Review: Virgil Kaine Robber Baron Rye Whiskey
Virgil Kaine, based in North Charleston, SC, is known for its ginger-infused bourbon — and now it’s stretching its brand to reach into straight spirits. First up is Virgil Kaine Robber Baron, a rye. It’s actually a blend of two whiskeys: 4% is bourbon and 96% is rye. Digging deeper, the bourbon is from a mash…
Review: Firestone Walker Adversus
Firestone Walker’s latest release in its “Leo v. Ursus Chronology” is Adversus, a big, unfiltered IPA made with lighter European-style pilsner malt. The malt surprisingly comes through right away despite the fact that Firestone was “hopping the bejesus out of this beer.” On the front of the palate that caramel sweetness hits first, lingering with notes of…
Review: Swift Single Malt Texas Whiskey Sauternes Finish
In case you missed our earlier review, Texas’s Swift Single Malt Whiskey is a gem in a world of lackluster single malts made in the U.S. Now the distillery is out with a new expression: single malt finished in Sauternes casks instead of the Oloroso sherry casks used for the mainline release. The distillery gives us…
Book Review: Cork Dork
Bianca Bosker used to be a technology reporter (hey, like me!) for the Huffington Post. Now she’s gone loopy for vino. In her book Cork Dork, Bosker waxes poetic about the year she spent evolving from total wine novice to seasoned pro, primarily through learning how to taste en route to taking the Certified Sommelier Exam.…
Review: Tequila Exotico – Blanco and Reposado
Tequila Exotico (part of the budding Luxco empire) is a new, 100% agave tequila made from Highlands agave. With Day of the Dead styling on its otherwise understated bottles, the tequila is available in only blanco and reposado expressions. (No anejo has been produced so far.) We tasted both. Thoughts follow. Both are 80 proof…
Review: 2015 Don & Sons Chardonnay Sonoma Valley Watmaugh Ranch
The Don in question here is the famous Don Sebastiani, and this is his (and his family’s) first wine under this new label. A classic Sonoma chardonnay, the Don & Sons Chardonnay offers a hefty nose of oak and brown butter, with plenty of vanilla. On the palate, the fruit becomes more evident, though the…
Happy Birthday To Us!
We did it! 10 years old today! Last chance to hop on our Booker’s Bourbon giveaway… we’ll pick the winner tomorrow. Cheers, and have a great Labor Day! Related posts: Review: Happy Hour: A Cocktail Card Game Review: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2022 Edition Review: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2023 Edition Review: Old Forester Birthday…
Review: Baron Samedi Spiced Rum
There’s a great story behind Baron Samedi then man — he’s the legendary master of the dead in Haiti, “the ever-cool and confident guide to a world shrouded in shadows and riddled with enigma.” (He’s also the henchman to the big bad in Live and Let Die, if you’re a Bond fan.) Baron Samedi the rum…
