Review: Koloa Kauai Reserve Hawaiian Rum 3 Years Old
Kauai, Hawaii-based Koloa’s latest rum has hit the market, a three-year old product “artfully crafted in single-batches at its Kalaheo distillery. Kauai Reserve is made from the finest Hawaii sugar cane and fresh island water that was slowly filtered through volcanic strata before reaching vast underground aquifers. Kauai Reserve is carefully aged for a minimum…
Review: Glenfiddich Winter Storm 21 Years Old
Glenfiddich has long been one of Scotland’s more adventurous distillers, and true to its reputation, the operation is out with a new whisky: Glenfiddich Winter Storm, the first-ever single malt Scotch to be finished in ice wine casks, the latest release in the Glenfiddich Experimental Series, joining Glenfiddich India Pale Ale Cask Finish and Glenfiddich Project…
Recipes for National Gin and Tonic Day 2018
April 9th is the day we raise our Gins and Tonic in a toast to the cocktail that idealizes spring. Whether you like yours sweet, savory, or spicy, we know you’ll thoroughly enjoy these cocktails. Whip one up to enjoy while you make our Gin Penne Pasta, which you’ll find at the bottom of the…
Review: Sangre de Vida Tequila Blanco (2018)
We should probably start with the bottle. That’s a human heart, pressed out of red-tinted glass. Inside is blanco tequila, the brand name Sangre de Vida, which previously made some of those cute Day of the Dead skull-themed decanters as well. Sangre de Vida was sued by KAH for copyright infringement and ultimately lost its…
Review: Centenario Rum 7, 9, 12, 20, 25 and 30 Years Old
Centenario Rum, also known as Ron Centenario (and not to be confused with Gran Centenario Tequila), is based in Costa Rica, where the company produces a massive number of expressions, all made from local sugar can and aged in oak. Centenario sent its core lineup of six rums for us to review (there’s also an 18 year…
Review: KO Distilling Battle Standard 142 Navy Strength Gin
Before you get too excited, note that the 142 doesn’t refer to the strength of this gin, from Manassas, Virginia-based KO Distilling. It refers rather to a story about 142 cadet-midshipmen merchant marines who died in WWII. Says the company: “Our founders’ alma mater, the USMMA, is the only federal academy authorized to fly a…
Review: 2015 Big Smooth Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon
With its velvet labels and funky scripting, first impressions of Big Smooth wine mainly run to raised eyebrows and tempered expectations, even though it is part of the Don Sebastiani & Sons empire. Made from grapes grown in Lodi, the wine is actually produced and bottled in Napa. We tasted both expressions available from the wine’s 2015…
Review: Old Forester Signature 100 Proof and Perfect Old Fashioned Syrup
Old Forester, “America’s First Bottled Bourbon” has partnered with Bourbon Barrel Foods to launch its line of Cocktail Provisions, a collection of three bitters, two syrups and one tincture, all designed to elevate (but simplify) the home cocktail experience. Created by Louisville-based Bourbon Barrel Foods and Old Forester Master Taster and Bourbon Specialist Jackie Zykan,…
