Review: Bols Genever 100% Malt Spirit
Genever is a spirit that has lately been wrapped up with gin, but its original recipe was actually closer to a whiskey than a neutral spirit. For the first time in hundreds of years, Lucas Bols is bringing that recipe back. Designed “for collectors and cocktail enthusiasts,” the awkwardly-named Bols Genever 100% Malt Spirit is…
Review: 2015 Tascante Ghiaia Nera Nerello Mascalese Sicilia DOC
Tascante is a project from the Italian winemaking family Tasca d’Almerita, producing a collection of wines on Sicily’s Mt. Etna. The wines are heavy on native varietals, including this affordable bottling, made from nerello mascalese, a grape with some genetic similarity to sangiovese. Soft but nutty, this wine shows a gentle meaty note, close to roasted pork,…
Review: Maker’s Mark Private Select for Star Hill Provisions
In 2015, Maker’s Mark launched one of the most ambitious private barrel programs I’ve encountered to date. The concept starts with a standard Maker’s Mark barrel, but after it’s fully matured, buyers get to drop 10 additional wood staves into the barrel, where they finish the bourbon for an additional nine weeks. Five types of…
Review: Beers of Revolver Brewing
MillerCoors-owned Revolver Brewing finds its home in Granbury, Texas, where it produces a small but growing collection of beer in several styles — all distinctly Texanized. Four beers in total are available in year-round release, with a fifth on the way (plus a variety of limited-edition offerings). Today we look at the core quartet, which…
Review: Sons of Liberty Uprising and Battle Cry Single Malt Whiskeys
We’ve covered a number of products from Sons of Liberty Beer & Spirits Company, located in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, a company that’s best known for seasonal whiskeys like its annually released pumpkin spice-flavored whiskey. The company also runs a small brewery (though the beers are not widely available), and lately it’s been turning those beers…
Review: 2016 Frank Family Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Frank Family’s latest releases have arrived, both from the 2016 vintage and both from the Carneros region. A chardonnay and a pinot noir are both on tap. Thoughts follow. 2016 Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay Carneros – While buttery and creamy, this chardonnay nonetheless manages to showcase some acidity as well as brilliant fruit, including apple,…
Review: Diageo Orphan Barrel Project Rhetoric Bourbon 24 Years Old
It’s hard to believe but Diageo’s Rhetoric line is now at 24 years old, in its fifth installment out of what will eventually be a total of six. As a reminder, the bourbon was sourced from Louisville’s Bernheim Distillery and was made from a mash of 86% corn, 8% barley, and 6% rye. I took…
Review: Samuel Adams New England IPA and Boston 26.2 Brew
Sam Adams has two new brews arriving, one of which you’ll want to make part of your regular rotation, one a special release with charitable aims. Let’s look at both. Samuel Adams New England IPA – It’s only fitting that Boston-based Sam Adams would jump on the hazy “New England style” IPA bandwagon, and this…
