Review: Seagram’s 7 Crown American Blended Whiskey
Though it is a definitive classic, I haven’t exactly been itching to review this, “a blind of distinctive character” that hails from Norwalk, Connecticut. And yet it merits our coverage, because Seagram’s 7 Crown — aka Seagram’s 7 — is as close to an essential whiskey as there is. It’s one of just a handful…
Review: Wines of Veramonte, 2018 Releases
Veramonte is a well-known producer of all manner of varietals in Chile, Here’s a look at four new releases, every one of them 11 bucks at most. 2017 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca Valley – Fresh and delightful, this is sauvignon blanc at its most balanced — briny, acidic, lightly fruity, and just a touch sour.…
Review: Savage and Cooke Second Glance American Whiskey and The Burning Chair Bourbon
A project that’s been years in the making, Savage and Cooke (alternately Savage & Cooke), recently opened its doors in Mare Island, California, a quirky stretch of land in the East San Francisco Bay area. Its proprietor is Dave Phinney, whose Orin Swift Cellars has a minor, but visible and vocal, cult following. Now he’s…
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…
