Review: Woodchuck 802 Collection Lil’ Dry Hard Cider
Woodchuck Hard Cider’s latest foray into boozy appledom is a planned collection of ciders called the 802 Collection. The concept: All ciders in the lineup will be made with only Vermont-grown apples. All varieties in this collection will be traditional ciders made with only fresh pressed Vermont juice from our orchard partners. One of our…
Review: Hennessy Master Blender’s Selection No. 3
In 2016, Hennessy began releasing one-off special editions called the Master Blender’s Selection. Master Blender’s Selection No. 1 and No. 2 were both well received, and now No. 3 continues the line, “a blend composed exclusively of high-quality eaux-de-vie with great potential that have been set aside specifically to be used at the Master Blender’s…
Review: 2016 Rutherford Ranch Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
Two new releases from Napa’s Rutherford Ranch, one of which I can get behind, one of which I can’t… 2016 Rutherford Ranch Merlot Napa Valley – A sugar bomb, overloaded with notes of chocolate sauce and instant coffee. Any hint of the floral delicacy of merlot is absent here, in a wine that feels closer…
Review: Eau Claire Distillery Single Malt Whiskey
The traditional rye-heavy whiskey popular with the likes of Crown Royal and Canadian Club aren’t the only styles of whiskey you’ll find in Canada. Craft distillery Eau Claire is turning out 100% single malt — it’s not just the first craft distillery in Alberta, Canada, it’s the only producer of single malt whiskey in the…
Tasting the Wines of J. McClelland Cellars with Mitch Cosentino, 2019 Releases
Mitch Cosentino has been making wine in California since 1980, and he’s had a hand in dozens of labels in the last four decades. (He’s also credited with bringing the “meritage” style to California.) Today, he works with J. McClelland Cellars — which produces a whopping 54 different brands, only 3 of which are in…
Review: Camus XO Borderies Family Reserve Cognac
Cognac house Camus is out with its newest expansion to its Borderies-produced line of brandies, Camus XO Borderies Family Reserve. As is traditional for this producer, the Cognac is made from estate-grown grapes that are harvested from a single vineyard in the tiny Borderies region. It’s solid stuff. The nose is surprisingly woody and earthy,…
Review: Salt Point Canned Cocktails – Moscow Mule, Greyhound, and Gin Highball
Salt Point is a state park not far from Drinkhacker HQ in northern California. It’s also a new company making canned, ready-to-drink cocktails with premium ingredients… also not too far from our burg, in Mill Valley, Calif. Small batch and all-natural, it’s designed to provide a high-end drinking experience when spirits, mixers, bottles, shakers, muddlers,…
Review: Westland Peat Week 2019
For five years running, Seattle’s Westland Distillery has put out “Peat Week,” a special release that, like Balvenie, is made (and, in this case, is being poured at the distillery) for only one week out of the year. While Westland makes peated whiskey year-round, Peat Week is a special edition with its own barrel regimen.…
