Review: Charbay Vodka Lineup (2018)
While we’ve reviewed countless whiskeys, tequilas, and even pomegranate wines from Ukiah’s Charbay, we’ve only formally reviewed a single bottle of their vodka — which might actually be what the distillery is best known for. It’s time to correct things, by taking a deeper dive into five Charbay vodka expressions, from straight vodka to their…
Review: Wines of Patricia Ortiz – Tapiz, Zolo, and Wapisa, 2018 Releases
Patricia Ortiz is the impresario behind three Argentina wineries: Tapiz, Zolo, and Wapisa. These wineries are primarily located in the Mendoza region, the exception being the new Wapisa, which is located just 25 miles from the Atlantic Ocean on the Rio Negro in central Patagonia. Ortiz’s crew sent us six wines from across these three…
Review: Highland Park The Dark 17 Years Old and Full Volume 1999 18 Years Old
As Orkney-based Highland Park continues to reshuffle its lineup, two new whiskies, both limited releases for 2018, have arrived on the scene. Let’s take a look at both in turn. Highland Park The Dark 17 Years Old – This limited release bottling is a rarity, Highland Park aged for 17 years in first fill sherry…
Review: Don Chelada Michelada Mix and Cups
Don Chelada is all in on micheladas, that classic combination of Mexican beer and spicy chiles that is Mexico’s answer to the bloody mary. Don Chelada offers two ways of making a michelada at home. First, rim a glass with spices, pour in your beer and add a couple of ounces of Don Chelada’s liquid…
Review: La Luna Mezcal Cupreata
La Luna is a new mezcal brand, hailing from Puente International Spirits, based in Etucuaro, Michoacán. Mezcal has been made here since 1910 by the Perez Escot family, where cupreata agave is grown and smoked over white oak to make this spirit. La Luna is reportedly made with a significant attention paid to the farmers…
Review: Rogue 10 Hop IPA
Rogue’s 10 Hop IPA is less a celebration of hops and more a celebration of the number ten. Ten kinds of hops. 10.10% alcohol. Even 10 degrees Lovibond (a color measurement). All the hops come from Rogue’s own farm in Independence, Oregon: Liberty, Newport, Revolution, Independent, Freedom, Rebel, Yaquina, Alluvial, Adair, and Keven varieties, plus Rogue…
Review: Virginia Distillery Chardonnay Finished Virginia Highland Malt Whisky
Following on its Port Cask Finished Highland Malt comes Virginia Distillery Co.’s next installment, finished in Chardonnay casks sourced from local wineries, including Grace Estate Winery, Michael Shaps, Virginia Wineworks and Paradise Springs Winery. As with the Port Cask, this is a blend of Scottish Highland single malt and Virginia-distilled whiskey (from a 100% malt…
Review: Allagash Two Lights
Allagash Brewing Company keeps innovating, experimenting with new combinations of yeasts, malts, hops, and more (reviews of other recent innovations can be seen here, here, and here ). Their newest offering, Two Lights, is designed to be a summer beer: “brewed with sauvignon blanc must fermented with lager and champagne yeast.” The name, “Two Lights,”…
