Tasting Report: WhiskyFest San Francisco 2015

It was another unforgettable year at 2015’s WhiskyFest, with some of whiskydom’s most cherished icons on tap for tasting, and plenty of old friends to mingle and catch up with. Of course, many of those old friends come in liquid form, and I had ample opportunity to revisit plenty of classic whiskies while spending time…

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Review: GourmetGiftBaskets “Happy Hour” Cheesecake Sampler

Booze and dessert have always had a special relationship, and the folks at GourmetGiftBaskets are taking it one step further by baking bar delights straight into their “Happy Hour” Cheesecake Sampler. It’s a little off the beaten path for Drinkhacker to review cheesecake, but I feel the cocktail connection is strong enough for a discriminating drinker…

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Review: Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection 1838 Style White Corn

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since the awesome Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir Finish bourbon dropped, but the latest annual release — the tenth to come out — of the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection is upon us. This year’s expression is called 1838 Style White Corn. What happened in 1838? Well, that’s when Oscar…

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Review: Alaskan Brewing Company Heritage Coffee Brown and Smoked Porter 2015

It’s cold outside! Don’t stop drinking beer. Drink winter beer. Try these two from our friends up at Alaskan… Alaskan Brewing Company Heritage Coffee Brown Ale – Brown ale brewed with coffee from Heritage Coffee Roasting Co. Part of the Alaskan Pilot Series. Less dense and enveloping than you’d think, this beer offers quite mild coffee…

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Review: Sobieski Estate Single Rye Vodka

Polish, mid-shelf vodka brand Sobieski moves up shelf this month with the launch of an extension to the line: Sobieski Estate Single Rye Vodka, made from “100% Dankowski rye locally grown in Poland which is hand filled and hand crowned by distillers.” The new vodka arrives in California now, with a national rollout coming in…

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Recipe: Thanksgiving Cocktails, 2015

Once again, the Thanksgiving holiday is here, and with it comes the assurance of a few things: the food will be good, the Lions will lose, and the drinks will be poured at a healthy and brisk pace. Here are a few recipes that we’ve received that we will be no doubt pouring in between…

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Review: Arkansas Black Applejack 21 Years Old

Earlier this year we brought you coverage of Arkansas Black Applejack, an artisan apple brandy that happens to be made in my own adopted community in Marin County, California. Now the husband and wife duo have put out a monster of an upgrade: Arkansas Black 21 Years Old. Now Arkansas Black is a youngish operation,…

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Review: 2013 Hahn SLH Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Looking for big quality in American wine at a really attractive price? Check out Hahn’s SLH sub-label, a pair of wines sourced from estate grapes in the Santa Lucia Highlands. These both represent a bit of a premium over the standard Hahn bottlings, but as you’ll see, they’re worth it. 2013 Hahn SLH Pinot Noir…

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