Review: Rosebank 21 Years Old Limited Edition 2014
It’s time for whisky #7 out of 11 in the 2014 Diageo Special Edition releases, this one a 21 year old from Rosebank, a now-defunct distillery in the Lowlands. This whisky was distilled in 1992. Rosebank promptly shuttered in 1993 — which means there’s not much left to go around. One of the more exotic…
Review: Deschutes Brewery The Abyss Aged Stout 2014 Edition
The 9th annual installment of Bend, Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery’s The Abyss is here. The recipe for The Abyss doesn’t vary much from year to year. If you aren’t familiar with the formula, here’s what goes into it. (That’s three different types of barrels, into which 28% of the brew is aged… a bit going into each…
Review: Cragganmore 25 Years Old Limited Edition 2014
Onward to the 6th whisky in the 2014 Diageo Special Edition releases, a 25 year old from Cragganmore, a Speyside distillery best known for its younger single malts. This 25 year old was distilled in 1988 and aged in a mix of refill European and American Oak casks. Quite malty on the nose, the Cragganmore 25…
Review: Counting Sheep Coffee
Once you reach a certain age, the idea of drinking coffee after dinner starts to sound insane. And yet it still sounds appealing to kick back with a cup of Java after a delightful meal while you share the molten lava cake. Enter Counting Sheep, a novelty coffee producer that actually wants that late night…
Review: Strathmill 25 Years Old Limited Edition 2014
#5 of 11 in the 2014 Diageo Special Releases is this rarity from Strathmill, located in Speyside. Strathmill is predominantly used in blended whisky, making this old expression exceedingly rare. The whisky has spent 25 years in ex-Bourbon barrels and is bottled at cask strength. This is classic, beautiful Speyside at the perfect age. Liquid…
Review: Alaskan Brewing Company Big Mountain Pale Ale
Do you like fruit? Do you like pale ales? Have I got a brew for you: Alaskan’s new spring seasonal, Big Mountain Pale Ale. Alaskan explains: Big Mountain is a flavor departure for us, with a very new combination of hops that we have never used in our bottled beers before,” said David Wilson, Alaskan’s…
Review: Caol Ila 30 Years Old Limited Edition 2014
Yesterday we experienced Caol Ila’s unpeated expression; today it’s the full monty, and bottled at a full 30 years of age — the oldest Caol Ila ever released by the distillery itself. #4 in the 2014 Diageo Special Releases is a peat bomb straight outta Islay, distilled in 1983. After 20 years or so, peated whiskies…
Review: Frank Family Vineyards Zinfandel and Chardonnay, 2015 Releases
Napa’s Frank Family has two of its flagship wines ready for their 2015 debut. Thoughts on the winery’s Chardonnay and Zinfandel follow. 2013 Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay Carneros – Same aging regimen on this Carneros bottling — barrel fermented in 34% new, 33% once, and 33% twice-filled French oak barrels for 9 months. Moderately tropical on the nose,…
