Review: 2015 Pfendler Vineyards Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
I’d never heard of Pfendler Vineyards before attending a media lunch last week, where I met owner Kimberley Pfendler and winemaker Justin Harmon. I’m glad I did, because what I discovered was some of the best-produced wine I’ve had in recent memory, hailing from Sonoma’s most recently designated AVA, the Petaluma Gap. With production of…
Two Beertails for Chinese New Year 2018
On February 16, the Year of the Dog will be upon us. Sure, you can celebrate with snake wine and firecrackers, or you can fire up one of these lighter cocktails, both made with China’s Tiger Beer, which provided them. Gung hay fat choy! Ginger Lemon Tiger Sour .75 oz fresh lemon juice 1 oz…
Review: MarieBelle x Reserva de la Familia Chocolate Box Set
In partnering with chocolatier MarieBelle, Jose Cuervo has created a limited edition of “luxuriously decadent ganache chocolates,” a mix of dark and milk chocolates that are infused with Cuervo’s extra anejo Reserva de la Familia tequila. This isn’t Cuervo’s first spin with a chocolate producer. Last year, the company released a delightful (but different) collection…
Cocktails for Valentine’s Day 2018
Not everyone wants to get out to brave weather and traffic for a jam-packed restaurant on Valentine’s Day. Instead, why not create a romantic dinner in with your sweetie, friend, or even yourself. Check out these great cocktails to get things started, and finish the meal with a red wine-infused cake. You’ll be glad you…
Review: Samuel Adams Sam ’76
Samuel Adams isn’t the first company to marry an ale with a lager, but as far as mainstream versions of this hybrid go, it pulls it off remarkably well. A little backstory: Born in Samuel Adams’ experimental nano brewery in Boston, it took more than a year of testing and 60 different brews for the…
Review: Grand Marnier and Grand Marnier Cuvee du Centenaire
Is it possible we’ve never reviewed one of the most essential liqueurs ever produced (GM Titanium notwithstanding)? Grand Marnier, the orange-meets-brandy spirit, deserves a spot in every liquor cabinet, and I’ll tell you why in a moment. First, what is Grand Marnier, actually? Understand that this is a different animal than triple sec or Cointreau. While…
Review: 2015 Mark Ryan Winery Water Witch Red Wine Red Mountain
Mark Ryan Winery is based in Woodinville in Washington state, and Water Witch is its latest project, a reintroduction of one of the first wines it ever created. Back in 2012, Mark Ryan partnered with Quintessence Vineyards to plant a 13.6-acre block on the south slope of Red Mountain, and the grapes are now being used…
Review: Bedlam Vodka
Graybeard Distillery can be found in Durham, NC, and it makes a single product, Bedlam Vodka, which is distilled from rice “with a deep Irish heritage.” The concept behind the vodka: Avoiding harshness. Per Graybeard CEO Brandon Evans. “After years of dissatisfaction with many vodka’s on the market, we came together to create a spirit based…
