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.
How far has Texas come as a wine producer? Let’s find out with these two recently released bottlings. 2018 Aire y Sol Viognier Texas – Not immediately recognizable as viognier; I probably would have suggested a funkier, greener sauvignon blanc had I tasted this blind. Fairly astringent with ammonia notes, the wine is pungent with…
Schofferhofer Grapefruit was a pioneer in fruit-beer radler-style blends (the original was 50% hefeweizen and 50% grapefruit soda), and now the German brand is back with two line extensions, one made with pomegranate soda and the other with passion fruit. (Both maintain the 50-50 ratio of beer to soda.) Let’s try them both. Both are…
Sheffield, Massachusetts-based Berkshire Mountain Distillers recently embarked upon one of the most ambitious craft distilling projects I’ve ever heard of. The five-years-in-the-making project will see BMD partnering with a dozen different breweries across five states, turning their beers into whiskey. Each whiskey will be the product of a single brew bearing the name of the…
New Liberty Distillery was started in 2004 by Robert Cassell with a focus on Pennsylvania’s whiskey heritage. But this review will not be about whiskey. It’s founder has now launched a new spirits company, American Liquor Company (aka ALCO), to enter into the ready-to-drink arena with a new line of canned cocktails. ALCO cocktails are…
Ever looking for a way to delight its customers, California’s Bonny Doon has priced all of its 2021 main-line releases at $15. Today we look at the quartet of releases, including three blends and one solo varietal, a picpoul. 2020 Bonny Doon Picpoul Monterey County Beeswax Vineyard – Salty and sharp up front, this wine…
The inherent challenge for any non-alcoholic beverage producer trying to win over a part of the booming spirit-free market is setting the right expectations; are you offering a non-alcoholic replacement for a specific cocktail or spirit, or offering any alternative to the standard seltzer/lime option. The former is a bit of a Quixotic pursuit (so…
Boston’s Bully Boy Distillers makes a somewhat traditional amaro, but this Rabarbaro expression is built around a more uncommon recipe. The “Rabarb” is for rhubarb, which is paired with black cardamom, marjoram, chamomile, cloves, yarrow, amd bitter orange to make a decidedly unusual experience. (The company suggests using it as an alternative to sweet vermouth…
I have to say, it was a lot of fun receiving my Wild Child tasting flight of wines from In Good Taste. Inside a well-crafted box lay 8 different samples of wine, each 187 ml (roughly 1/4 of a standard bottle). All of the grape varietals were less common varieties. No Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay,…
Almost a decade ago, the proprietor of this site sallied forth into the then-great unknown of light margarita mixes with less than favorable results. Undeterred and out of sheer force of will, tequila juggernaut Cuervo remains a major force in carving a niche market for folks who enjoy a marg or two but who wish…
We’re filling out our coverage of Martinique’s Rhum J.M line, finally looking at an oddity called Rhum J.M VO. The hitch: It’s aged for 3 years in toasted new American oak barrels rather than used bourbon barrels, which are the norm. The result is a rather sharp and heavy rum, at least on the nose,…