Review: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C919 (September 2019)
The third (and likely final) 2019 release from Elijah Craig’s Barrel Proof series has hit, coded as batch #C919. While this summer’s B519 was a veritable lightweight at a paltry 122.2 proof, C919 is a return to the usual expectations with a whopping 68.4% alcohol. I was expecting a nostril-searing experience, but C919 is surprisingly…
Review: Sotol Coyote Durango Blanco
We’ve written just a bit here about sotol, a Mexican cousin of tequila that’s made from the Desert Spoon plant (including dasylirion texanum and dasylirion wheeleri) a somewhat different type of desert shrub that it turns out you can ferment. Sotol Coyote Durango Blanco is an unaged expression of Sotol made in Cuencame, San Antonio,…
Review: Easy Rider Bourbon 4 Years Old
Earlier this year, Hood River Distillers, an increasingly busy operation that’s best known for Lucid Absinthe, added another bourbon to its portfolio: Easy Rider. Easy Rider was purchased from another company which had been marketing the spirit as Easy Rider Arizona. There’s no actual connection to the classic Peter Fonda movie, but the screaming eagle…
Review: 2016 Seven Hills Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
Two new wintry reds from Washington’s Seven Hills winery. 2016 Seven Hills Merlot Walla Walla Valley – Fresh and focused squarely on the fruit, this wine exudes notes of cola and chocolate, all in the service of a bright, cherry-heavy core. A slight vein of tannin offers enough grip to take the edge off the…
Review: Chattanooga Whiskey 91 and Cask 111
We’ve been writing about Tennessee-based Chattanooga Whiskey for years now, and while we’ve been upbeat about their products, they have, for better or worse, all been sourced products. Now Chattanooga is out with its own house-made spirit — or rather, a pair of them with names based on their proof levels — made in what…
Review: Camp Cocktail Kits
There’s no shortage of products designed to sidestep the difficult work of composing a cocktail. From bottled syrups to powdered mixes, some great, some awful, we’ve seen just about every shortcut under the sun. Camp Cocktails are a new approach to the idea, with each kit coming in a pint-sized jar that’s filled with all…
Review: Highland Park Viking Honour 12 Years Old (2019)
Recently, Flaviar revamped its spirits club by upgrading what members get. The big news, in addition to a set of minis tailored to your tastes sent to you each quarter, you also get a full 750ml bottle of something as well. The fine print: it’s $95 for a single shipment or $300 for four shipments…
Review: That Boutique-y Whisky Company Countdown to Christmas Calendar 2019
Whiskey-themed advent calendars have become a thing in the last few years, and while the concept is fun, they’re plagued with a few problems. One, they’re expensive. Two, you don’t know what you’re getting — and whether it’s worth the outlay. With independent bottlers That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s 2019 calendar, solutions await. First off, this…
