Review: Lagunitas Super Cluster, Passion Grass, and Cherry Jane
As fall approaches, here’s a look at a trio of new beers from Petaluma, California-based Lagunitas. Lagunitas Super Cluster – “A Citra-hopped mega ale of intergalactic proportions,” this is actually a fairly straightforward, West Coast style IPA, with some bitter orange peel notes to give it a slightly fruity kick. Heavy earth and pine notes,…
Review: The Chita Single Grain Whiskey
While The Yamazaki and Hukushu distilleries are Suntory’s best-known operations, it actually runs a third called The Chita. Officially known as The SunGrain Chita Distillery, it’s Suntory’s youngest distillery, in operation since 1972. You won’t find a lot of pictures of it online because, well, it’s not such a beautiful site, with an industrial design…
Where to Drink in Asheville, North Carolina
The eclectic, mountaintop city of Asheville, North Carolina has long been a mecca for craft beer in the southern United States. Craft brewing behemoths like Sierra Nevada and New Belgium have even set up East Coast operations there, alongside more than 40 other, smaller breweries. But there’s more to Beer City USA than beer, as…
Review: Parker’s Heritage Collection Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon 24 Years Old (2016)
You might be asking, aren’t we almost on the 12th release of the annual Parker’s Heritage Collection? The answer is yes, and our review on that one will be out soon, we promise. (Next week! -Ed.) The short version of this story is that it took us a while to locate a sample of the…
Review: William Heavenhill Single Barrel Bourbon (5th Edition)
William Heavenhill Single Barrel is a distillery exclusive bottling from Heaven Hill Distilleries that is available only at the Bourbon Heritage Center that adjoins the distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. It was named for a 19th century distiller and owner of the land where the distillery now sits. For the 5th edition of William Heavenhill that…
Review: 2016 Landmark Vineyards Chardonnay Overlook and Pinot Noir Hop Kiln
We’ve covered Landmark Vineyards’ wines repeatedly over the years. Today we look at two new releases, both from Sonoma, from the 2016 vintage. 2016 Landmark Vineyards Chardonnay Overlook Sonoma County – Butter, oak, and vanilla are whipped into a frenzy on this impactful but approachable wine, with layers of coconut, buttered popcorn, and lemon tea…
Review: Citadelle Reserve Gin (2018) and Citadelle Extremes No. 1 “No Mistake” Old Tom Gin
While we’ve reviewed various Citadelle Gin bottlings in the past, it’s been a full five years since we’ve seen anything from the brand. For a retrospective, check out our coverage from 2013, 2010, and 2009. Well, a lot has changed at Citadelle in the last year, which has seen changes to the way Citadelle’s barrel-aged…
Review: Whiskey Del Bac Dorado, Clear, and Classic (2018)
Hamilton Distillers is based in Tucson, Arizona, and wears its desert cred on its sleeve. Distilling out of a 40 gallon pot still since 2011, this is a grain-to-glass (sand-to-glass?) operation that even operates its own malt house (now tank-malted instead of floor-malted). The Del Bac line includes three single malts, two of which are smoked with…
