Review: Glenglassaugh Revival, Evolution, and Torfa
Brought back from the dead in 2008, Glenglassaugh is a storied distillery that had been dormant since 1986. Last year the newly-running distillery changed hands and was fell to BenRiach, which is now bottling a number of expressions consisting of both new make spirit and old stock. None of the old stock offerings — some…
Review: Newfoundland Screech Rum, Spiced Rum, and Honey Rum
Who woulda thought they’d name a rum after this guy? In all seriousness… Back in the old days (like, yesteryear), Newfoundland-based sailors drank a lot of rum. They got their rotgut from Jamaica, and it didn’t even have a name. As the story goes, decades later an American WWII G.I. drank a slug of the…
Review: The Exclusive Malts Batch #5 – Ledaig 2005, Glenrothes 1996, Speyside 1989
The latest round of the always-enticing independently-bottled Exclusive Malts arrives with seven expressions available. We managed to get our hands on three of them. Without further ado, thoughts follow. The Exclusive Malts Ledaig 2005 8 Years Old – Extremely pale, with just a touch of yellow on it. A Highland whisky distilled at Tobermory on…
Review: Casa Noble Tequila, Complete Lineup (2014)
From time to time we like to revisit spirits we’ve spent time with in the past. Management changes. Production practices change. Formulations change. Climate changes. And stuff varies from bottle to bottle even when none of the above changes. Sometimes our reviews are identical. Sometimes they’re wildly different. Today we look again at Casa Noble,…
Review: Del Maguey Iberico Mezcal
Del Maguey’s Pechuga Mezcal is legendary in the mezcal world, and justifiably so. For those not in the know, in Spanish, a pechuga is a poultry breast, commonly a chicken breast. Why would you call your mezcal Pechuga? Because it has a chicken breast in it. How’s that? Del Maguey mezcel is distilled three times, and…
Review: The Arran Malt 17 Years Old and Arran Sherry Premium Single Cask 1997
Isle of Arran-based Arran keeps pumping out special releases, with these two new offerings now hitting the market. Thoughts on both follow. The Arran Malt 17 Years Old – A limited edition bottling, fully matured in ex-sherry casks, this is the second release in a trilogy of single malts leading up to what will be…
Review: 2011 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
In contrast to the more austere, iconic Calistoga bottling, a lighter style of Cab is also available from Chateau Montelena this year, a rare, fresh Cabernet that you can actually enjoy with warm weather, fresh and lively at just 13.4% abv. Fresh strawberry and light vanilla cookie notes dominate — altogether unusual for a Napa Cabernet.…
Review: Arteis & Co. Vintage Brut Champagne – 1999 Brut and 2002 Extra Brut
Arteis is a small French producer of Champagne “micro-cuvees.” The company made its big introduction to the U.S. market in New York last year. Now it’s making more inroads to the U.S., mainly in restaurant markets. We sampled two of the four Arteis vintages now on the market; both are well-aged Champagnes that have just…
