Review: Sinfire Apple Cinnamon Whisky
Can you out-Fireball Fireball by adding apples to the mix? Hood River’s Sinfire hit the scene as a Fireball competitor three years ago, and while it’s a fine product, the kids in the bars are still sucking down the original Fireball like the world was going to end. Response: Sinfire has launched a new version…
Review: 2015 Cashmere by Cline Red Blend and Black Magic
We’ve been writing about Cline Family Cellars for years — but I had no idea the winery has had a second label since 2001. The Cashmere Collection was designed “to create unique blends from classic varietals” while also using sales revenues to make donations to charities such as the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Today we…
Review: Kilchoman 2009 Vintage and Red Wine Cask Matured
You can’t slow Kilchoman down, as the upstart Islay distillery is still cranking out at least four releases every year. Up next is a new vintage release, last seen in late 2015, and a brand new expression finished in red wine casks. Let’s dive in! Kilchoman 2009 Vintage – This is an eight year old Kilchoman,…
Review: MacMurray 2016 Pinot Gris and 2015 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
With the “Ranch” dropped from the name, MacMurray — formally MacMurray Family Estates — continues to produce wine with a quality well above its pay grade. Today we look at two iconic bottlings from the winery — pinot gris and pinot noir. Thoughts follow. 2016 MacMurray Pinot Gris Russian River Valley – Classic tropical-meets-melon notes…
Review: Roulaison Rum
New Orleans-based Roulaison Distilling offers one product and one product only: Roulaison Rum, a white rum, pot-distilled, unaged, and, as the company puts it, “full of robust, funky complexity.” Made with intense traditionality — spilled and leftover rum is used to spark fermentation naturally — this is a white rum for those unafraid to get…
Review: Breckenridge Brewery Oak Aged Saison
Oak Aged Saison is part of Breckenridge’s “Brewery Lane Series,” a line of specialty brews that aim to be adventurous in style and approach. This particular beer is made with French Saison yeast and Gewurztraminer grape juice. The beer is aged for 55 days in oak barrels and clocks in at more than 10% alcohol.…
Review: The Balvenie Tun 1509, Batch 4
The Balvenie is back with another of its highly-desired Tun series, with the fourth expression of Tun 1509 now in the market. We previously reviewed Batch 1 and Batch 2, but Batch 3 somehow slipped by us. As with prior batches, Batch 4 is a vatting of 23 casks, including bourbon and sherry casks that…
Review: The Naked Turtle White Rum
The Naked Turtle is a new rum brand hailing St. Croix, where molasses is distilled five times and bottled completely unaged — “naked,” as the distillery says. Also of note, the company is involved in a serious conservation effort involving turtles: For every bottle of The Naked Turtle White Rum sold, it donates to the Sea…
