Review: Wines of Tenuta di Fessina, 2019 Releases
In the region of Etna on the island of Sicily you’ll find Tenuta di Fessina, a winery established in 2007 by Silvia Maestrelli. From these 26 acres of vines, the winery produces seven wines under four different labels — Erse, Laeneo, A’Puddara, and Musmeci. Today we look at all but one of the current releases. Thoughts…
Review: Coopers’ Craft Bourbon Barrel Reserve
Brown-Forman dropped its Coopers’ Craft Bourbon just 2 1/2 years ago (its first new bourbon brand in 20 years), and now its out with its first line extension: A 100 proof version of the whiskey intended to honor the craft of the cooper, the guys who make the barrels. Labeling on the original Coopers’ Craft…
Review: Tedorigawa Iki na Onna “Lady Luck” Daiginjo Sake
The Tedorigawa brand was introduced to me through the documentary The Birth of Sake. The film follows the brewery through a difficult six-month brewing season, which illustrates the skill and dedication required to brew sake in the traditional manner. The process is so demanding that brewers must live at the brewery communal style, removed from all…
Review: Padre Azul Tequila Silver
Padre Azul is a new brand of tequila with an odd heritage. The story goes that an Austrian schnapps distiller named H.P. Eder married a Mexican woman, and Eder partnered with his wife’s father to craft a tequila in Jalisco. Launched with the intent of bringing 100% agave tequila to Europe, where tequila isn’t nearly…
Review: Sapling Vermont Maple Rye and Snowdrop Gin
We reviewed Saxtons River Distillery’s Sapling Maple Bourbon and Maple Liqueur back in 2014. At last we get to peek at Sapling Rye, which is sourced MGP whiskey that is flavored with local, Grade A Vermont maple syrup, just like Sapling Bourbon. We’re also reviewing Saxtons’ Snowdrop Gin, one of the few products from the…
Tasting Aberlour Single Malts at the Burns Supper Celebration, 2019
On January 25, 1759, the great Scottish bard Robert Burns was born. I am slightly ashamed to admit that I was entirely unfamiliar with Burns, but I am now well acquainted as the folks at Aberlour distillery invited Drinkhacker to a traditional and relaxed Burns Supper at Palo Alto’s MacArthur Park restaurant. According to our…
Review: Egan’s Fortitude Single Malt Irish Whiskey
The Egan’s Irish Whiskey brand was revived in 2013 (see releases here and here), and the company is pushing boundaries with the release of Fortitude, a single malt Irish that is — bizarrely — matured fully in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. (The whiskey does not carry an age statement.) Egan’s says this is the only Irish…
Review: Oskar Blues Brewery G’Knight Imperial Red IPA and Fugli Fruit IPA
It’s been a long time (2010!) since we explored any new beers from Colorado’s Oskar Blues Brewery. We’re remedying that with a look at two more of their offerings: G’Knight, an imperial, double-red India pale ale, and Fugli, a yuzu and ugli fruit-infused Indian Pale Ale. Oskar Blues Brewery G’Knight Imperial Red IPA – This…
