Review: Bell’s Brewery Bourbon Barrel Aged Expedition Stout (2018)
Michigan-based Bell’s Brewery claims that their Expedition Stout is one of the earliest examples of a Russian Imperial Stout in the United States. That’s an impressive feather in their cap and speaks to Bell’s role as a craft beer pioneer. Being the first at something is great until everyone else comes along and tries to…
Review: The Glenlivet 12 Years Old First Fill
If you’ve seen this oddball whisky on shelves lately you might be wondering exactly what it is. It’s unique in that it’s the first 12 year old limited-edition release from The Glenlivet to be released in the U.S. It’s called First Fill because it is matured exclusively in first fill American oak casks. Let’s see how…
Review: 2017 Casillero del Diablo Red Blend and Cabernet Sauvignon
Chile’s Concha y Toro has been marketing its Casillero del Diablo — “the devil’s cellar” — for decades. There’s even a little story behind the name. To wit: The story behind Casillero del Diablo dates back to the closing years of the 19th century when, legend has it, Don Melchor de Concha y Toro, an…
Review: Gins and Whiskeys of Treaty Oak Distilling
The self-taught collaborative of Treaty Oak Distilling can be found in Dripping Springs, Texas, where founder Daniel Barnes has been producing gin and whiskey since 2006. The portfolio today includes both sourced and locally distilled spirits, with some of the rye and bourbon coming from some rather unusual suspects. The company produces six (recently repackaged)…
Review: Wines of 12 Linajes, 2018 Releases
Ribera del Duero’s 12 Linajes (made at Bodegas Gormaz) offers a typical selection of three wines of different quality levels, and while are all made with 100% tempranillo grapes, the age of the vines and barrel types differs with each wine. (See below for details.) Some addition background: The winery was founded in 1972, and was one…
Review: Port Askaig 33 Years Old
Looking for more rare Islay whisky? Check out Port Askaig’s 33 year old bottling. For those who’ve missed our previous coverage, Port Askaig isn’t an actual distillery but rather a brand that oversees various single malts sourced from all over the island (and nowhere else). Port Askaig doesn’t exactly reveal the origin of its spirits, but…
Review: Wines of Citra and Ferzo, 2018 Releases
Here’s an Italian wine brand that’s been around since 1973, but which is little-known in the U.S.: Codice Citra, which is based in the Abruzzo region in southern-central Italy (just south of Umbria). Before the wines, first some education: Codice Citra wines are estate grown and bottled from a collection of family-owned vineyards in the…
Review: O.R.E. 118 Raw Vegan Gin
Is gin usually not vegan? Not raw? I’m not aware of many distilleries using animal by-products in their production process (perhaps with the exception of gelatin and maybe honey), but I suppose it’s possible. If veganism is your bag, you probably want to know that your gin is free from animal involvement. As for the “raw” claims, well,…
