Rated A+

Reviews of spirits, wine, and beer (and various errata like mixers and garnishes) comprise more than 80% of the content at Drinkhacker, but only a few (less than 1%) merit our top score of an A+ rating. On a five-star scale, these products would score a full 5 stars. On the traditional 100-point scale popular with many wine and spirits graders, these products would merit scores of 98 to 100 points.

Review: Takasago and Toko Divine Droplets Junmai Daiginjo Sake

By Stephen Allison | May 22, 2019 |

Late last year I went shopping at one of the USA’s only sake specialty retailers, True Sake in San Francisco. When I mentioned that my favorite sake is Takasago’s Divine Droplets Junmai Daiginjo I was told some unpleasant news: 2018’s batch would be the last one. Devastated, I emailed importer Vine Connections looking for answers.…

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The Top 10 Whiskeys of 2018

By Christopher Null | December 29, 2018 |

Who likes whiskey? We do! Our Top 10 Whiskeys of 2017 was such a hit that we had to do it again, particularly since 2018 saw such a strong and varied collection of new whiskey hitting the market. As in 2017, this list was a collective project from the entire Drinkhacker staff, the result of…

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Tasting with Winemaker Arnaud Hereu of Odfjell Vineyards, Chile, 2018

By Renee Humphrey | November 2, 2018 |

Recently we were invited to sit down with Arnaud Hereu, winemaker for the Chilean label Odfjell Vineyards, and taste some of their new releases over dinner. What a delight it was! Arnaud is as vivacious as his winemaking style. He’s traveled the wine world to get a hands-on oenology education, starting with his home turf…

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Review: Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990 and 1989

By Christopher Null | May 25, 2018 |

Last year, Glenmorangie launched a new series of whiskies called the Bond House series, because it’s the last stocks named after the original production facility the distillery ever used. The Bond House series is open ended, and will contain whiskies aged between 25 and 30 years — with each designed to be very different from…

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Review: Laurent-Perrier Champagnes, 2018 Releases

By Christopher Null | January 22, 2018 |

Founded in 1812, Laurent-Perrier is an icon of Champagne houses — the third-largest by sales — with a full battalion of bottlings available for every type of celebratory occasion. (Or, for that matter, dinner on Tuesday.) Today we check out a full quartet of expressions, from the simple La Cuvee Brut to the vintage Brut…

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The Top 10 Whiskeys of 2017

By Christopher Null | December 15, 2017 |

We write about all things drinkable here at Drinkhacker, but nothing gets tongues wagging more than our coverage of whiskey. Both readers and the staff alike have an obsession with the stuff, so this year we decided to get together and hash out our own top ten list of the best whiskey releases of 2017,…

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Review: Lawson’s Finest Liquids Sip of Sunshine IPA

By Robert Lublin | November 2, 2017 |

Vermont is pretty serious beer country, and brewers in the state have managed, in a few short years, to make New England style IPA a unique and respected variety across the USA. Whereas West Coast IPA is usually clear and shows piney dankness and a strong, bitter finish, New England IPA appears hazy and presents…

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Review: Amrut Spectrum 004 Single Malt Whisky 2017

By Drew Beard | August 29, 2017 |

In 2004, Amrut Distilleries, based in Bangalore, India, introduced the first single malt whisky made in India to the UK market. Since then, the distillery has released several expressions of single malt all over the world using Indian barley, as well as peated barley sourced from Scotland. Amrut bottles their whisky at a comparatively younger…

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Brewery Review: Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers

By Robert Lublin | May 16, 2017 |

Jack’s Abby opened its doors in Framingham, Mass. in 2011 and has already had to expand its operation to meet demand as word spread about a brewery that only makes lagers, but ones that break the mold of what a lager is supposed to taste like. I have grown to appreciate Jack’s Abby’s beers and…

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Review: Two New Chocolate Ales from The Bruery: Share This O. C. and Chocolate Rain

By Kim Richards | April 2, 2017 |

This month The Bruery released two ales, first through their Bruery Preservation Society and then to the public. Both are imperial stouts with heavy cacao nib flavors. We couldn’t resist opening a couple of bottles. First up is The Bruery Share This O.C., the third in the brewery’s “Share This” series of brews, meaning one…

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