Review: Breckenridge Brewery Pumpkin Spice Latte Stout
One late arrival from Colorado’s Breckenridge Brewery, a festive, nitrogen-charged seasonal inspired by the classic pumpkin spice latte. Breckenridge Brewery’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Stout is “stout made with dark roasted malts and carefully roasted, cold pressed coffee beans. Vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves delicately complement the taste of rich pumpkin.” Results: Coffee dominates the malty, roasted nut-heavy experience,…
A Tour of Scotland: Understanding Scotch Whiskies
Even to a whiskey drinker comfortable with bourbons and Irish whiskeys, Scotch can seem like a whole different world. Due to the varied climate of Scotland, from the wind-buffeted western islands to the famous highlands, Scotch can be incredibly different from distillery to distillery. So join us now for a whisky tour of Scotland, where…
Review: Loch Lomond Blended Scotch Reserve and Single Grain Scotch
Loch Lomond, an independent distiller and blender in Scotland, is finally bringing its wares to America. (Loch Lomond owns the Littlemill Distillery, which lays claim to being perhaps the oldest distillery in Scotland, if not the world.) In all, 14 expressions of various brands of whisky are arriving. Today we start with two under the…
Review: Three Holiday Ales for 2016 – Bear Republic, The Bruery, St. Bernardus
Holidays always bring out the specialty brews to the delight of many beer and ale aficionados, including me. Most of these beers and ales are good for any fall holiday and work well into New Year’s Eve. Here are three ales are sure to please you as much as they did me. I recommend them…
Review: Espolon Tequila Anejo X Extra Anejo
Looking for a really old tequila? Espolon Anejo X takes the extra anejo formula to new heights, with this expression spending a full six years in barrel before bottling. In a world where most extra anejos top out at five years, Espolon is trying to push the boundaries… while keeping prices lean. Surprise #1: Espolon…
Book Review: Esquire’s Drink Like a Man
If Esquire had come up with something better than its carrot-juice-doctored bottled Manhattan for its first ready-to-drink cocktail, I might be more willing to go along with the subtitle that this is “the only cocktail guide anyone really needs.” But Esquire has always been long on hyperbole, so it’s hard to fault it here. Drink Like a Man,…
Review: Nelson’s Green Brier Belle Meade Bourbon Cognac Cask Finished
Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in Nashville is doubling down on barrel finishing. This rendition of Belle Meade Bourbon (sourced form MGP) starts with a mash that includes 30% rye. The stock used is a blend of whiskeys drawn from barrels aged 6 to 9 years – but we’re not ready for bottling just yet. At…