Review: Straw Boys Irish Vodka
As the name suggests, Straw Boys is vodka from Ireland, made from wheat and distilled in copper pots. (The distillery, Connacht, based in County Mayo, also makes poitin, gin, and Irish whiskey, among other delights.) Straw Boys Vodka is a solid example of the spirit. The nose is quite clean, with a light herbal note…
Review: Crown Royal Texas Mesquite
As a born-and-raised Texan, I can personally attest to the state’s love affair with Crown Royal Canadian Whisky. Why this is, I don’t know. I think they really just love the felt bags. As a distinct nod to the state, Crown Royal is releasing a limited-edition whisky called Crown Royal Texas Mesquite. By far the…
Review: A. Smith Bowman Abraham Bowman Sweet XVI Bourbon
The latest experiment from A. Smith Bowman — Sazerac’s Virginia-based distilling operation — is here: Abraham Bowman Sweet XVI Bourbon. Bowman explains the concept: This limited release explores how barrel entry proof affects bourbon flavor profile over long aging periods. The bourbon was allowed to age for sixteen years prior to bottling. This release is…
Review: Woodford Reserve Straight Malt Whiskey
So, Woodford Reserve’s early experiments with malt whiskey may not be among its best releases, but you have to give Chris Morris and crew credit for trying. To that end, Woodford is releasing a new expression built around malted barley as part of its permanent lineup — only the fourth whiskey in the full-time portfolio: Woodford Reserve Kentucky…
Review: Bear Republic Racer 500 Indy Pale Ale
How’s this for cute? Building off its incredibly popular Racer 5, Bear Republic recently launched Racer 500 — “inspired by and brewed to celebrate ‘the greatest spectacle in racing,’ the Indianapolis 500.” The beer is a collaboration with Indiana’s Craftroads Beverage, giving it some hometown cred. Racer 500 is brewed with Amarillo, Citra and Galaxy…
A Visit to Mauritson Family Winery
Mauritson Family Winery is easily accessible on Dry Creek Road, the main corridor of Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley. The Mauritson family arrived here in 1868 and planted its first vines in 1884. Today, the company farms 230 acres in Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, and produces wine under a handful of different labels, all of…
Review: Jagermeister Manifest
Jagermeister continues its slow grind toward premium status with this, its second line extension following Jagermeister Spice, which arrived in 2013. Jagermeister Manifest is a high-end herbal liqueur with a distinctly different approach than the dark-as-night, licorice whip of classic Jager. We had the opportunity to sample the new Jagermeister expression to see if it’s…
Review: King of Kentucky Straight Bourbon 14 Years Old (2018)
Bourbon nuts have already heard the big news: King of Kentucky, a brand established in 1881, acquired by Brown-Forman in 1936, and discontinued in 1968, is back. There’s nothing much connecting this 2018 revival to the 1968 version (it was a blended whiskey at the time), but few will pay that any mind, as this…
