Rated A-
Reviews of spirits, wine, and beer (and various errata like mixers and garnishes) comprise more than 80% of the content at Drinkhacker, and the A- rating is used for very good to exceptional products. On a five-star scale, these products would score 4 stars. On the traditional 100-point scale popular with many wine and spirits graders, these products would merit scores of 90 to 93 points.
Next up in the trend of countertop appliances you-never-thought-you-needed-until-it-existed is apparently the portable ice machine. You’ve hoarded the waffle maker, insta-pot, espresso machine, and air fryer. Make room for an ice maker because folks, they are here to stay. Fellow writer Jacob Kiper provided an intriguing prologue on the role and view of ice in…
Today we take a break from reviewing Firestone Walker‘s massive, barrel-aged beers and sit with some more accessible, everyday drinkers. Here’s a look at a pair of new Firestone brews. Firestone Walker Sunglider Golden Lager – On the surface this seasonal brew looks like any other lager. The twist? It’s made with California-grown floor malted…
Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s Distillery Reserve Series knocked it out of the park last year with a trio of exceptional whiskeys as delicious as they were distinctive. The inaugural release, Cathedral French Oak, made our Top 20 Whiskeys of 2025 list, but they were honestly all in the running. And they’re not resting on their laurels…
We’ve been covering Paso Robles-based Harvey & Harriet‘s red wine blends for a few years, but somehow the white blend from this Booker Wines label has eluded us. Blended from an exotic mix of Chardonnay, Albariño, Viognier, and Pinot Grigio, it’s a wine that promises all kinds of action. Let’s see how well it delivers.…
Forward/Slash Distillery and Blending House was founded by Tim Bradstreet and Michael Buffa, two longtime beverage industry veterans whose shared enthusiasm for American whiskey and blending eventually turned into a business partnership. Buffa is known throughout Central Florida as the founder of the Orlando Whiskey Society and Buffa Bittering Company. Bradstreet previously served as a…
For all the attention paid to mashbills and barrel regimens, fermentation rarely takes center stage in American whiskey. The industry’s reliance on sour mash has long set the tone, particularly across the major distilleries of Kentucky and Tennessee. Against that backdrop, a smaller group of producers has worked to reintroduce sweet mash fermentation into the…
Priest Ranch dates its origins to 1869 when it was established by James Joshua Priest, a Gold Rush prospector, but the start of its current operation more properly dates to 2004, when the grounds were consolidated with the Elder Valley properties to become the Somerston Estate. The estate includes 224 acres of vineyards across 15…
Upon its launch, King of Kentucky quickly attained unicorn status, with its annually releases single barrel bourbon spiraling ever higher in price as its age slowly ratcheted up. Now the brand is expanding, and not in the direction you would probably expect: the King of Kentucky Small Batch Collection will be a blend of bourbons,…
THC seltzers are rampant. THC beers are far less common, perhaps because enthusiasts just don’t like to muddy the waters with cannabinoids, even if alcohol isn’t involved. Float House, based in Windsor, Connecticut, produces a small but growing collection of “can-na-brews” designed to offer a craft beer drinking experience (though the product is not formally…
We’ve been tasting Renato’s Barolo wines on and off since 2016. Today we tuck into this producer’s offerings — with updates stretching to the 2021 vintage. We hope to update this coverage as future vintages arrive. 2016 Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco DOCG Review One look at the light color of this wine and it…