Review: El Tesoro Tequila Paradiso Extra Anejo
While not quite as extreme as El Tesoro’s $200 80th Anniversary bottling, the more commonly available Paradiso Extra Anejo is every bit as much of a delight. Created in collaboration with Alain Royer of A. de Fussigny Cognac, the twist is that this extra anejo is aged for five years in French oak, ex-Cognac barrels…
Review: Santo Cuviso Bacanora Blanco
Santo Cuviso is bacanora, which is not tequila, but rather a close cousin, much like mezcal. Made from a different species of wild agave — Agave Angustifolia (aka espadin, commin in mezcal) — in the Mexican state of Sonora, not Jalisco, Bacanora was reportedly so special it was considered a holy sacrament by the Jesuit…
Review: Booker’s Bourbon “Shiny Barrel Batch” 2019-02
The second special Booker’s release for 2019 has arrived, “Shiny Barrel Batch,” designated by bottle code 2019-02. Per the distillery, “This newest expression is an ode to a bygone distillery “tradition” where back in the day, there were the barrels certain rackhouse workers liked to sneak a taste from, and in doing so, they rubbed…
Review: Pusser’s Rum – 15 Years Old, Gunpowder Proof, and Painkiller Mix
Pusser’s (slang for “purser’s,” as in the purser of a ship) is a surprisingly new rum brand that only dates back to 1979. The company celebrates the British Royal Navy, but it’s actually based in Charleston, SC. Its rum is currently sourced from Guyana, where it is distilled in wooden pot stills. (Previously the brand…
Review: Burwood Vodka, Gin, Honey Eau de Vie, and Medica Honey Liqueur
Alberta, Canada-based Burwood focuses on using local ingredients and “old world craftsmanship” to make white spirits — vodka and gin, mainly — and a wide range of liqueurs which it continues to expand at a rate of one new release each quarter. Today we look at four of the core products from the company, two…
Review: Watkins Select Bourbon
Watkins Select is a bottom-shelf bourbon produced by mega-scale booze company LeVecke, but it’s at least one with promise. While it’s available in a variety of flavored versions, the standard bottling is denoted as a Straight Bourbon (so at least 2 years old) and it hails from Kentucky — lending it at least an inkling…
Review: 2018 Rose All Day France IGP Pays d’Oc
Rosé All Day is a “wine project” built around — you guessed it — pink wine. The company’s offerings include sparkling rose as well as still wines, in both cans and bottles. Today we look at just one of the RAD offerings, a still rose made from French grenache grapes. Much to my surprise this…
Review: Budweiser Harvest Reserve Lager Fall 2019
On July 11th, Budweiser introduced its new limited-edition Harvest Reserve lager. While the standard Bud is a blend of malt and rice, this new offering is 100% malt roasted longer for a richer flavor. Does it compare favorably to the standard Bud? Let’s taste and find out. To start with, the beer simply looks better.…
