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.
The good folks at Louis Martini are back with another bottling of the brand’s classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the most reliable, bang-for-the-buck cabs you’ll find. This 2018 expression is ripe and fruity, offering gentle notes of chocolate sauce, pomegranate, and blackberry jam. Currants linger well into the juicy finish, featuring just enough…
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Did you know that as of 2020, Jura was the fastest growing single malt brand in the U.S.? Neither did I, and I’ll savor that morsel of trivia while sipping on the brand’s newest expression, a 12 year old offering that fits in the lower-middle spot alongside Jura’s 10 year old, Seven Wood, and 18…
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Tamworth Distilling, New Hampshire’s strangest distillery and the outfit responsible for such oddities as Deerslayer Venison Flavored Whiskey, turns in another unusual non-vegan whiskey release, House of Tamworth Bird of Courage. Per the company, “The roasted turkey flavored whiskey is limited-edition and birthed from a barrel of 5-year-old Bottled in Bond bourbon steeped with a…
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Has the ready-to-drink cocktail market jumped the shark? While ultra-cheap offerings are increasingly commonplace, a Chicago outfit called Sunday’s Finest is marketing a ready-to-drink Old Fashioned — called the Gold Fashioned — that is premium in every way, “the world’s first luxury ready-to-drink cocktail.” How premium? A 750ml bottle is $150. That’s how premium. It’s…
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Today we present a collection of Sicilian wines, all part of a (Zoom-based) tasting organized by Assovini Sicilia, an association of 91 Sicilian wineries that is designed to promote the many wines of this region. A total of 10 wines were tasted, all made with indigenous grapes. Ready to dig in? Let’s go. 2020 Mandrarossa…
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Whiskeys from Balcones, arguably Texas’s best-known distillery, have been stacking up here at Drinkhacker HQ. Today we’re killing a trilogy of bottles, including two new releases and the second edition of another well-liked expression. Balcones Pilgrimage – Texas single malt made from Golden Promise barley, aged in used casks and finished in Sauternes casks. No…
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Last month we took some time to review some of the offerings from Cameron Hughes’ OG de Négoce (pronounced “day nuh-go-shay”) fall portfolio. The framework of this extension of the Hughes brand takes a chance on the wine futures market, curating selections from various vineyards at lower prices than those found on actual vineyard labels.…
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The arrival of the latest crop of Merry Edwards wines is always cause for celebration at Drinkhacker HQ, and this season’s collection of wines — a chardonnay and four pinot noirs — is no exception. 2019 is turning out to be a tougher year for pinot noir than initially expected — but the door for…
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The folks at Chopin Vodka have expanded into liqueurs, debuting five flavors under the new Botanika Angelica brand. All are made from a base of Chopin Rye Vodka and are infused with natural herbs, spices, and fruits, some rested in 50-year-old Polish oak vats before being bottled. We received the entire lineup for review. Thoughts follow.…
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Diageo’s Special Releases Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection for 2021 has arrived. Tagged with the moniker “Legends Untold,” this year’s collection spans 8 whiskies, all single malt (no grain whisky this year), designed to “reach into the realms of augmented reality to share the untold stories of iconic Scotch distilleries in new and unique ways.”…
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