Port Barrels, but released uncut and at full strength. Otherwise it’s the same whiskey you’ll find in the standard…
