Review: NV Haute Couture French Bubbles Blanc and Rose
Our friends at Boisset are out with two new sparkling wines from France… but don’t call them Champagne. These are denoted as “French sparkling wine” and both are bottled dry and nonvintage. A blanc and a rose version are both available. Haute Couture French Bubbles, the newest sparkling wine from the Boisset Collection unites the two…
Review: Woodford Reserve Distillery Series – Blended Rye
Woodford Reserve’s latest entry into its Distillery Series — so-called because it is only sold at the distillery — is called Blended Rye. As the name suggests, it’s a blend of rye whiskeys: Woodford Reserve announces the latest Distillery Series expression as a unique blend of aged rye whiskey. The Woodford Reserve Distillery first made…
Review: New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Juicy Mandarina IPA and French Oak Saison
It’s a duo of new beers from New Belgium, both appearing in oversized 22 oz. bottles. Let’s dig in! New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Juicy Mandarina IPA – A new entry into the Voodoo Ranger series from New Belgium, this beer isn’t dosed with mandarin oranges but rather features bitterness courtesy of German Mandarina Bavaria and…
Review: Tomintoul 16 Years Old
My dad recently asked me if I’d had Tomintoul before. I knew I had, but had none in my stash (and nothing fresh in my mind), so I went digging around in my archives. Turns out I’ve reviewed Tomintoul on several occasions — all of them at whisky shows, never on their own. Tomintoul is…
Review: 2016 Hacienda Lopez de Haro Rioja Blanco
White Rioja isn’t terribly common in the States, but Lopez de Haro’s Blanco is reasonably available. This blend of Viura and other grapes is decidedly innocuous, a chewy wine with notes of lemon and figs, with a slightly buttery character thanks to the wine’s three months spent in French oak. The finish adds a touch…
Review: Rebel Yell Single Barrel Bourbon 10 Years Old 2017
Last year, Luxco released a small collection of 10 year old Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey to significant acclaim. At the time this was thought to be a one-off, but now a second expression of Rebel Yell 10 Year Old is arriving for 2017. As with the 2016, the 2017 edition of Rebel Yell 10…
Review: Unibroue Ephemere Sureau
Canada’s Unibroue has a long-running series of beers called Ephemere, all wheat ales fermented with fruit added. The latest (#8) in the series is Sureau, which is made with elderberry and elderflowers. The nose is fragrant and fruity — with blueberry notes and indistinct florals. On the palate, the beer is surprisingly dry — far…
Review: The Beers of MadTree Brewing Company
MadTree Brewing Company opened in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2013 and has seen rapid growth ever since. They recently expanded their operation and partnered with Cavalier Distributing to bring their beers to the rest of Ohio as well as Kentucky. With their beers set to reach a broader audience and a promising track record, it was…
