Review: Olmeca Altos Plata (2012) and Reposado Tequila
We last encountered Olmeca Altos in our preview of its silver tequila in 2010, but this Euro-focused brand has only now finally started its expansion into the States. We took a fresh look at both the Plata and the Reposado (there’s no Anejo yet). Both have refreshed packaging but the agave and methodology (read about…
Review: Tallarico Vodka
Tallarico is the brainchild of Giancarlo Tallarico, a Beverly Hills-based entrepreneur with his eyes on his own vodka (and a $45 price tag). Distilled from common rye and white winter wheat, this vodka (tagline: “Imbibe Elegantly.”) comes in a monolithic and mostly opaque, black decanter that fades to clear at the bottom. On the nose,…
Review: Tapatio Tequila Blanco
Tequila Tapatio (no relation to the hot sauce) has a cult-like following in Mexico (and among frequent visitors to those parts), and now it’s coming north of the border. Made from 100% Highlands blue agave, this brand has been around for 75 years. Imported by the Charbay family, it is (at least for now) only…
Review: 2010 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay Napa Valley
Yes, this is the wine. The one that in 1976 beat down all the French Burgundies in the famous Judgement of Paris with its 1973 vintage Chardonnay. It’s easy to see the charms in this wine. It is fresh and fruity, full of big apple, pear and lots of lemon notes. It is both creamy…
Review: Peligroso Tequila Anejo
Peligroso Reposado has been as close as there is to a “house” reposado at Drinkhacker HQ for some time, and I’ve been bugging Peligroso to send the Anejo expression, figuring if the reposado was this good, the anejo had to be even better. Peligroso Anejo is made from 100% Highlands agave and aged 12 to…
Domaine Carneros “Le Reve” Restrospective, 2006-1992
Eileen Crane has been called “the most experienced sparkling winemaker in the United States,” and her 35 years at Domaine Carneros are proof that she’s doing something right. Hired by Claude Taittinger in 1987, Eileen has been making Le Reve, a $95 (almost)-all-Chardonnay sparkler since the 1992 vintage. In celebration of 20 years of producing…
Review: Big Rack Premium Vodka
Get your mind out of the gutter. The big rack in question refers to deer antlers. Of course. The only spirit I know of that’s packaged in a camouflage-wrapped bottle — and is this ready to go for sipping a martini in your deer lease — Big Rack is six-times distilled from “the finest American…
Review: Judd’s Wreckin’ Ball Corn Whiskey
White whiskey is always a dicey affair. One named “Wreckin’ Ball” — complete with a picture of a wrecking ball on the label — sounds downright dangerous. Made in the back room of Montezuma Winery, in New York’s Finger Lakes region, this spirit is column distilled from 100% corn mash and bottled at 80 proof.…
