Review: Catoctin Creek Watershed Gin
We’ve explored plenty of brown spirits from Virginia’s Catoctin Creek, from their core lineup to the occasional limited-edition whiskey and even a rye made in bizarre collaboration with a heavy metal band. But it has taken us far too long to review the only clear spirit in the distillery’s portfolio, its Watershed Gin. Named for…
Review: Fundy Gin
The Bay of Fundy — “one of the 7 wonders of North America” — can be found between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Its namesake gin is made in Nova Scotia, double distilled from corn and proofed with local water over local beach stones, then re-distilled a third time with eight locally sourced botanicals. These…
Review: Up or Over Old Forester Old Fashioned and Herradura Margarita
You’re a major spirits company with some well-known brands in your portfolio, and you know people are going to make cocktails out of them. What do you do? Why, you release them as ready-to-drink versions, of course. Brown-Forman is no stranger to the RTD bandwagon — its Old Forester Mint Julep is an instant winner…
Review: Heaven’s Door 777 Blend and Bootleg Series Vol. III
The makers of our #1 whiskey of the year for 2021 are back with two new expressions, and both are unusual and/or unique. We’ll get into the details below. Heaven’s Door 777 Blend – This one’s a first: A collaboration between Heaven’s Door Whiskey and MGM resorts. It’s a blend of three 7-year-old whiskeys, a…
Review: Bosscal Mezcal Joven and Conejo
Bosscal is a new mezcal made in the Mexican state of Durango. Three varieties are on available; we received two of them. Details on each product can be found below in their particular writeups. Thoughts follow. NOM D248G. Bosscal Mezcal Joven – Unaged distillate of an unstated agave variety (or varieties). Agave is ground by…
Review: Whiskeys of Clyde May’s, 2022 Releases
We’ve checked in with Alabama’s Clyde May’s Whiskey on numerous occasions dating back to 2013, and recently we received a passel of samples from the brand, including fresh bottlings of the three whiskeys that comprise its core — rye, bourbon, and Alabama style whiskey — plus a pair of much older, limited edition releases. Let’s…
Review: Som Vinegar Cordials
Portland, Oregon’s Som makes its mixers not from alcohol but from vinegar (and cane sugar), which sets up a sweet and sour base that can conceivably be confused for booze. Crafted by James Beard-winning chef Andy Ricker, they provide a healthy, zero abv alternative to traditional liqueurs. But… how do they taste? Spoiler: Some work…
Review: Compoveda Tequila Reposado
Compoveda — the house brand of online tequila retailer SipTequila — previously existed only as an extra anejo, aged five years in Napa red wine barrels. Over a year ago I had the good fortune to be part of a focus group that tested three expressions of a new Compoveda release, a reposado. These tequilas…
