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.
Country music star Brad Paisley must like Jefferson’s Ocean, because he decided to use a similar approach when crafting his new bourbon in partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Co. But instead of using various waterways, Brad stuck to the roads, aging his American Highway Reserve Bourbon in barrels stored inside a 53-foot semi-trailer, dubbed the “rolling…
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Bellissima Zero is a wine that includes Christie Brinkley as its brand partner, the wine positioning itself in the BFY (aka “better-for-you”) and “better-for-the-planet” categories (apparently these are a thing). The new line of nonvintage still and sparkling wines are vegan and made with organic grapes. The “Zero” in the name is a reference to…
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Made by the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery, Filey Bay is the first single malt whisky made in, “and of,” Yorkshire, England. The distillery says this because it’s a true “field to bottle” operation, made with local malt, pot distilled, and aged on site. Filey Bay has a rather extreme finishing operation, with over a half…
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Made in New Orleans by our friends at Cocktail & Sons, which is known for its line of exotic syrups, this collaboration with Joe Gambino’s Bakery is the outfit’s first alcoholic product, a rum cream flavored to taste like the inimitable NOLA classic: king cake. The light brown — and vaguely pink — liqueur has…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Hope Town Vodka is made in North Charleston, South Carolina by the folks who brought you Walker’s Cay Bourbon, which is to say, Steven Busch. This one is actually made in SC, not sourced from elsewhere, which is as it should be for an unaged spirit. Distilled six times. A straight vodka and, oddly, one…
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