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.
Best Day Brewing hails from, of all places, Sausalito, California, a tiny residential and tourist community north of the Golden Gate Bridge that’s best known for expensive sushi and even pricier cocktails. Since its founding in 2020, the company has become one of the most widely distributed non-alcoholic beer brands, with availability of its six…
In 2026, consumers have been inundated with American whiskey releases bearing America 250 branding in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. For many producers, the formula has been fairly predictable: add an America 250 logo to the label, reference “1776-2026,” and attach a patriotic name. Numerous releases also direct…
Who doesn’t love nugget ice? Those soft, chewy micro-cubes can turn any beverage into a delicious quasi-slushy. And slushy is arguably the perfect cold beverage consistency. Originally invented for hospital patients (seriously, look it up), nugget ice went mainstream when fast food restaurants like Sonic started promoting it. I distinctly remember my dad going to…
In today’s bourbon market, some discerning collectors chase age. Others chase proof. And if I had to guess, the center of that Venn diagram is pretty big, such that very old and very high-abv bourbon will turn a lot of heads. In April 2026, spirits giant Diageo announced a whiskey with stats so eye-popping, I…
There are plenty of people in the industry who can make whiskey. Far fewer have built a reputation on their ability to recognize exceptional whiskey when it reaches the glass. For years, Ed Bley earned the respect of enthusiasts not as a distiller, but as a selector. Through countless single barrels and private picks, he…
Mijenta Tequila continues its Symphony Series with a third release, an anejo matured in the brand’s Symphony barrels, which are built using staves made from oak trees sourced from four different states — Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Virginia — which are then toasted instead of charred. (This is virgin oak, not a reconstruction of used…
We’ve encountered plenty of movie and rock star-backed tequila brands, from George Clooney’s Casamigos, arguably the tequila that lit the fire for the Hollywood obsession, to Matthew McConaughey’s more recent Pantalones, among so, so many others. What we don’t see as much are celebrity chefs throwing their weight behind a tequila brand. Which, well, is…
Drew Thorn spent more than a decade helping build Sagamore Spirit from an ambitious startup into a nationally recognized whiskey brand. As the company’s CEO, he played a pivotal role in guiding its growth and establishing its place in the modern rye whiskey market. From the beginning, Sagamore Spirit’s identity was rooted in the blending…
Northern California’s Griffo Distillery enticed us with its recent release of whiskey distilled from Lagunitas’ The Waldos beer, so we’re diving back into the distillery’s offerings with a deeper dive into some of its more mainstream, permanent releases. Let’s not sit on ceremony as we delve into a collection that spans vodka, gin, whiskey, and…
For 200 years, Fettercairn’s Highland single malts never officially graced American shores, at least via branded releases. In 2025, the brand introduced part of its core range to the U.S., with limited distribution on 24, 28, and 40 year old single malts. Now, the Whyte & Mackay-operated distillery is rolling out its 12 and 16…