Review: Firestone Walker Parabola 2020
In recent years, we’ve reviewed several offerings from Firetsone Walker’s Proprietor’s Vintage Series (Helldorado, Sucaba, Stickee Monkey, and Velvet Merkin among others). There’s been a glaring omission, however, in the absence of their iconic Russian Imperial Stout, Parabola; although we did review the limited release of Napa Parabola last year. We correct that mistake today with…
The Best Banana Liqueur Roundup – Bols, 99 Bananas, Tempus Fugit, & Giffard
Come mister tally man, tally me banana! Banana liqueur tends to be one of those unsung cocktail ingredients that few give much serious thought to. A splash of something yellow to give a cocktail a vague tropicality, right? Think again. Banana liqueur has entered its own small renaissance, and mixologists are discovering myriad uses for…
Tasting the Wines of Tenuta Sant’Antonio, 2020 Releases
Tenuta Sant’Antonio is a major producer in the Veneto region of Italy, turning out 700,000 bottles a year of Valpolicella and other wines native to the area. What it’s best known for, of course, is Amarone, the luxury wine made from grapes dried for months via the appassimento process. Tenuta Sant’Antonio is owned and operated…
Review: Square One Cocktail Mixers
Square One is best known for its high-quality line of straight and infused vodkas, and now, after 15 years, the brand is stretching out into a new category: cocktail mixers. Like Square One Vodka, Square One Cocktail Mixers are organic and made with quality firmly in mind. The mixers are “high-juice, low-sugar,” with all having…
The Top 10 Gins of 2019
As springtime approaches, a young man’s fancy often turns to one thing: Gin, a spirit practically designed for drinking in warm weather. Whether you’re into a classic martini, an old-fashioned gin and tonic, or something more exotic, the world of gin is more varied and complex than ever. Gins are hitting the market from all…
Review: O.Vine Wine Essence Waters
What is O.Vine Wine Essence Water? It’s pretty simple, really. Israel’s Galil Mountain Winery takes its own grapes, infuses them with natural spring water, and bottles them up — sans alcohol. The idea is to give wine lovers a way to enjoy some of the flavors of wine — these are made with real wine…
Review: Ko’olau Distillery Old Pali Road Whiskey
When in Hawaii, a young man’s thoughts typically turn to rum, not whiskey. Yet here we are, sipping a blended whiskey made in the only distillery on the island of Oahu. Ko’olau Distillery’s Old Pali Road Whiskey uses locally-grown corn to make a “bourbon-style base” for its mash. This is distilled and then blended with…
Review: St. Elder Pamplemousse and Blood Orange Liqueurs
St. Elder makes a perfectly delightful (and less expensive) alternative to St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur. Now St. Elder is back with a line extension of two new exotic liqueurs — pamplemousse (grapefruit) and blood orange. Let’s check them out. St. Elder Pamplemousse Pink Grapefruit Liqueur – This hazily translucent and lightly pink liqueur certainly looks like…
