Rated D/F
Reviews of spirits, wine, and beer (and various errata like mixers and garnishes) comprise more than 80% of the content at Drinkhacker. This category is a catch-all for everything rated D+, D, D-, or F, our lowest rating. These products should be categorically avoided by everyone (and preferably discontinued altogether). On a five-star scale, these products would score 1.5 stars (for D+ ratings) or 1 star (for D, D-, and F ratings). On the traditional 100-point scale popular with many wine and spirits graders, these products would merit scores 68 or below.
Come mister tally man, tally me banana! Banana liqueur tends to be one of those unsung cocktail ingredients that few give much serious thought to. A splash of something yellow to give a cocktail a vague tropicality, right? Think again. Banana liqueur has entered its own small renaissance, and mixologists are discovering myriad uses for…
Aviv wines are a new line released by Galil Mountain Winery in Yiron, Israel. Aviv means “spring” in Hebrew and is intended, the website explains, to represent “young, fresh, fruity, easy drinking wines designed for enjoying in restaurants.” I’m not sure what makes a wine more suitable to enjoying in a restaurant than at home,…
Lambrusco is one of those wines people think they know, but usually for maligned reasons. Either it’s remembered as a fizzy adult soda your aunt smuggled in during the Thanksgiving of 1989, or praised by some dusty Roman throwback when they weren’t busy pillaging villages or shouting at their crops. But when done well, it…
Yes, they make sake everywhere — but did you know they make it in Arkansas? Origami Sake has the look of an Asian brand, but it’s made in Hot Springs, from locally grown rice. Origami also has a non-alcoholic sake on its roster, which is what first attracted me to the brand. Origami makes four sakes…
My fascination with American whiskey extends beyond the simple pleasure of sipping a glass after a long day or sharing a pour with friends. While I thoroughly enjoy the sensory experience of whiskey, I am arguably more captivated by delving into its rich history. A deeper understanding of whiskey’s origins and evolution undoubtedly enhances the…
Today we’re looking at two new releases from WhistlePig, and they couldn’t be more different. One is another oddball experiment from the Vermont operation — bourbon aged in barrels with two different types of Vermont maple serving as barrel heads, and the other a non-alcoholic offering made in collaboration with… Alice Cooper, who it turns…
There was a time, not too long ago, when pouring kosher wines meant suffering cheap, sweet swill that was virtually undrinkable. Happily, those days are gone and vintners in Israel and around the world have dedicated themselves to making quality kosher wines. A primer for those new to the world of kosher wine: When choosing…
If you’ve ever been to the Biltmore (the historic home of the Vanderbilts) in Asheville, North Carolina, you know about the insane winemaking — and wine-tasting — operation there. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a tasting room as large as the one at the Biltmore, and I lived in northern California for 25…
I don’t think they take a day off at Firestone, where the brews arrive on a breakneck pace, running the gamut from barrel-aged monstrosities to ultra-hoppy IPAs to, for the first time ever, a non-alcoholic beer. Today we’re looking at that N/A offering plus a couple of those middle options along with a trio of…
Recently celebrating the 50th harvest of its winemaker Tony Coltrin, the Oberon winery is a longtime Napa operator that has flown under the radar for most of its lifetime. To mark the milestone, Oberon is stretching its arms from Napa into new territory, launching its first wine from the more southernly Paso Robles region, a…