Review: Shock Top Twisted Pretzel Wheat
I absolutely love pretzels, so how could I say no to Shock Top’s latest, a simulacrum of salted pretzel in beer form. Essentially a flavored Belgian-style wheat beer, Twisted Pretzel Wheat does an amazing job of recreating that favorite of baked treats in boozy form. Wheaty-bready with that familiar pretzelly bent, it offers a touch…
Review: 4 Pearl Vodka Flavors – Lime Basil, Strawberry Basil, Chocolate Hazelnut, and Pumpkin Spice
Introducing four new flavors from Luxco-owned Pearl Vodka (which recently rebranded all its bottles with a more streamlined design) — two fruity/basil blends, two dessert-focused for winter sipping. Let’s give them all a sample. All are 70 proof. Pearl Vodka Lime Basil – Gentler than you’d think. Heavy on candied lime peel, with just a…
Recipe: Southern Bourbon Holiday Punch
Who’s ready for some punch? If you’re in the neighborhood, here’s what we’ll be serving… With props to Yankee Kitchen Ninja (which in turn adapted the recipe from Garden & Gun). Southern Bourbon Holiday Punch 1 1/2 cups turbinado sugar 4 cups brewed black tea, cooled 4 cups bourbon 2 cups spiced rum 2 cups brandy…
Review: 21st Amendment El Sully Mexican Style Lager
You needn’t head all the way down to Mazatlan to get a Mexican beer: 21st Amendment is making a Mexican-style brew right here in San Leandro, California. One sniff of El Sully and you’ll be transported to your favorite beach — or, probably, your local sports bar — wherever it is you tend to sip…
Blend Your Own Rum with Rum Blender
Remember Whisky Blender? Which lets you whip up your own bespoke vatted malt? Now the company behind that operation is doing the same thing with another big spirit category: Rum. Same idea as before: Rum Blender has seven rums to choose from. You select the proportion of each that you want, in 10ml increments, until…
Review: Popcorn Sutton Small Batch Recipe Moonshine
Don’t know Popcorn Sutton? Pshaw! The man wrote the book — literally, and he self-published it — on how to make moonshine. Sutton passed away in 2009, but you can still get a copy of Me and My Likker for, oh, $500. If you’ve never seen a picture of Sutton, stop and click this link. The…
Review: The Macallan Amber and Gold
The Macallan has never been a distillery to do things in a straightforward way. Case in point: the 1824 collection. There’s not just one. There are many. There’s an 1824 Master Series (which Rare Cask is part of). And there’s an 1824 Collection Travel Retail (which these whiskies are part of). Amber and Gold are…
Review: 2012 Mullan Road Cellars Red Wine Blend Columbia Valley
The Cakebread empire’s latest acquisition is Mullan Road* Cellars, a Washington winery focusing on this Bordeaux-style red blend. The 2012 vintage of Mullan Road Cellars Red is 51% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot, and 12% cabernet franc. Mullan Road may be young, but it’s already showing some impressive chops with this blend. The wine is initially…
