Review: Balcones Mirador Eclipse
Hey, remember that eclipse we had just a few weeks ago? Iconic Texas distillery Balcones dropped a limited edition whisky to commemorate the moment — which offered full totality in its hometown of Waco. So they say: “Mirador Eclipse is a reflection on the sacred trance driven out of a solar eclipse – recognizing that…
Review: Wines of Dobbes Family Estate, 2021 Vintage
Dundee, Oregon is home to Dobbes Family Estate, where the usual suspects — chardonnay and pinot noir — are being turned out by a winemaking team that clearly knows its stuff. This is our third encounter with Dobbes and we’re hopeful it won’t be the last. 2021 Dobbes Family Estate Chardonnay Grand Assemblage Willamette Valley…
Review: Still Austin Bottled in Bond Rye
Still Austin‘s fourth and final seasonal bottled in bond expression has arrived, and unlike the previous three releases — all bourbon — this one is composed of rye. 100% Texas-grown rye to be specific. As a bonded release, it spends 4 years in barrel before hitting the bottle at 50% abv. No big surprises lie…
Review: Lone River Ranch Water, Complete Lineup
Let’s get it out of the way for the purists: Lone River Ranch Water is not ranch water. Like a packet of Hidden Valley ranch poured and then shaken into a lukewarm bottle of Dasani, which is literally both ranch and an approximation of water, it is ranch water in name only. While ranch water…
Review: Penelope Bourbon Rio and Rye Tokaji Cask Finish
Once-obscure Penelope Bourbon has been rising up the ranks in part because of its innovative approach to finishing, two examples of which we have on tap today, both designed around a brief concluding spin in a barrel that once held something sweet. Now part of Luxco, Penelope has been cranking up production and innovation. Both…
Book Review: The Tequila Ambassador Version Originale
Spirits enthusiasts are always on watch for the next trend in spirits. Whiskey and brandy have held international acclaim for eons, but could tequila be the next craze? The popularity and credibility of tequila as a premium spirit has been on the rise, thanks in large part to Tomas Estes. Estes passed in 2021 but…
Review: Frank August Bourbon
Have you already heard of Frank August? Then you are at least a few steps ahead of this writer; I recently came across it at my brother’s house, where he’d brought a bottle home from BevMo strictly based on the staff recommendation. This usually incites an involuntary raising of eyebrows, but the bottle is sleek…
Review: Valhalla Herbal Liqueur Shot
Say, do you like licorice? Finland-born Valhalla is the Scandi Jagermeister you never knew you needed. The coffee-black liqueur is made with Nordic ingredients including angelica, wormwood, yarrow, and licorice — lots of licorice. Four species of licorice plants, to be exact. Designed to be consumed cold, as a shot, just like Jager, I first…
