Review: Pilot House Distilling Painted Lady Gin
Astoria, Oregon’s Pilot House Distilling makes a huge range of spirits, but we’ve never reviewed any of them until now, with a look at Painted Lady Gin, a New American style gin that’s crafted with botanicals that include juniper, lavender, rose hips, chamomile, orris root, coriander, lemon zest, peppercorns, and cucumber. That botanical bill may…
Can the Keepers of the Quaich Grow Scotch’s Most Valuable Market?
As liquor industry organizations go, the Keepers of the Quaich is the top of the pyramid for Scotch. Its founding partners — multinational giants Pernod Ricard, Diageo, and Edrington — and other member companies represent a huge chunk of the country’s whisky production. Its twice-yearly, decadent galas are FOMO-inducing events, when select professionals “who work,…
Review: Clonakilty Irish Whiskey 32 Years Old
Clonakilty continues to push boundaries when it comes to expectations around Irish whiskey — and with this release what it’s really pushing is age. This release hits a whopping 32 years of age, spending that time in oloroso sherry hogsheads, with 8 of those years in a maritime warehouse on the edge of the Atlantic…
Mint Juleps and Milestones: Unveiling the Kentucky Derby’s Whiskey Legacy
ADVERTISEMENT The Kentucky Derby is not just a cornerstone of American horse racing; it’s a cultural phenomenon that intertwines the thrill of the sport with the rich tapestry of Kentucky’s whiskey heritage. Central to this celebration is the Mint Julep, a cocktail that encapsulates the essence of the Derby’s tradition and spirit. Classic Mint Julep…
Tasting Virginia’s Best Wines, 2023 Releases
Periodically we visit the wines of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, and up and coming region that celebrates its finest bottlings each year in the form of the Shenandoah Valley Cup. The six wines below took top honors in 2023’s competition, and we’re happy to share our opinions as well. 2020 Briede Sparkling Winchester – The primary varietal…
Review: Glengoyne 25 Years Old
Drew’s been on a Glengoyne kick of late — home of “the slowest stills in Scotland” — so I figured I should see what the fuss is all about for myself. Up next is the oldest expression from the distillery we’ve reviewed today, a 25 year old single malt aged exclusively in sherry casks for…
Review: 2021 Daou Seventeen Forty Reserve Paso Robles
This wine from Daou — now seemingly everywhere — is a blend of 64% cabernet franc, 36% merlot. That’s quite an unusual composition, and I would have guessed this was a lighter style cabernet sauvignon based on its presentation of gentler tones of cherry, blackberry, and blueberry notes. The lattermost of these is particularly enduring,…
Review: La Maison & Velier Rums, Early 2024 Releases
La Maison & Velier continues to turn out high-quality rarities from all over the Caribbean and beyond. Today we look at a trio of newly available releases, each from a different part of the world — and, in this case, none from a Caribbean island. All 700ml bottles. El Amparo Rum – Pot still rum…
