Review: Diageo Orphan Barrel Project Forager’s Keep Single Malt 26 Years Old
The latest release in Diageo’s Orphan Barrel Project — the 13th in the lineup — is perhaps its most unusual to date: It’s a single malt Scotch. Diageo owns a town of Scotch brands, so while it’s sort of logical to drop one of these into the Orphan Barrel brand, it’s also a little confusing.…
Review: 2015 Sosie Roussanne and Pinot Noir
Sosie means “twin” or “lookalike” in French, and it’s an apt name for this Sonoma-based winery, which focuses on French varietals and “old world wine making” techniques. Wines are made with no additives and minimal sulfur, attempting to focus as fully on the terroir and the grapes themselves. Here’s a look at two fresh releases…
Review: Booker’s Bourbon “Teresa’s Batch” 2019-01
The first batch of Booker’s Bourbon special releases is on tap for 2019: “Teresa’s Batch,” coded 2019-01. Who’s Teresa? A longtime Beam distillery employee, Teresa Wittemer has been an invaluable member of Beam family…and it all started from a quick 15-minute interview with 6th Generation Master Distiller Booker Noe over 30 years ago. During her…
Review: 2018 Domaine de Cala Rose Wines
Domaine de Cala is a Provence-based winery spearheaded by chef Joachim Splichal. Now in its third vintage, the winery focuses exclusively on rose wines. A little extra info: After a monumental career in the hospitality industry, followed by years of searching for the perfect vineyard and a lifelong dream of opening a winery, Splichal launched…
Review: Rihei Ginger Shochu
Billed as a “totally new class of Japanese craft spirits,” Rihei Ginger is undoubtedly a different animal than most shochus, and the explanation is right there in the name: 20% of the mash that goes into this spirit isn’t composed of grain, but rather local heirloom ginger. Some explanation is in order: Rihei Ochiai, the…
Review: Mark Ryan 2018 Viognier and 2017 The Dissident
Washington-based Mark Ryan Winery is back with two new releases, an aromatic white and an age-worthy red. Thoughts follow. 2018 Mark Ryan Viognier Olsen Vineyard/Red Willow Vineyard – Quite dry, but loaded with floral and herbal notes, this Washington expression of viognier dials down the peaches and apricots and lets honeysuckle character shine more clearly.…
Review: Gouden Carolus Single Malt Whisky
Gouden Carolus is a well-regarded Belgian beer producer, and now it’s taking aim at becoming a well-regarded whisky producer, of which there are only a handful in Belgium. The newly released Gouden Carolus Single Malt is distilled from the mash of Gouden Carolus Tripel beer. Says the company: “A first for Belgium are the hand…
Review: MurLarkey Honey Whiskey and Three Tea Whiskey
Bristow, Virginia-based MurLarkey Spirits markets a wide range of spirits, including vodka, gin, and straight whiskeys, but it’s drawn the most attention for its line of flavored whiskeys, which revolve around authentic, natural ingredients. Recently, MurLarkey Product Master George ‘Papi’ Zwetkow and Co-Founder & President Mike Larkin rolled out two new additions to the flavored…
