Review: Cedar Ridge The QuintEssential Special Release – Portside
We’ve been keeping tabs on Iowa’s Cedar Ridge for a while now, most recently covering their QuintEssential Signature Blend, a solera style vatting of their American single malt aged for two years in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in up to 20 different cask types. Today, we’re looking at a special release of Cedar Ridge…
Review: Booker’s Bourbon “Mighty Fine Batch” 2023-03
Finally catching up with the final Booker’s Bourbon release for 2023, complete with a new and increasingly “we’re out of names” moniker: “Mighty Fine Batch.” This batch is named in honor of Booker Noe’s signature phrase he’d use to compliment anything he approved of – from his namesake bourbon to his country ham. If you knew…
Review: Ardbeg Anamorphic and Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch 5 (2023)
Two new releases from Islay’s Ardbeg — the latest Committee Release, Anamorphic, and this year’s annual drop of Traigh Bhan, Ardbeg’s ever-shifting 19 year old expression. Details about each follow in turn. Ardbeg Anamorphic – The story with Anamorphic revolves around barrel charring. After removing the heads of classic Ardbeg bourbon casks, they were scored…
Review: Diageo Orphan Barrel Project Castle’s Curse Single Malt Scotch 14 Years Old
The latest from Diageo’s Orphan Barrel Project takes a return trip to Scotland in the form of the ominously named Castle’s Curse. Don’t worry, it’s not so scary: It’s just a 14 year old single malt from Teaninich, aged in sherry casks. Single malts from Teaninch are rare but not unheard of, as Diageo uses…
Review: 2019 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Goldrock Estate and Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon
Paul Hobbs has rapidly rose to prominence as one of the It Winemakers of California, perhaps because he appears to be so very versatile, producing winning bottlings across a range of styles and price points. Today we look at one of his flagship pinot noirs and a new cabernet released under his (slihtly) more affordable…
Ireland and Iberia: Kindred Spirits – An Interview with Irish Distillers’ Billy Leighton
Quick geography lesson for those who slept through it in school. The Iberian Peninsula is a region of southwestern Europe that includes most of Spain and Portugal, a tiny bit of southern France, and Gibraltar. Like Scotch, Irish whiskey has a long tradition of aging in ex-sherry casks that hail from this part of the…
Review: Wines and Cider of Dutton Estate, Late 2023 Releases
Dutton Estate recently dropped two collections of wines, and we’re combining them all into this one mega-review that spans 11 bottlings — plus the latest release of Dutton’s canned apple cider. Let’s jump right in to the lineup! 2022 Dutton Estate Chardonnay Morelli Lane Vineyard – Incredibly fruit-forward, melding melon and tropical notes with elements…
Review: La Maison & Velier Rums, Late 2023 Releases
We’re diving back in with three more new releases from La Maison & Velier, with three new rarities from the importer’s prized, limited edition stocks. Some single cask goodies here… along with some more readily available fare. Dig in. Habitation Velier Long Pond STCE 2007 Single Cask #10 – 15 years old, all ex-bourbon casks;…
