Review: Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon 13 Years Old (2023)
I didn’t realize it had ever left, but Baker’s 13 is back on the market, returning to store shelves to give drinkers a fresh taste of this classic expression with 6 extra years of age on it. Originally launched in 2019, it became an instant classic and a worthy upgrade to Baker’s 7 when more…
Review: 2019 Stags’ Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Limited Edition Reserve Napa Valley
Stags’ Leap produces a number of Cabernet Sauvignons that range from very good to outstanding, so it’s a pleasure today to have a chance to try their 2019 Limited Edition Reserve, which draws grapes from a number of their Napa Valley vineyards. This year’s bottling is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, and…
Review: La Maison & Velier Transcontinental Rum Line, 2023 Single Casks
La Maison & Velier — also known as La Maison du Whisky — recently launched a new series of rums called the Transcontinental Rum Line (aka TCRL). Complete with maritime labels, this line is “inspired by the historical journeys of rum barrels between the New World and the Old Continent,” and includes releases from all…
Review: Joyus Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine and Cabernet Sauvignon
Joyus — or rather, Jøyus — is a new entrant into the NA wine category, producing a spray of wines made by dealcoholizing real wine, then blending in water and grape juice to plump things back up. We received two expressions from the company, a sparkling white wine and a cabernet sauvignon. Joyus Non-Alcoholic Sparkling…
Review: Amaro Lucano Non-Alcoholic
Amaro Lucano is one of the many delightful amari of Italy, and it continues to make inroads in the U.S. market, where it only recently returned for sale. Now, consumers who want the bracing flavor of Lucano without the booze have a new option: Amaro Lucano Non-Alcoholic. How’s it made? I’m not sure. The details…
Review: 2022 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay and Fume Blanc
These two whites from Sonoma County’s Ferrari-Carano were late arrivals, but just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy white wine, does it? Let’s dive in. 2022 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay Sonoma County – Unctuous and boldly fruity, with overtones of cooked apples and tinned pears. Vanilla notes are particularly strong here, but they find a…
Review: MXXN Cannabis-Infused Alcohol Alternatives
Hear me out on this: What if you don’t want to drink alcohol… but you don’t mind replacing it with cannabis… and yet you still want to drink cocktails? That’s the promise of MXXN — pronounced “moon” — which is a hemp-infused non-alcoholic spirit designed for cocktailing. The idea? You won’t be consuming alcohol, but…
Bar Reviews: Christina’s Shoreditch and Scarfes Bar, London
A trip to London means plenty of time in pubs, but like any big city, London has a thriving cocktail culture, too. A recent visit here took me to two upscale cocktail bars to sample the city’s latest in drinkdom. Read on for the boozy details on Christina’s Shoreditch and Scarfes Bar. Christina’s Shoreditch The…
