Recipe: St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails 2016
St. Patrick’s Day doesn’t just have to be a shot of Jameson and a mug of green beer. Here’s a host of more elevated cocktails that can help you get your green on this Thursday. Precision Pilot 1 part Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix 1 part Lillet Rosé ¾ part Campari ½ part Combier Pamplemousse Rosé 1 dash Peychaud’s Bitters…
Review: Saint James Cuvee 1765 Rhum Vieux Agricole
Saint James is a massive Martinique rum operation with dozens of product offerings in its vast lineup. Oddly, few of them seem common on U.S. shores, though that may slowly be changing as the distillery’s footprint grows larger. Cuvee 1765 is the company’s latest offering, bottled to commemorate the company’s 250th anniversary. There’s no real…
Review: Deschutes Brewery Hop Henge Experimental IPA (2015)
Deschutes’ Hop Henge continues its run of being “just OK,” with this year’s special edition — well, late 2015’s special edition — of its “experimental IPA” incorporating Mandarin Bavaria and Centennial hops (among others). Bitterness is ratcheted quite a bit down from last year to just 66 IBUs, the overall impact of all this being,…
Review: Spirit of America Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey
The flag-emblazoned eagle and red-white-and-blue color scheme aside, Spirit of America doesn’t come across like a pioneering bourbon. Even the promise that it is “handcrafted” obscures the fact that this is MGP-produced juice. Turns out though that there’s something unique under the hood here: Spirit of America isn’t just a wheated bourbon, it’s the first to be…
Review: AsomBroso Ultrafino The Collaboration Barrel 1
It’s been years (eight, actually) since we checked in with the exotically-bottled AsomBroso. These days you’ll find this high-end tequileria churning out luxe bottlings like this one — an 11-year-old French-oak-barrel-aged extra anejo that is finished in Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon casks, making it an awfully rare bottling in a world where 3-year-old spirits are considered…
Review: Peychaud’s Aperitivo
Peychaud’s is one of the most classic bitters brands — and lately owner Sazerac (Buffalo Trace’s parent company) has been pushing the brand even further. First came a barrel-aged version of Peychaud’s Bitters. Now comes a whole new category of product: Peychaud’s Aperitivo. If you’re familiar with Aperol or Campari, you understand the basics of…
Review: 2012 Stonestreet Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
This latest release from Stonestreet showcases an incredible turnaround from last year’s lackluster slate. This cabernet is drinking wonderfully already, showcasing notes of chocolate-covered cherries, solid vanilla notes, and a touch of eucalyptus. The body is round and mouth-filling, the finish moderate in length but gentle and lightly bittersweet as it fades out. Worthwhile on its…
Review: Col. E.H. Taylor Seasoned Wood Bourbon
It’s been nearly a year since Buffalo Trace’s last release in the Colonel E.H. Taylor line, and now the eighth of these whiskeys is here, and it’s got quite a story behind it. First, it’s critical to note that this is a wheated bourbon, while the others are all rye-focused bourbons, except for one straight rye.…
