Tasting the Wines of Round Pond, 2015 Releases
The brother-sister team of Miles and Ryan MacDonnell have grown grapes at their Rutherford property in Napa as part of their family’s business since 1983 and began running the Round Pond Estate together in 2003. In 2002, Round Pond branched out from growing grapes into making its own wine, and today the family continues to…
Review: Freaker Bottle Koozies
That foam canister is boring. Next time you need to keep a beer (or other beverage) cold on a hot day, check out a Freaker. Freaker Koozies are knit like socks and are emblazoned with everything from sports logos to drinking-centric memes. “Forget Me Not” makes your beer look like a prescription pill bottle. My…
Recipe: 2015 Cinco De Mayo Cocktails
Another trip around the sun, another year of back-to-back celebrations of the Kentucky Derby and Cinco De Mayo. As such, there’s plenty for everyone to drink, and we’ve got more than a few recipes for your consideration. Party, Karamu, Fiesta, Forever. Spicy Cerveza Cocktail 1 1/2 parts Hornitos Plata tequila 1/3 part lime juice 3/4 part…
Review: The Manhattan: Barrel Finished Cocktail from Jefferson’s and Esquire
I don’t necessarily think bottled, fully-made cocktails are lazy. I use them a lot when entertaining or when I’m short on fresh ingredients. Some of them are really well made, too. The jury is out on whether The Manhattan: Barrel Finished Cocktail is taking things a bit too far afield. This collaboration between Jefferson’s Bourbon and Esquire…
Bar Review: Third Rail, San Francisco
Here’s a cute idea: A bar that specializes in custom cocktails… and bespoke jerky. Third Rail, in San Francisco’s Dogpatch region, is a cozy little joint where you can get a small beer, shot, and a bit of jerky all for 10 bucks during happy hour. This seemed like the most popular choice among the post-work…
Tasting Report: Wines of Duckhorn, 2015 Releases
Noted California winery Duckhorn has become quite an empire of late, with operations under a number of brand names spanning all over California and stretching up to Washington state. The winery recently put together a tasting of virtually every wine it has now in current release, almost all of which we sampled — poured by…
Review: Starr Hill Reviver Red IPA, Bandstand Barleywine, and Little Red Roostarr (2015)
Starr Hill keeps cranking them out. Here’s a look at three limited and seasonal releases for spring 2015. Starr Hill Reviver Red IPA – A hybrid, amber-hued IPA, this is a great example of how blending beer styles can turn out well. Up front, the brew offers semi-sweet notes driven by malty caramel and chocolate…
Review: 8 Poliakov Flavored Vodkas
Poliakov may look and sound Russian, but this is a French product (from the same company that distributes Label 5 Scotch), and it’s a big, low-cost seller in that country. Little is known about its production except for a vague “triple distilled” label. While there is a straight, unflavored version, we only received a passel…
