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 represents the cream of the crop — excellent products with only minimal flaws. On a five-star scale, these products would score 4.5 stars. On the traditional 100-point scale popular with many wine and spirits graders, these products would merit scores of 94 to 97 points.
The American craft distilling movement has surged over the past decade, with standout producers like Virginia Distillery Company helping define its character. Since 2015, the distillery has focused on producing quality American single malt whisky, contributing to a rapidly expanding marketplace of craft spirits. Alongside many other independent makers, it has broadened the range of…
In the mid-nineteenth century, the cultural layout of Columbus, Ohio, underwent a profound transformation. Between 1830-1850, a massive wave of immigrants established Germans as the largest ancestral group in the state. By 1865, a remarkable one-third of the city’s population was either German-born or of German descent, settling in what are now the historic Brewery…
It’s already hit 90 degrees here in Texas, so summer may as well already be upon us. With the forecast that 2026 may be the hottest summer in history, you can choose either to cower in the A/C or drink up while you can. Here’s our list of ten top wines that we think will…
The thing about Catena Zapata and the narrative the winery prefers to tell about itself is that it is both a perfect distillation of Argentina and also incomplete. Yes, there are the high-altitude viticultural breakthroughs, the almost comically idyllic backdrops of Mendoza, and a Malbec portfolio insisting people stop thinking of Argentina as a punchline…
In 2021, Jackson Purchase Distillery established its roots in Hickman, Kentucky, moving away from the traditional distilling hubs of Central Kentucky to the quiet landscapes of Fulton County. Though the distillery was founded by Lloyd Jones, David Salmon, and Van Carlisle, the physical facility actually dates back to 2008. Originally built as Jamieson Distillery, the…
Virginia’s A. Smith Bowman retired its limited-edition Oak Series line late last year (after only three releases), but it doesn’t look like their annual Cask Strength offering is going anywhere anytime soon. Which is probably little comfort to bourbon fans outside the Commonwealth of Virginia since this latest edition, Batch #5, remains largely a distillery-only…
Luxco isn’t dancing around the premium nature, or price, of its newest blanco tequila. Even the name, Escasa, means “scarce” in Spanish. The details, per the brand: Crafted in Los Altos de Jalisco, Escasa Tequila is dedicated to the opulence of scarcity, the result of hundreds of years of knowledge distilled into one bottle. Founded in 2024 by renowned fourth-generation…
I don’t expect a lot of confusion over the genesis of this product — it’s a full proof version of Woodford’s winning rye, which is bottled at the brand’s standard 90.4 proof. Literally nothing else has changed with this release except it isn’t watered down from the 125.1 proof it reaches in the barrel (or…
South Carolina’s High Wire Distilling is known for various brandies and Revival Rye, but its biggest claim to fame is undoubtedly Jimmy Red Bourbon. The house style whiskey is distilled from 100% Jimmy Red corn, an heirloom grain with kernels the shade of ripe pomegranate seeds. Over the years, High Wire has expanded the Jimmy…
Ardbeg Committee releases are usually very involved whiskies showcasing unique production methods and exotic maturations paired with an elaborate backstory. For this latest limited edition, however, the iconic Islay distillery is getting back to basics, delivering a cask strength version of their classic 10-year-old single malt. And, apparently, it’s not for the first time. After…