Review: Sagamore Spirit Cask Strength Rye and Double Oak Rye
Pick up any book about the history of whiskey in America, and you’ll probably read that rye, not bourbon, was the first whiskey distilled in these United States, with “Maryland-style” being one of the more popular offerings. The category almost completely disappeared not long after the repeal of Prohibition, but Sagamore Spirit in Baltimore is…
Cigar Review: Quintero Panetelas
The good folks at Montefortuna Cigars have been gracious enough to supply us with a sampling of Cuban cigars to pair some of our favorite drinks in preparation for the forthcoming autumnal season. Think we should keep reviewing cigars? Let us know in the comments! Quintero Panetelas – Do not be deceived by the size…
Review: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C918 (September 2018)
Elijah Craig’s Barrel Proof releases may not have sexy names — they’re monikered after the month and year they’re released — but they’re nonetheless highly prized by bourbon nuts, the same way that the seasonal Booker’s bourbon releases are. The latest release is C918, bottled in September 2018. We tasted, and here’s how it acquits…
Review: 2017 Bota Box Dry Rose California
Boxed wine continues its quest for acceptance among serious wine drinkers, and Bota Box’s Dry Rose — a mystery blend from all over the state — does a decent job at furthering that agenda. As the name of the wine states, this rose is on the dry side (though not bone dry), a tart and…
Review: Metallica’s Blackened Whiskey
Celebrity whiskey reaches its apex with Blackened, a blended American whiskey built and branded by heavy metal legends Metallica. Crafted by Maker’s Mark veteran (and current WhistlePig distiller) Dave Pickerell, Blackened isn’t a gimmick, though it does stretch some industry boundaries. Here’s how it’s made: First, it’s not a bourbon or a rye, but a…
Recipe: Boots with the Fur
I came across this cocktail, from Lily Neff, bartender at Longman & Eagle in Chicago, in the most recent issue of Whisky Advocate. It’s a perfect sipper for fall, and it makes use of a big current trend in mixology — saline solution, which gives your cocktail a natural saltiness. It’s a curious ingredient. After prepping…
Review: Little Book Blended Whiskey Chapter 2: “Noe Simple Task” (2018)
When Jim Beam and Freddie Noe released Little Book last year, it caused a bit of a stir. Though it wasn’t my favorite whiskey of the year, it had a lot of charm, in part because it was so different from the usual juice coming out of Kentucky. Little Book isn’t bourbon, it’s a blend.…
Tasting the Wines of Argentina’s La Posta, 2016 Vintage
La Posta is an interesting concept from Argentina’s Laura Catena, a master brand designed to promote “grower wines” — wines which are made by the growers of the grapes. The focus here is, of course, heavily on malbec. Some details: Fourth generation vintner Laura Catena is championing Grower Malbec with her passion project, La Posta.…
