Review: Backpack (Canned) Wine (2019)
When I first reviewed Backpack Wine — a line of wines packaged in single-serve cans — my comments were, for the most part, not so positive. I recently heard from the company, and its response to that review was quite a surprise. I’ll paste a portion of it here: The review was fairly negative and to…
Review: Eifel German Single Malt Whisky and Rye Whisky
German whisky is a rarely seen thing in the U.S., but even if you aren’t considering sipping on the stuff, you owe it to yourself to check out Eifel Whiskey’s website (link at the bottom of the page), which is the most German website ever. Based in the city of Koblenz, in western Germany, Eifel…
Tasting the Wines of Navarra, 2019 Releases
Navarra can be found on the northern edge of Spain, along the French border and near the Bay of Biscay. (The city of Pamplona, famed for the running of the bulls, can be found here.) While Navarra used to be known for little more than rose wine, improved farming techniques and technology have allowed this…
Review: Barrell Infinite Barrel Project Release #1
Back in early 2018, Barrell Craft Spirits introduced a completely new line extension, the Infinite Barrel Project. The inspiration for this one came from the ritual among many whiskey-lovers of keeping an “infinity bottle” containing the last dregs of otherwise finished whiskeys. While most of those bottles likely don’t end up tasting very good, Barrell…
Review: New Belgium Passion Fruit Kolsch and Voodoo Ranger Juicifer IPA
New Belgium’s summertime brews have arrived, so let’s dig into this duo of widely different beers — both solid hot weather choices. New Belgium Passion Fruit Kolsch – A lot of times you see “passion fruit” on a beer label and then you tuck into the beer and… there’s nothing there. New Belgium’s Passion Fruit…
Review: O’Donnell Flavored Moonshines
I could understand if you didn’t believe me when I say there’s a company in Berlin making moonshine. This five year old brand offers a straight moonshine but is better known for three flavored offerings. Fairly low in alcohol and all heavily sweetened, they drink more like liqueurs you’d find served warm at a German…
Review: Devils Backbone Southern Passion Tropical-Style Lager
+Southern Passion isn’t just a groovy concept, it’s also the name of a strain of hops, hailing from South Africa. With this latest brew from Lexington, Virginia-based Devils Backbone, Southern Passion hops are paired with several malts: Pilsner, Vienna, CaraHell, Acidulated, Golden Naked Oats, and Malted Wheat. Normally you’d expect to find an unusual single-hop…
Tasting 100 Years of The Dalmore at ROOH, San Francisco
Over the course of my career I’ve had many opportunities to drink old whiskey, but this experience from The Dalmore has to go down as one of the most opulent, intricate, and interesting. The concept: The Dalmore is partnering with a handful of high-end restaurants and bars to provide a unique whisky experience called 100…
