Review: 2011 Ventisquero Grey Carmenere
Tying a Chilean Carmenere into the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon is a bit of a stretch, but damn the torpedoes, we’re charging ahead anyway. Grey is a newish label from mega-producer Ventisquero, with a number of varietals under its belt. One of the latest is this Maipo Valley-originated Carmenere — Chile’s unofficial official grape —…
Review: Cruzan Light Rum 5 Years Old, Dark Rum 5 Years Old, and Single Barrel Rum (2013)
Cruzan, based in St. Croix, is something of an underrated distillery in the world of rum. Now it’s moving ever so slightly upmarket, with the launch of three new premium rums, all part of the new Distiller’s Collection. All three of these rums start with the same base stock — a blend of rums from barrels…
Review: Tatoosh Bourbon
Troy Turner opened Tatoosh Distillery in 2009 in Seattle, citing his bootlegger and moonshiner ancestors as inspiration. Now Turner is producing whiskey, based he says on a hundred-year-old recipe, using local ingredients. (No Indiana-made stock here!) The mashbill isn’t a shocker: 70% corn, 15% rye, and 15% malted barley. The mash is distilled in a…
Review: Jim Beam Single Barrel Bourbon
It’s hard to believe Jim Beam doesn’t already have a single barrel offering under the Beam name, but I suppose the vast array of premium whiskeys the company makes (some of which are single barrel) — including Knob Creek, Booker’s, Basil Hayden’s, and more — have fit that bill rather well over the years. Now Beam is…
Review: Cynar Liqueur (2013)
Don’t like bitter amari? Well, you’ll hate Cynar, which isn’t just bitter, it features a picture of an artichoke on its label. You like drinking artichokes, don’t you? We last reviewed Cynar in January 2011. This is a fresh look at the classic spirit. Meant to be consumed either with soda or straight but “always on ice,” Cynar…
Christmas Drinking – A Drinkhacker Spotify Playlist
In the spirit of the holiday season, we present for your consideration our very first Drinkhacker Spotify playlist. We volleyed songs back and forth to come up with an hour-plus long playlist suitable for a wide variety of holiday drinking environments. Tune in, and get your nog on. What are some of your favorite holiday…
Review: Spicy Vines Spiced Wine
Whether you call it mulled wine or gluhwein or glogg, spiced wine is a holiday tradition. Spicy Vines wants to bottle the experience — sort of — and bring it to you in a familiar package, without having to resort to kitchen alchemy. Spiced Wine, by California-based Spicy Vines, starts with nonvintage, non-specified grape wine and adds…
Review: Zing Red Velvet Vodka
Some facts. Zing is sold with a light on the bottom that either flashes or emits a steady red glow, making it immediately the most striking and most ostentatious bottle of flavored vodka you can have on your shelf. (It’s a frosted white when it’s turned off.) Zing is sold in two and only two varieties:…
