Review: Mount Gay Master Blender Selection – Pot Still Rum
It’s tough keeping up with Mount Gay’s special releases, which have been bottled under labels including XO, Origin Series, Master Select, and more. The most recent series is known as The Master Blender Collection, and the expression reviewed here is technically release #2 in that lineup, following Mount Gay XO Rum – The Peat Smoke…
Review: Old Forester Statesman
First things first: Statesman was a publicity stunt. Old Forester put this whiskey out basically to be a prop in the second Kingsman movie, and the distillery released a few bottles to the public. It was intended as a limited edition, but lo and behold, people seemed to like it, and Statesman is still widely available…
Review: Denizen Dark Vatted Rum
Denizen is a rum brand that’s been around for awhile — the premise surrounding a Dutch company that imports a variety of barrels from throughout the Caribbean and bottles them in various expression. The latest in the lineup is Denizen Dark Vatted Rum, a 50% abv rum that offers a nod to the British navy…
Review: Remus Repeal Reserve Series III Bourbon
MGP’s Remus label continues to grow and grow, now spanning four different bottlings, including the prized, 14 year old Volstead Reserve. For the third release in the mainline — now known as the Repeal Reserve Series because of its November 13 release date — we’re getting another “medley” of high-rye bourbons representing two years of…
Review: Budweiser Reserve Black Lager
Budweiser has been on a roll lately with their excellent Reserve series. Recently Drinkhacker was sent their well-reviewed Harvest Reserve Fall Lager. Their latest, the Reserve Black Lager, is their second collaboration with Jim Beam. Like the Reserve Copper Lager, the Reserve Black Lager sees a period of aging on previously used Jim Beam staves…
Review: Dogfish Head Distilling Compelling Gin and Sonic Archeology Cocktail
Most may think of Dogfish Head as a maker of incredibly hop-heavy IPAs (and some other beers), but lately the business has expanded into spirits — a sort of natural progression in the craft beverage world these days. The company has more than a dozen distilled products on the market now. Today we look at…
Review: 2018 Harken Chardonnay California
Based on the back label copy — “we missed that rich, oaky taste of Chardonnays gone by” — I was expecting an utter monster from Harken’s 2018 chardonnay. The reality: The wine is surprisingly full of fruit first — orange and lemon notes — though ample vanilla infuses the experience throughout. Notes of poached pears…
Review: Eagle Rare Bourbon 10 Years Old
We’re digging into the archives again to fill out reviews of products that we’ve overlooked with formal reviews. Up next is Buffalo Trace’s Eagle Rare Bourbon, a 10 year old whiskey that’s easy to come by and which remains just as good as its stellar reputation. Let’s give a 2019 bottle a fresh tasting. Right…
