Rated C+
Reviews of spirits, wine, and beer (and various errata like mixers and garnishes) comprise more than 80% of the content at Drinkhacker. At the C+ level, we see products that are relatively undistinguished, except perhaps in one or two minor factors. These products are generally not recommended, as better alternatives abound. On a five-star scale, these products would score 2 stars. On the traditional 100-point scale popular with many wine and spirits graders, these products would merit scores of 75 to 78 points.
Dry Farm Wines may sound like a hippie commune where they produce foot-trodden vino, but it’s actually a wine club, and a unique one in my experience. As oxymoronic as it might sound, Dry Farm claims to be “the only health-focused, low-alcohol, natural wine club in the world.” No, that doesn’t mean you’re getting alcohol-free…
Never one to shy away from a wine release, Francis Ford Coppola hits the ground this summer with (at least) five new releases, thoughts on which you’ll find below. 2017 Francis Ford Coppola Sofia Brut Rose Monterey County – The iconic Sofia sparkler (wrapped in plastic, natch) really pushes the boundaries of the definition of…
Solod is a new vodka brand from the Ukraine, and it comes in two expressions, both built around (and arguably flavored with) malted barley. It’s really weird stuff (stay tuned) but, given the price point, something that might be quite appealing to cost-conscious shoppers. I don’t have a lot of data on exactly how these vodkas…
34 North is a new sub-brand from Wheeler’s Raid, a Tennessee-based craft distillery. 34 North focuses on ready-to-drink canned cocktails — and with a considerably higher alcohol level than the typical RTD offering. Let’s crack open the first two products in this lineup. 34 North Sneaky Pucker – A tart concoction consisting of vodka, lavender…
We previously mentioned Ellington in our Drinking the Bottom Shelf series; the brand seems to be an exclusive bottling for Total Wine stores. We thought we’d take a deeper (or at least a separate) dive into this spirit, looking at a 2018 bottling — which is to say, a plastic mini we picked up at…
Grand Macnish is a blended Scotch best known for its unusual, dimpled bottles, but recently the brand has taken strides upmarket, with two new blends that carry age statements as well as distinct barrel finishing. The label drops the dimply bottles for these “Double Matured” releases as well, both of which we were able to…
Geyser Peak recently rebranded with strikingly different new labels, and to celebrate, the winery sent us a selection of recent releases. Thoughts follow. 2018 Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc California – A standard bottling of from-all-over-California sauvignon blanc, showing a sharp acidity, moderate to heavy tropical character, and a hint of ammonia on the back end.…
If you haven’t already heard the kooky story of Endless West and Glyph, well, pull up a chair. Glyph 85H is a whiskey unlike any other. How so? It is designed to look and taste like aged whiskey, though it never sees a barrel. No, this doesn’t involve an accelerated aging system like Lost Spirits.…
The Wolftrap is a South African rose from the Boekenhoutskloof winery in the Western Cape region, made from a blend of 69% cinsault, 21% syrah, and 10% grenache. It’s not the most expressive rose you’ll find, a rather gummy body masking flavor notes that range from grapefruit peel to honeysuckle, with a curiously oily/margarine character…
No, the bottle’s not pink, the gin is: This is Beefeater Gin, flavored with strawberry. Still with us? Beefeater Pink begins with the traditionally distilled Beefeater dry gin base, fusing it with natural strawberry flavors, citrus and classic juniper botanicals to deliver a delicate, finely balanced gin. Its transparent glass bottle was created to showcase…