Review: Ardbeg 17 Years Old, Unicorn’s Tale, and Traigh Bhan Batch 6 (2024)
Not one, not two, but three new, limited-edition expressions of Ardbeg have landed on our desks today, including the latest Committee Release, Ardbeg 17 Years Old. We’re also checking out the second Anthology Collection oddity and this year’s sixth annual Traigh Bhan, the 19 year old expression that is never made in exactly the same…
Review: Iichiko Special Shochu
Shochu is still tentatively making its way to U.S. shores and U.S. palates, but it isn’t often when we encounter aged versions. Iichiko is the top-selling brand of shochu in Japan (much in the way that Jack Daniel’s is the top selling whiskey in the U.S.), and it’s probably the top-selling brand of shochu here,…
Review: Kilchoman Batch Strength
It’s been a minute since we last checked in our favorite Islay farm distillery, but Kilchoman fans should stay tuned this winter because we’ve got a lot of coverage coming, including an interview with founder Anthony Wills, arguably one of the most candid distillery owners in all of Scotland. First on deck, however, is Kilchoman’s…
Review: Up North Honey Spirits
Bourbon and rye will always be my first loves, but I take a special interest in distilled spirits that are particularly noteworthy due to being unique. American whiskey comes with established standards and guidelines, but distilled specialty spirits do not necessarily come with the same level of regulation. Lack of regulation creates room for shenanigans,…
Review: 2022 Ponzi Pinot Noir Laurelwood District
This Willamette Valley pinot immediately surprises with a lightly smoky quality, layering its earthy, PNW-inspired, pine-heavy nose with elements of clove, toasty oak, and graphite. Complex and brooding, this is an especially brooding experience even for Oregon, finishing on heavily extracted notes of macerated cherries and plums, touched with a dollop of sweet tar. A…
Review: Dia De La Sirena Reposado Tequila
You will notice the bottle first. Yes, that’s a tastefully nude mermaid in partially frosted glass, wearing a crown that also serves as a stopper. The tequila world is no stranger to out-there packaging — I’ve got a whole shelf of tequilas that are too tall to fit anywhere else — but this one is…
A Tasting of Four Albarinos, Late 2024 Releases
Albariños often don’t get the love they deserve. These typically Spanish whites offer a delicious and usually more affordable alternative to the more popular white wines. Albariños are typically bright, fruity, dry, and acidic, allowing them to pair well with a great range of different foods. Today we are trying four albariños shared with us…
Review: Widow Jane Black Opal Bourbon
Tucked away in a corner of Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood is Widow Jane, a distillery likely best known for its bottlings of blended Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana bourbon. (They also run their own distillate, including a mashbill with proprietary heirloom corn dubbed Baby Jane.) Now under the ownership of Heaven Hill, the operation has previously…
