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…
A Visit to Copper Fox Distillery
While only an hour and a half outside of Washington, D.C., Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville, Virginia seems worlds away from any city. Many new distilleries today are taking up shop in suburban business parks or urban warehouse spaces, which makes this location, in an old 1930s apple warehouse and cider mill at the foot…
Review: The Bitter Truth Celery, Cucumber, and Olive Bitters
It’s been said that there is a flavor of bitters for every season, and if you need proof just check out this latest collection from The Bitter Truth, which has been expanding its bitters lineup into some unusual areas. Let’s look at this trinity and see if they merit a home on your bartop. The…
Review: Copper & Kings American Brandy (2017) and Destillare Orange Curacao
Louisville’s Copper & Kings continues to push the craft distilling envelope, this time venturing into the world of triple sec. Today we look at the new product, Destillare, while taking a fresh spin through the company’s flagship brandy. Copper & Kings American Brandy – This is the same spirit as the old C&K Craft Distilled…
Recipe: Sweet Effort
We’ve written about the Tahona Society Cocktail Competition in the past, where tequila is the name of the game and where bartenders from all over the world compete to create a unique cocktail. The most recent installment concluded with this winner from Jeppe Nothlev of Helium bar in Copenhagen, Denmark. It’s a sweet little number with lots of…
Review: Clyde May’s Alabama Style Whiskey Cask Strength 9 Years Old
Clyde May’s is becoming well known for its “Alabama style whiskey” — though it is currently sourced and bottled in Florida — which adds dried apples to the barrel to impart some sweetness to the aging spirit. The latest release from the company is a cask strength release, bottled at 9 years old. This is…
Review: Firestone Walker Helldorado Blonde Barley Wine Ale (2017)
Barrel aging has become wildly popular in the craft-brewing world, but it remains, for the most part, a process almost exclusively applied to darker beers like porters and stouts. No strangers to pushing the envelope with their brews, California-based Firestone Walker Brewing Company bucks that trend with its Helldorado Blonde Barley Wine Ale, which is…
