Review: Pinot Blancs from Kuentz-Bas and Elena Walch, 2014 Releases
Just in time for summer come these two white wines from two different regions in western Europe — one northern Italy, one eastern France. Both are made from the Pinot Blanc (aka Pinot Bianco) grape, and side by side they show just how incredibly different these wines can be. Thoughts follow. 2011 Kuentz-Bas Pinot Blanc Tradition Alsace…
Recipe: Father’s Day Cocktails 2014
On Father’s Day, most dads are just perfectly content with a glass of their favorite spirit, a can of their favorite beer or a glass of their favorite vintage. However, there are some fathers whose palate run a bit more refined. Here are a few recipes which show a bit more effort than just another…
Review: Woody Creek Colorado 100% Potato Vodka
According to Woody Creek Distillers, it’s the only company in the U.S. that “controls every element of its 100% potato vodka production.” Woody Creek grows its own potatoes (Rio Grande russet, Chepita and Lady Claire varieties) on its own Colorado farms, processes them, and distills them into vodka. Unlike so many other “distilled 80 times”…
Review: Ty Ku Sake – Silver, Black, and Coconut (2014)
One of the bigger names in imported sakes (in addition to a panoply of other spirits like soju and other Asian-inspired liquors), Ty Ku hails from Nara, Japan, where it’s produced in iconic, triangular-base bottles. Ty Ku produces four sakes (one flavored). Only the white bottling (Ty Ku’s highest-level sake) is not reviewed here. The three bottlings below…
Review: Deschutes Brewery Pine Mountain, Armory, & Cinder Cone Beers
Three new brews from Bend, Oregon-based Deschutes are hitting the market — all three on a year-round basis. Deschutes Brewery Pine Mountain Pilsner – A surprisingly malty pilsner, Pine Mountain has a big, bready body, with notes of peanuts, peaches, banana, and honey. The finish takes on an earthy, somewhat mushroomy character. There’s fruit here…
Review: High West A Midwinter Nights Dram 1.1313 and The Barreled Boulevardier
We’re finally getting around to reviewing High West’s latest products, a new rye and a second barrel-aged-and-bottled cocktail. These have both been around for a few months, so please forgive our tardiness! High West A Midwinter Nights Dram 1.1313 – Never mind the typo (it should be “Night’s,” no?) and never mind that I’m reviewing…
Review: Lotus Vodka
Lotus is a new vodka that hails from Italy. Rather, it’s a slight rebranding of an older vodka colloquially known as White Lotus Vodka, its bottle slightly revised to add a pop of color but otherwise keeping things clean. In the company’s own words, “Lotus Vodka is made from select European corn and is triple…
Review: Stone Enjoy By 07.04.14 IPA
As always, Stone’s latest ultra-fresh bottling has less than a month to go before you can no longer “enjoy” it (35 days after bottling)… ostensibly, anyway. In keeping with the past iterations of this long-running series, this beer is bursting with liquid pine character. But 07.04.14 is balanced just a touch by some hints of…
