Review: Glenfiddich Project XX
Glenfiddich’s Project XX (pronounced “twenty”) is a unique experiment that defies easy categorization. I’m going to let the distillery explain before I go any further: Project XX is the result of one of the most ambitious malt experiments of Glenfiddich’s 130 year history. The expression is the collaboration between the 20 Glenfiddich Brand Ambassadors from…
Review: Geyser Peak 2012 Tectonic and 2013 Walking Tree Cabernet Sauvignon
Two new reds from Sonoma’s Geyser Peak, both cabernet-focused but wildly different in style — despite both hailing from the same appellation. Let’s give this duo a spin! 2012 Geyser Peak Tectonic Red Blend Alexander Valley – A very dry blend of cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, and petite sirah. The cab takes center stage, with brambly…
The Best Violet Liqueur Roundup: Creme Yvette, Rothman & Winter, The Bitter Truth, & Marie Brizard Parfait Amour
Should you desire an Aviation, a Blue Moon cocktail, or a classically layered Pousse-Cafe, you’ll need one rarity in your bar: violet liqueur, a liqueur which is a lovely shade of purple and which is made, yes, from flower petals. A staple spirit of, oh, the late 1800s, violet liqueur had long been off the market…
Review: The Fruit Ales of Redd’s
Last year Redd’s introduced as its limited edition “pick” (pun intended) a Blueberry Ale. Like all good things, it has returned for another full season along with new sidekicks, Redd’s Raspberry and this year’s limited edition, Peach Ale. Not wanting to leave the other fruity siblings out of the loop, a full flight tasting was…
Understanding the Wines of France
To an average wine imbiber, a trek through the new world wine section of their store of choice is a painless ordeal; a California Cabernet has “Cabernet Sauvignon” written right there on the label. Same with an Oregon Pinot Noir, an Australian Syrah, and just about any other “New World” wine. Blends might be trickier,…
Review: Drapo Vermouth Complete Lineup
Drapo is a line of vermouths produced in Turin, Italy – which as the company tells us was the birthplace of vermouth in 1786. These releases are all bottled at 16% abv, except the Gran Riserva, which hits 18%. Thoughts on the lineup, which are soon/newly available in the U.S., follow. Drapo Vermouth Dry – Aromatic and…
Review: St. Augustine Distillery Florida Double Cask Bourbon
Florida-based St. Augustine’s craft bourbon starts with a mash bill of 60% regional corn, 22% malted barley, and 18% regional wheat. Per the company, “the grains are milled and mashed on site, and fermented with proprietary yeast strains in closed-top fermenters.” The barrels in this release range from 16 to 28 months old, and they’re aged…
Review: Wines of (Illinois-Based) Cooper’s Hawk Lux, 2017 Releases
Cooper’s Hawk is a restaurant chain and winery based in Countryside, Illinois, which is a strange place for a vineyard, no? Rest easy then: Cooper’s Hawk trucks in fresh grapes from California, Oregon, and Washington, then crushes and vinifies them in Illinois before bottling. These wines are non-vintage stated, and some don’t even reveal the grape…
