Review: 2012 FEL Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Formerly known as Breggo, FEL is a new label for this winery, but little else has changed. Perhaps the biggest change, aside from a name switcheroo which now honors owner Cliff Lede‘s mother, is the discontinuation of Breggo’s old Riesling and Gewurztraminer bottlings. Thoughts on the remaining wines (the Pinot Gris wasn’t tasted) follow. 2012…
Review: Millbrook Distillery Dutchess Private Reserve Bourbon
That’s a mouthful of a name for this Dutchess County (Poughkeepsie area), New York-based spirit, a sourced whiskey made from a corn/rye/barley mashbill. Little else is disclosed, including age. Woody on the nose, there’s depth here that recalls brandied cherries and Christmas cake. The body, however, is surprisingly sweet, with a distinct honey tone to…
Review: Hawaiian Ola Noni Energy and Immunity
Ola! Yerba Mate! Green tea! Hawaiian Ola’s Noni energy and immunity shots sure do sound like they’re going to be good for you. Packed with organic, GMO-free juices from a bunch of crazy looking Hawaiian fruits, these now-familiar shots are a way to get your morning jolt and at least feel a little better about…
Review: 2011 Cliff Lede and Moondance Dream Cabernet Sauvignon
New 2011 Cabs from Cliff Lede, one of Napa’s blue chip bottlers. Surprising thoughts follow… 2011 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Stags Leap District – A big misstep for the normally spot-on Cliff Lede. This ultra-premium Cab has lost all its body, coming across as flabby and pruny, without the barest hint of acidity…
Review: Base Camp Brewing In-Tents IPL, Ripstop, Northwest Fest, and S’More Stout
Like any good craft brewer, Portland, Oregon-based Base Camp makes a dozen-plus different beers, some with very exotic compositions. Unlike most craft brewers, it then puts these beers into oversized 22 oz. aluminum bottles, which are “made for adventure.” We tested four of the company’s brews. Thoughts follow. Base Camp Brewing In-Tents IPL – An…
Review: Tincup American Whiskey
Tincup (or Tin Cup, or TINCUP, as I refuse to write it) is the brainchild of Jess Graber, who launched Stranahan’s Whiskey in Colorado, where Tincup also hails from. These are different animals, though. Stranahan’s is 100% malted barley distilled and aged on site. Tincup is rather simply sourced bourbon (from MGP), to which a…
Review: Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon (Fall 2013)
Hye is one of those tiny towns that everyone from Texas (including myself) has heard of, but no one actually knows where it is. There it lies, on the road from Austin to Fredericksburg, and it’s here where Garrison Brothers is making some fine “micro” whiskey. The brothers Garrison don’t disclose their exact mashbill on…
Book Review: Savory Cocktails
Sometimes you don’t want “something sweet.” Sometimes you want something, well, savory. Greg Henry’s book, Savory Cocktails, offers 100 recipes were sugar (in all its forms) is not the focus. Separated into various chapters such as Sour, Spicy, Smoky, and Strong, Henry walks you through some basic nonsweet stuff (Martini, Bloody Mary, Pickleback) but focuses on originals (most…
