Spirits

Drink Texas Whiskey with Us in Austin on April 22, 2023

By Christopher Null | March 22, 2023 |

Whiskey shows tend to showcase hooch from everywhere in the world. But at the 6th Annual Texas Whiskey Festival, the focus is on one thing and one thing alone: Whiskey made in Texas. Turns out there’s a lot more of it than I’d imagined, with over 35 distilleries being represented and pouring their wares —…

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Review: Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Tequila – Platino and Reposado

By Christopher Null | March 22, 2023 |

Jose Cuervo’s Reserva de la Familia has long been a top-shelf extra anejo, released every year with a unique wooden box encasing it. I somehow missed the news that Cuervo expanded the Reserva de la Familia line in 2020, adding top-shelf blanco and reposado expressions to the mix. Like the extra anejo, these are annual…

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Review: McConnell’s Sherry Cask Finish Irish Whisky

By Drew Beard | March 21, 2023 |

Last fall, newly resurrected Irish whisky brand McConnell’s took its first step toward broadening their portfolio with the release of this bottle, McConnell’s Sherry Cask Finish Irish Whisky. As the name implies, this is classic McConnell’s – presumably still a five-year-old blend of malt and grain whiskies distilled at Great Northern Distillery – finished for…

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Review: Writers’ Tears Red Head Irish Whiskey

By Christopher Null | March 20, 2023 |

Writers’ Tears is a perennial Irish whiskey favorite, and it’s been exciting to see a series of new expressions arrive from the brand. This latest is named Red Head on account of its lovely, ruddy color, a result of being matured in oloroso sherry casks. There’s no age statement here, but the impact is altogether…

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Review: Cenote Tequila Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo

By Robert Lublin | March 19, 2023 |

Cenote tequila is a bit of a mystery. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a “cenote” is a “deep sinkhole in limestone with a pool at the bottom that is found especially in Yucatán.” The Cenote brand, according to their website, uses the name to invoke “the beauty of the Yucatán Peninsula and the spectacular underground…

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Review: Hennessy Cognac VS and XO

By Christopher Null | March 19, 2023 |

  We’ve reviewed countless special editions from iconic Cognac producer Hennessy over the years, but its core line has strangely eluded our pen. Today we begin to rectify that with a look at two stalwarts of Hennessy’s core line: VS and XO. Both are 80 proof. Hennessy VS Cognac – The entry level Hennessy is…

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Review: Himbrimi Old Tom Gin

By Drew Beard | March 18, 2023 |

Earlier this year, we reviewed Brunnur Distillery’s Himbrimi Winterbird Gin, a delicate but enjoyable expression of classic London Dry distilled with a unique mix of Icelandic botanicals. According to the folks at Himbrimi, their founder Oscar Ericsson was inspired to get into gin-making so that he could have something to take with him on his…

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Review: Peg Leg Porker Tennessee Rye 8 Years Old

By Christopher Null | March 17, 2023 |

After years of toiling in the bourbon trade, pitmaster cum whiskey magnate Casey Bringle is off to the world of rye, dropping this 8 year old expression of Peg Leg Porker as his first entry into the category. Made with the classic 95% rye, 5% malted barley mashbill — but in Tennessee, not Indiana —…

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Review: Sheringham Seaside Gin

By Drew Beard | March 17, 2023 |

Gin hasn’t been spared from the growing terroir trend, which is fine by me since I have an easier time grasping a “sense of place” in a spirit that can essentially be flavored with local botanicals. A few coastal distilleries have even gone so far as to incorporate unique aquatic elements – things like kelp…

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Review: Kentucky Owl Mardi Gras XO Cask Rye

By Drew Beard | March 16, 2023 |

First St. Patrick’s Day and now Mardi Gras. What holiday will Kentucky Owl celebrate next? (Arbor Day! -Ed.) Kentucky Owl Mardi Gras XO Cask debuted late last fall, alongside another pricey bottling, Batch 12 Bourbon, and well in advance of the Big Easy’s famous Carnival season. It’s been several years since Stoli offered a Kentucky Owl…

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