Review: Brugal Rum Coleccion Visionaria Edicion 02, Coffee (2024)
The Dominican Republic’s Brugal is back with round two of its Colección Visionaria line, Edicion 02, Coffee. Like the Edicion 01, Cacao release, this rum uses Brugal‘s unique “Aromatic Cask Toasting technique” to infuse barrels with flavor without actually dosing them with a physical liquid or even a solid additive. The secret is toasting coffee…
Review: Little Book The Infinite: Edition 1 (2024)
While it can be hit or miss, Beam’s Little Book series, which is built around the idea of blending whiskeys in sometimes unusual ways, is always a fun diversion from the usual whiskey season fare. Much like Booker’s, this year Little Book is taking the road less traveled and launching a new sub-series: The Infinite,…
Review: The Macklowe American Single Malt (Kentucky Gold) and Rye
Launched by hedge fund manager turned socialite turned booze magnate Julie Macklowe, The Macklowe whiskey brand was designed to introduce the world to what a luxury American Single Malt whiskey could be — at least as Ms. Macklowe envisions it. To achieve that end, Macklowe didn’t exactly scrimp: The operation sources its whiskey from various…
Review: Wines of Southern Italy – Sicily, Puglia, and Abruzzo, 2024 Releases
Italy is a world of wine with twenty different official wine regions, each of which deserves serious attention. Naturally some get more than others, and today we are trying four wines from three regions in the south that are often overlooked by wine drinkers in the U.S.: Sicily, Puglia, and Abruzzo. Let’s give them a…
Review: Uncle Nearest Lost Chapter 1 – 777 Anniversary Blend
Since its launch in 2017, Uncle Nearest has been a brand quick to embrace and highlight American whiskey history. After all, the name itself pays tribute to Nearest Green, whose 7th-generation descendant Fawn Weaver founded the brand amidst a remarkable American whiskey boom. The Tennessee-based operation’s latest line of limited releases has a dual purpose,…
Review: Hard Truth Maple Brulee Rye
In February 2024, I spent a day with Head Alchemist Alan Bishop at Spirits of French Lick in southern Indiana. Among the many bits of wisdom imparted to me by Bishop was the fact that it’s extremely beneficial for craft distilleries to be paired with a tourist destination. While Bishop departed from Spirits of French…
Review: Hudson Rye Calvados Cask 7 Years Old
Tuthiltown Spirits has long served as New York’s first legal distillery following Prohibition. If you’re not familiar with the Tuthiltown name, you’re likely familiar with their house brand, Hudson Whiskey. While 21 years have passed since Hudson Whiskey launched in 2003, its early Baby Bourbon remains the primary fixture in the minds of countless whiskey…
Review: Keeper’s Heart Irish Single Malt Finished in Tokaji Barrels 21 Years Old
Minnesota-based Keeper’s Heart built its early reputation by blending Irish and American whiskeys, or as the company says, “melding Irish and American whiskey traditions.” They followed up some early attention with several more straightforward releases, including a 10 year old Irish single malt we called “restrained but elegant.” Under the guidance of Brian Nation —…
