Posts

Review: 3 Stone Delicious IPAs

By Christopher Null | March 22, 2023 |

Stone’s Delicious IPA has been around for years — it’s the fastest growing IPA in the country — and now it has some little siblings, one citrus-heavy, and one booze-heavy. Here we look at all three in the “Delicious” lineup. Stone Delicious IPA – Bright and fruity, with a mix of lemon and orange up…

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Drink Texas Whiskey with Us in Austin on April 22, 2023

By Christopher Null | March 22, 2023 |

Whiskey shows tend to showcase hooch from everywhere in the world. But at the 6th Annual Texas Whiskey Festival, the focus is on one thing and one thing alone: Whiskey made in Texas. Turns out there’s a lot more of it than I’d imagined, with over 35 distilleries being represented and pouring their wares —…

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Review: Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Tequila – Platino and Reposado

By Christopher Null | March 22, 2023 |

Jose Cuervo’s Reserva de la Familia has long been a top-shelf extra anejo, released every year with a unique wooden box encasing it. I somehow missed the news that Cuervo expanded the Reserva de la Familia line in 2020, adding top-shelf blanco and reposado expressions to the mix. Like the extra anejo, these are annual…

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Review: NV Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Porto Special Vina Velha Edition

By Christopher Null | March 21, 2023 |

Graham’s continues to turn out limited bottlings, special editions based on its iconic Six Grapes Port. This latest is called the Special Vila Velha Edition, and it’s drawn exclusively from the grapes grown at Quinta da Vila Velha, one of the four Douro estates that supplies Graham’s Port. The property was purchased by the late…

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Review: McConnell’s Sherry Cask Finish Irish Whisky

By Drew Beard | March 21, 2023 |

Last fall, newly resurrected Irish whisky brand McConnell’s took its first step toward broadening their portfolio with the release of this bottle, McConnell’s Sherry Cask Finish Irish Whisky. As the name implies, this is classic McConnell’s – presumably still a five-year-old blend of malt and grain whiskies distilled at Great Northern Distillery – finished for…

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Review: 2021 Mary Taylor Sicilia Rosso

By Rob Theakston | March 20, 2023 |

Similar in scope to Laura Catena’s La Posta line in Argentina, Mary Taylor works with individual growers in small villages throughout Europe who produce regionally-distinctive wines beyond the great grapes of the canon, but may not have production resources or logistics to distribute globally. Today we’re taking our first look at this distribution house with…

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Review: Writers’ Tears Red Head Irish Whiskey

By Christopher Null | March 20, 2023 |

Writers’ Tears is a perennial Irish whiskey favorite, and it’s been exciting to see a series of new expressions arrive from the brand. This latest is named Red Head on account of its lovely, ruddy color, a result of being matured in oloroso sherry casks. There’s no age statement here, but the impact is altogether…

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Review: Cenote Tequila Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo

By Robert Lublin | March 19, 2023 |

Cenote tequila is a bit of a mystery. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a “cenote” is a “deep sinkhole in limestone with a pool at the bottom that is found especially in Yucatán.” The Cenote brand, according to their website, uses the name to invoke “the beauty of the Yucatán Peninsula and the spectacular underground…

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Review: Hennessy Cognac VS and XO

By Christopher Null | March 19, 2023 |

  We’ve reviewed countless special editions from iconic Cognac producer Hennessy over the years, but its core line has strangely eluded our pen. Today we begin to rectify that with a look at two stalwarts of Hennessy’s core line: VS and XO. Both are 80 proof. Hennessy VS Cognac – The entry level Hennessy is…

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Review: 2021 Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon

By Rob Theakston | March 18, 2023 |

Our regular sojourn to the vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina’s Trapiche carries on in 2023 with a recent pair of offerings, a malbec and cabernet sauvignon, both from its “Oak Cask” line. Trapiche prides itself on a reputation of accessibility in both price and taste, so let’s see if this year’s offerings keep that consistency on…

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