Review: Col. E.H. Taylor Cured Oak Bourbon
After a flood of Col. E.H. Taylor whiskeys hit the market in 2011-12, the release schedule suddenly went quiet. I’d thought brand owners Buffalo Trace had forgotten about it, but at last here we go with a new expression: Col. E.H. Taylor Cured Oak. Cured oak? Allow BT to explain: This 100 proof, Bottled-In-Bond, small batch…
Review: Buffalo Trace Distillery Single Oak Project Bourbon Round Sixteen
This is it! The end! The last 12 bottles in the unfathomably ambitious Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project have arrived. I’ll be offering some in-depth coverage of the lessons learned from the project in the months to come — more on this later — but for now it’s time to consider this last dozen whiskeys on…
Review: Patron Extra Anejo 7 Anos Tequila
Patron’s latest release is this special edition — under 700 cases are available of the oldest tequila it’s ever produced — a seven year old extra anejo that may be the best thing Patron’s ever put into a bottle. Patron Extra Anejo 7 Anos has spent seven years in toasted French oak barrels, a twist from…
Review: Old Grand-Dad Bonded Bourbon
It’s back with a (sort-of) new look. The bourbon created by Basil Hayden to salute his grandpappy has been given a bit of a facelift and a new nudge into the spotlight. There’s been a quiet murmur about some of the selling points within the marketing of this reboot, and a very detailed and excellent…
Review: Piper-Heidsieck Brut and 1995 Blanc des Millenaires
We meant to review these two Heidsieck Champagne bottlings for the holidays but, you know, things got away from us… NV Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne (red label) – Super crisp apple on the nose, with strong notes of lemongrass. The body is tart with just the right amount of sweetness to back it up, plenty more of…
Review: Patron Citronge Lime and XO Cafe Incendio
Patron is no longer content to rule only the tequila world. Now it wants to take over the liqueur market as well. Two newish releases in this space recently launched. Thoughts follow. Patron Citronge Lime Liqueur – Patron’s rendition of triple sec, Citronge Orange, was a big enough hit that it has begotten a sequel, Citronge…
Review: Arrowood 2013 Chardonnay and 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon
Two new releases from Sonoma-based Arrowood, including — oddly enough — a new 2011 Cabernet, released in a time when everyone else is putting out their 2012 releases. Thoughts follow. 2013 Arrowood Chardonnay Sonoma County – Nothing new to see here. This California starts off with buttery vanilla notes and sticks with them to the…
Aged Cocktail Recipe: Smoky Old Mate
This recipe is designed to be aged in a barrel… or in a glass bottle with a small, charred oak stave dropped into it. (The Black Grouse provided a stave for us to play with.) Fun results. The name of the cocktail is spot-on for this one. Smoky Old Mate 4.5 oz. The Black Grouse…
