Review: Radeberger Pilsner, Clausthaler NA, and Schofferhofer Grapefruit (2015)
No fancy intro needed on this one. Here’s a collection of three semi-random beers from the U.S. distribution arm of Germany’s Radeberger Gruppe — including the company’s newly-available grapefruit-flavored hefeweizen and our first-ever review of a non-alcoholic beer! Can any of these be worthwhile? I smell a roundup brewing… Radeberger Pilsner – Simple at first,…
Review: Bacardi Ron 8 Anos
Bacardi’s 8 year old reserve rum is one of the few rums in the regular Bacardi lineup that carries an age statement. “Bacardi Ocho,” as it’s nicknamed, is Bahamian rum that is often called out as Bacardi’s best offering. That may indeed be the case, and it’s a large step away from Bacardi’s otherwise staid, traditional structure. Bacardi…
Review: WhistlePig “Old World” Rye Whiskey 12 Years Old 2015
Every year WhistlePig — the acclaimed 100% rye whiskey — puts out a special edition. For the last three of those years the whiskey has been a spin on the original WhistlePig, generally getting older every year and/or bottled from a single barrel. For 2015, WhistlePig has something different in store: A whiskey that’s been finished…
Review: Tamdhu Batch Strength #1 Single Malt Whisky
The newly revived Tamdhu Distillery is back with its second expression, this time an overproof whisky known (curiously) as Batch Strength. Aged entirely in sherry casks (predominantly first-fill) for an unstated amount of time, it is bottled at cask strength. The nose offers rich cereal, caramel, and notes of grilled fruits. On the body, heavy alcohol…
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…
