Rated B
Reviews of spirits, wine, and beer (and various errata like mixers and garnishes) comprise more than 80% of the content at Drinkhacker, and the B rating is used for products that are good but which we don’t exactly love — and which we can provide with a qualified recommendation. On a five-star scale, these products would score 3 stars. On the traditional 100-point scale popular with many wine and spirits graders, these products would merit scores of 83 to 86 points.
Earlier this year, we took our first taste of the much-anticipated Isle of Raasay Single Malt. I first tried it in Scotland last summer and then again when our review sample arrived care of U.S. importer ImpEx, and on both occasions I was impressed by the unique complexity this upstart distillery had achieved in a…
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We’ve covered Symington’s Quinta da Fonte Souto white blend on several occasions, but never its red: this alicante bouschet is a signature variety of southern Portugal’s Alentejo region. These grapes are grown at Symington’s 511-acre Quinta da Fonte Souto estate in Portalegre. The resulting wine is dark purple, completely opaque — perhaps best thought of…
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First surprise: “Dyfi,” which hails from Wales, is pronounced “Dovey.” And let me be the first to say, good luck calling for it in your martini at the bar! Made in a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the gin incorporates classic gin botanicals along with hand-foraged Welsh botanicals, including “wild flowers, aromatic leaves, fruits, and conifer…
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We first reviewed Rampur Select when it was new to U.S. shores in 2019, a few years after its 2016 introduction in its home country of India. After tons of awards and fandom, the single malt — made from 100% Indian barley and aged exclusively in first fill bourbon barrels — was “reintroduced” as a…
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If I said this whiskey was made in Kentucky by one Wardell Stephen Curry, you probably wouldn’t bat an eye. Some old timer, amirite? But if I clarified that that’s the full name of Golden State Warriors MVP Steph Curry, well, maybe you’d perk up a bit. Gentleman’s Cut is another in a long line…
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What if you combined mac & cheese with the flavor of an IPA beer? That’s the kind of drunk-ass thinking that must have resulted in Goodles — “Noodles, Gooder!” — which comes in the familiar, rectangular box filled with dried, corkscrew pasta and a packet of cheesy-IPAesque powder that you mix with milk to create…
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New amaro Amante 1530 is billed as “an innovative twist on an old classic,” but when you get down to it, it’s a lot closer to one familiar standby than you’d think. Boasting Sting and Trudie Styler as investors, this Aperol clone is flavored with Italian orange, ginger, and honeysuckle, and it carries the familiar…
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It’s really easy to get really cynical really quickly about a tequila brand founded by a self-described “serial entrepreneur and angel investor.” Because what venture capitalist hasn’t lifted themselves up by the bootstraps to eventually found their very own vanity tequila brand? Admittedly, founder Karan Khanna’s involvement is obfuscated by the roles of founding consultant…
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Lots of action going on at Heaven’s Door these days. There’s a new distillery, a new visitor’s center, and a big renaming (and even revamping) of its core lineup. Let’s start with the basics. First, Heaven’s Door’s core lineup — three whiskeys — have all been given new names and new bottle graphics, each featuring…
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Canned, sparkling seltzers made with real ingredients and actual spirits, but hitting the can at 5% abv? What’s not to like? Four flavors are currently available, each contained in a 12 oz. can. We tried them all, and offer our thoughts herein. Each is 5% abv. Lake Hour Watermelon Cucumber – Tequila, real watermelon, real cucumber.…
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