Drinkhacker 2019 Wine Cheat Sheet / Vintage Chart
The wine list can be a daunting thing, in no small part because of the litany of years that appear next to all the wineries, regions, and grape varieties printed in languages you probably don’t speak. Should you opt for a 2016 cabernet over a 2015? What about this 2008 Chateauneuf-du-Pape on deep discount? Go…
Review: Koval Bourbon and Rye
Chicago-based Koval is one of the old guard of American craft distilling, but we’ve actually had limited hands on experience with their products, namely limited to a collection of reviews way back in 2011 (check out those labels!) when most of the whiskeys were unaged and some didn’t even carry the Koval name. Today we’re…
Review: WhistlePig Old World Rye 12 Years Old Flaviar Chef’s Blend 2019
Recently, WhistlePig and online booze merchant Flaviar did something funny: They got four James Beard nominated chefs to get together and create an exclusive release of WhistlePig called Chef’s Blend. It’s not a barrel pick but rather a custom version of WhistlePig’s 12 year old Old World Rye, a special blend of four different types…
Review: Deschutes Brewery Only Slightly Exaggerated IPA and HandUp IPA
Deschutes has two new beers for your consideration, and they’re both IPAs. Let’s see what the story is… Deschutes Brewery Only Slightly Exaggerated IPA – Perhaps you’ve lately seen the state of Oregon’s quirky ads for its quirky state, touting how lovely it is in “only slightly exaggerated” fashion. If not, well, click the link.…
Review: Camarena Tequila – Complete Lineup (2019)
Way back in 2010, the Camarena family got in bed with the Gallo corporation and decided to make a tequila with audacious goals: 100% agave, but at an ultra-affordable price point. Cuervo Tradicional has done a fair job of this, but few others have succeeded at producing a high-quality, affordable tequila. In 2010, Camerena was…
Review: Wines of Tasca d’Almerita Tenuta Regaleali, 2019 Releases
Tasca d’Almerita’s 1830 Tenuta Regaleali winery can be found in inland Sicily, and the company describes it as “a living symbol of the inexorable bond running eight generations deep between the Tasca family and their island home. Regaleali represents and exemplifies the region’s passage from a feudal peasant past to a sophisticated and diversified agricultural…
Review: Stolen X Rock & Rye
Recently, Stolen Spirits branched out from rum to whiskey, and now it’s taking its nascent brand even further with the launch of Stolen X, a flavored “rock & rye” whiskey. Ingredients in this blend include straight American rye whiskey, organic raw honey, and real orange peel — no artificial anything. The nose of the spirit…
Review: Graham’s Tawny Port 20 Years Old (2019)
We’ve covered Graham’s 10 year old tawny Port a couple of times, but this is our first formal go-round with the 20 year old. This expression is a quite sweet raisin bomb up front, with a few cranberry and cherry notes mixed in for good measure. A hint of black tea and a touch of…
