Rated C+
Reviews of spirits, wine, and beer (and various errata like mixers and garnishes) comprise more than 80% of the content at Drinkhacker. At the C+ level, we see products that are relatively undistinguished, except perhaps in one or two minor factors. These products are generally not recommended, as better alternatives abound. On a five-star scale, these products would score 2 stars. On the traditional 100-point scale popular with many wine and spirits graders, these products would merit scores of 75 to 78 points.
This kiwi pinot smells innocuous enough, with an appropriate punch of cherry and some dark chocolate, but a sip showcases an aggressively beefy character that tempers any thoughts of pairing this with Thanksgiving dinner. Grumbly and a little ashy as it develops, the wine fades quickly en route to a doughy, lackluster finish, heavy on…
Midway between Detroit and Ann Arbor, in the kind of Michigan suburb where affluence is casually assumed, Cantoro Market and Trattoria feels like a playground for foodies with a penchant for Italian cuisine. To borrow (and lightly misuse) Bill Hader and Stefon’s cadence: this place has everything. Fifty-five thousand square feet of pastas, specialty olive…
The tiny Hawaiian island of Kauai is home to Koloa Rum, a small operation with a surprisingly robust line of rums, a coffee liqueur, and ready-to-drink cocktails. All five rums are made from the mash of raw cane sugar, double distilled in a copper pot still, and cut with filtered water from Mount Waialeale. That said, there’s…
Spiritless is an Austin-based creator of non-alcoholic spirits, though it was founded in Kentucky by three moms looking to enjoy traditional spirits without the booze. The company produces a wide range of offerings, including whiskey and tequila alternatives, plus a variety of ready-to-drink cocktails. We received a smattering for review, including a pair of those…
At the end of 2023, Bushmills released four limited edition whiskeys that set off a new series called Private Reserve. (We didn’t review them.) Each started with classic Bushmills single malt whiskey aged in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, but featuring a different, unusual finish — Plum Brandy, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Tequila Casks. Now Private…
And we’re back with another trio of big, boozy beers from Firestone Walker’s 2024 Brewmaster’s Collective. How many of these brews are there? According to the website, a whopping twenty each year. Members get five barrel-aged beers every quarter along with lots of other perks like discounts, member-only events, and first dibs at other Vintage…
The state of Texas is quickly picking up steam in the whiskey world. Fort Worth has been home to TX Whiskey since 2012. No longer owned by Firestone & Robertson, the current distillery’s name is Whiskey Ranch, though both are likely much less familiar to consumers than the TX Whiskey branding. Several Texas distilleries have…
Milagro isn’t the most exciting tequila brand — though its Select Barrel Reserve options are good products at a solid value — but the distillery looks to shake that up with the launch of a new expression that joins the standard lineup: Cristalino Anejo. It’s Milagro’s first launch in more than a decade. Like all…
Woodford Reserve is now on its 20th edition of the Woodford Reserve’s Master’s Collection. (The series got started in 2007, but some recent years have seen double releases.) While Woodford is no stranger to wine casks, for this milestone, master distiller Elizabeth McCall has turned to something different: A finish in Madeira casks, which can…
Stinson Vineyards hails from Virginia’s Monticello region, producing small-batch “garagiste” wines designed with a French influence. We received samples of three wines from the 2023 vintage. Let’s give them a whirl. 2023 Stinson Vineyards Cabernet Franc Monticello – Rough around the edges, this is an intensely tannic wine with brooding elements of dried herbs, tanned…