Review: Wines of Dierberg, 2016 Releases
Established by Jim and Mary Dierberg in 1996, Dierberg Vineyards is a pinot and chardonnay shop that grows grapes in two cool-climate estate vineyards: the 160-acre Dierberg Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley appellation, and the 70-acre Drum Canyon Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. (The family also runs the Star Lane winery, which is in…
Review: Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast
You know how you have those neighbors that go all out at Halloween? They put their decorations up in September. Everyone gets dressed up, even the dog. They give out the full size Snickers. You know the type. Well, I had no idea, but Captain Morgan is that family. This new limited edition expression follows…
Review: Sonoma Cider The Wimble
This new limited edition cider from Sonoma Cider is billed as a Rhubarb Gose, a spin on the classic, slightly salty, semi-sour beer style. Sonoma’s gose-cider (gosider?) is made from organic apples, organic red rhubarb, and sea salt, coming together with a lick of sugar and salt up front, quickly fading to a light sour…
Review: Baileys Pumpkin Spice
Fall is here, and that must mean it’s time for… special edition flavored liqueurs! Today’s comes from Baileys, which takes its iffy history with limited edition flavors and adds to it that biggest of crowd pleasers: pumpkin spice. Of course, pumpkin spice never really means much in the way of pumpkins, but “nutmeg/cinnamon/ginger/clove spice” just doesn’t have…
Review: Blandy’s Madeira Collection, 10 Years Old
Not too long ago, we rounded up the world of Madeira as Blandy’s sees it. I won’t go into the full Madeira backstory; click the link if you want the deep dive into what Madeira is and where it comes from. In that review we looked at five year old Madeiras. Now we kick it…
Review: Trail’s End Bourbon
In my daily life, Trail’s End refers to the popcorn that my son’s Cub Scout pack has to sell every year. Turns out it is also the name, completely unaffiliated of course, of a bourbon brand, produced by Hood River Distillers (which makes Pendleton) in Oregon. Trail’s End is sourced bourbon from Kentucky, where it…
Drinkhacker 2016 Wine Cheat Sheet / Vintage Chart
It’s a new year for the Cheat Sheet, that quick ‘n’ handy guide to various wine vintages, which you can cut out, fold up, and keep in your wallet or purse so it’s always at the ready when you find a wine list flummoxing you. As always, here’s how to use the cheat sheet: Only…
Review: Lagavulin 25 Years Old 200th Anniversary Edition (2016)
Islay is rife with 200th anniversaries this year. Up next is Lagavulin, which is putting out a special 25 year old anniversary bottling to commemorate the occasion (which is weird because it already had one 200th anniversary edition, an 8 year old). Some details from the distillery: Lagavulin 25 Year Old, matured exclusively in sherry…
