Review: Kaiyo Japanese Mizunara Oak Whisky – Original, Peated, and Cask Strength
In the world of whisky, Japan is finally starting to see some competition. As much as I love Suntory and Nikka, it’s been a delight to see whiskies from the likes of Ohishi make it to the U.S. Now another new player has entered the game: Kaiyo, which has a story as interesting as any…
Review: 2015 Cantina Terlano Gries Lagrein Reserve Alto Adige
Gries is a vineyard in the Dolomite mountains, in Italy’s northern Alto Adige region. This wine from Cantina Terlano (aka Terlan) is made from lagrein, a meaty grape indigenous to the region. Dense and intense, this licorice-fueled monster offers notes of mushroom, currants, and motor oil. Intense vegetal notes and notes of bacon fat and…
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…
