Recipes: Halloween Cocktails, 2016
Halloween is upon us, and with it a weekend’s worth of costumed and themed parties. As always, we’d like to present for your consideration a pretty substantial list of cocktail recipes and ideas that will enhance any get-together you may be planning. The Blood in Hand (Blood and Sand) 1 part Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey…
Review: Wines of Portugal, 2014 Quinto Elemento and Fiuza
Portugal is more than just Port and vinho verde. Here’s a look at two bottlings from off the beaten path, both hailing from the Tejo region, near the Spanish border to the far east of the country. 2014 Quinto Elemento Arinto Reserva Vinho Branco Tejo – Made from the arinto grape, this racy white offers…
Review: Christian Brothers Sacred Bond Brandy Bottle-in-Bond 4 Years Old
The bonded spirits almost always finds a home with whiskey (particularly bourbon and sometimes rye). But there’s no rule that other liquor products can’t go through the bonding process, which involves storing the product in barrel in a special, government-regulated warehouse for at least four years, and bottling the finished product at 100 proof. The…
Gift Idea: Etched Globe Decanter with Matching Glasses
Keeping your whiskey in a decanter is a fancy way to serve spirits, but short of etching a monogram on the bottle, your options for showing off are limited. Instead, try this, MoonRise Market’s decanter that comes in the shape of a globe and comes complete with geographical etchings as well as its own stand,…
Review: Flora Springs Ghost Winery 2013 Red Wine and 2014 Malbec
Each year, Flora Springs celebrates its supposedly haunted old stone winery with fall-released wines released under the sub-moniker of “Ghost Winery.” We received two samples of current releases from the label, just in time for Halloween. 2013 Flora Springs Ghost Winery Red Wine Napa Valley – A blend of 52% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 17%…
Review: Greenbar Bar Keep Bitters
Greenbar Distillery doesn’t just make vodka, whiskey, and a very cool liqueur, it also makes bitters, all of which are organic and bottled at 48% abv. Each was made in conjunction with a different bartender (or two), part of a series of bitters-designing competitions the company has sponsored for several years. Here’s a look at five…
Review: Courvoisier VS, VSOP, and XO Cognac
Courvoisier is revamping the packaging of its VS, VSOP, and XO expressions, with the VSOP getting the biggest switch, moving from its old, iconic, and unwieldy bottle design (called the Josephine) to a more stylish, modern look (see above). Changes to the VS and XO aren’t as extreme. We took the opportunity to review…
Review: 2013 Rotari Brut and Rose
The Trento DOC is part of Italy’s Alto Adige, and it is home to Rotari, a well-distributed sparkling wine made using traditional methods. Generally gentle in style, these are wines that drink well on their own, with food, or in cocktails like Mimosas. As for these specific bottlings, here’s a look at two new, vintage-dated…
