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.
Not even the fine print of the old-timey Argonaut Brandy bottles will clue you in to who actually makes it, but it’s not a massive secret. Argonaut is a new brand produced by none other than Ernest & Julio Gallo, made in California from its own excess wine production. For decades Gallo has been distilling…
Vale do Bomfim is what happens when an internationally beloved Port dynasty decides to behave like a regular winery, or at least makes a credible showing of it. Part of the Dow side of the sprawling Symington family empire, it leaves the fortified fireworks to the better-known labels and carries on with the business of…
Around seven years after introducing its hallmark gin, the House of Suntory is expanding the Roku line with a more fruit-forward special release: Roku Gin Minori Select Edition. The limited offering is meant to coincide with a Spring seasonal harvest. It features six total botanicals, in addition to juniper berry: melon, white peach, ume (Japanese…
Distilled at the Trinity River Distillery in Fort Worth, Texas, Devil’s Grin Gin is the brainchild of Master Distiller Brett Luchesi who set out to make a gin that was in the London Dry style but was not too pine forward. He explained: That resinous flavor can dominate from first sip to last. I wanted to…
Heineken 0.0 is one of the most widely available N/A beers on the market, and I suspect it’s popular for one major reason: It tastes just like regular Heineken, which can admittedly be a little funky-skunky, with aggressive maltiness and some cardboard overtones. Now Heineken extends the line with the goal of having a bit…
Since we started keeping up with Smokehead a few years back, the heavy metal-inspired, Islay whisky brand from Ian Macleod Distillers has eschewed conventional age-statements in favor of a lineup more focused on unique cask finishings. In fact, age statements have never really been Smokehead’s thing with the one notable exception of an 18-year-old limited edition…
Jack Daniel’s has been making headlines for its latest bottling, the first whiskey with a 10 year old age statement in more than 100 years. (You can see an old bottling of JD at 10 years old in the photo above.) Most JD carries no age statement at all, of course, so it’s unusual to…
Gin from castles. So hot right now. Following on the footsteps of brands like Downton Abbey Gin and Highclere Castle, Walled Garden makes a big deal about the building it’s made in. This gin hails from a Scottish castle rather than an English one, though, where it’s made by Zara Gordon-Lennox the executive gardener of…
I’m guessing you can figure out what cause this charitable pair of whiskeys from Penelope is designed to support. First launched in 2022 and alternately known as FCancer and F*ck Cancer — if you’re old enough to read this review, we figure you’re old enough to swear properly — proceeds from the sale of each of…
We hit Famiglia Pasqua‘s Mai Dire Mai Amarone in its 2012 and 2013 releases. We’re back again with a look at the 2015 bottling — now in current release. The 2015 Famiglia Pasqua Mai Dire Mai Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG remains a rich and raisiny experience, though this vintage feels more tart and racy than previous…