Review: The Exclusive Malts Batch #8 – Speyside 1991, Invergordon 1984, Balmenach 2007, North Highland 1995, Irish 2002, Laphroaig 2005
It’s quite a mixed bag in The Exclusive Malts’ latest batch, which includes a single grain release, two unnamed distillery releases and — a first for The Exclusive — an Irish whiskey release. With this batch I’m excited to announce that received the entire lineup to review, 6 whiskeys in total. Quality is all over…
Review: 3 Languedoc-Roussillon Wines – Montmassot Picpoul, Chateau du Donjon Rose, and Chateau Trillol
France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region is renowned for offering an array of wines in diverging styles, almost all available at low prices. In recognition of this, we recently received three Languedoc-Roussillon wines for review — one white, one rose, one red — to gauge just how far a buck can go in this sunny, southern part of France.…
Review: 3 Wines from Aia Vecchia, 2015 Releases
Aia Vecchia is a Bolgheri-based producer that makes a variety of reds and whites — with a heavy focus on blends made with international grape varietals. Thoughts on three recent releases, one white and two reds, follow. 2014 Aia Vecchia Vermentino Maremma Toscana IGT – A simple vermentino (with 5% viognier). Initially quite sweet with…
Review: AnestasiA Vodka (2015)
In 2012, a new vodka called AnestasiA hit the market, sporting an insanely avant garde bottle and an even more insane liquid inside. Charitably described as a mouth-numbing, menthol-flavored vodka (and not noted on the label as any such thing), the Oregon-produced vodka was derided by critics and, apparently, shunned by drinkers. AnestasiA went back…
Review: Zaca Recovery Chewables
I’ve written a lot about how effective Zaca patches can be at preventing hangovers, but the problem with patches is an obvious one: You have to put them on before you go out. Now Zaca is hitting the market with a chewable that’s designed to help you out if you overdid it and, er, left the…
Review: Draftmark Beer Tap System
Having beer on tap at home is a killer move, but kegerators are enormous, costly, and frankly, a bit frat-house juvenile. Draftmark has an answer: A mini keg that fits in your fridge. The Draftmark system includes a battery-powered base and replaceable, one-gallon growlers that fit inside it. Just charge up the battery, install a…
Review: Four Roses Single Barrel Private Selection from Nasa Liquor
Four Roses private barrel offerings are invariably fun to find and taste, and this selection from Nasa Liquor, a shop in Houston, Texas, is no exception. This is an OESF Four Roses (20% rye, made with Four Roses’ “herbal” yeast), aged 10 years, 2 months. This is a slightly younger expression of the 2014 Single Barrel,…
Review: 2014 Charles & Charles Rose Columbia Valley
We reviewed the 2013 bottling of this wine and are back with a new vintage. This year’s version of the Washington state rose is made from a blend of 72% syrah, 8% mourvedre, 8% cabernet sauvignon, 6% grenache, 3% cinsault, and 3% counoise. Nicely floral with rose petal and crushed violets up front, it slides…
