Review: Redemption Rye and High-Rye Bourbon (2011)
Distilled in Indiana and bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky, Redemption is part of a growing cadre of craft distillers who go guerrilla on getting their stuff produced (a la Angel’s Envy), releasing amazingly high-quality product at very affordable prices. At Redemption, the focus is obviously on increasingly popular rye. Redemption Rye Batch 027 (2011) – 95% rye,…
Tasting Report: Family Winemakers of California 2011
Family Winemakers of California, while not quite as daunting as I’ve seen it in prior years, remains a monstrous wine exhibition: It’s been called the largest show of its kind in the country — and with 300 wineries pouring this year, if that’s not still true today, it’s awfully close. I did my research in…
Recipes: Autumn Cocktails from Grey Goose
Some interesting-sounding seasonal concoctions in this list, courtesy of our friends at Grey Goose Vodka and mixologist Nick Mautone. Ah, fall! Grey Goose Balsamique 1 1/2 parts Grey Goose Vodka 3/4 part Crème Yvette 1/4 part balsamic vinegar 1 part pomegranate juice 3/4 part agave nectar 1 to 2 parts seltzer water In a cocktail…
Review: Wines of McManis, 2010 Vintage
McManis Family Vineyards is a budget outfit with vast vineyard holdings in inland California. A step above ultra-cheap wines, McManis aims to offer quality while keeping prices as low as possible. We sampled three whites from the 2010 vintage, with generally acceptable results. 2010 McManis Pinot Grigio California – Extremely tart but overall fairly pleasant.…
Review: Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon 2011 Edition
This year, the “small” batch gets bigger than ever: Four Roses is batching four of its 10 Bourbon recipes into the 2011 Limited Edition Small Batch release. This year, the annual Limited Edition Small Batch is built out of 13-year OBSK, 13-year OESQ, 12-year OESV, and 11-year OESK. (If none of that means anything to…
Recipes: Falling Satellite Cocktails
This weekend a NASA satellite will come crashing to earth… and no one knows where. (The odds of someone, somewhere getting hit by a piece are about 1 in 3,200.) In honor of the event, the Cellar Bar at the Bryant Park Hotel in Manhattan has three cocktails on offer for the rest of the…
Review: Samuel Adams Utopias (2011 Release)
Sam Adams is back again with its seasonal release of Utopias, the Guinness recordholder for the strongest commercially available beer. At 27% alcohol, Utopias continues to shock eyeballs and palates, not just with the wild, bold flavor, but with the price tag, too. I missed the 2009 Utopias, so it’s been a lengthy four years…
Tasting Emanuel Andren Chocolate Truffles
We don’t review much high-end chocolate here at Drinkhacker. Or rather, some (namely myself) would say we don’t review enough. While you’ve probably not heard the name, Emanuel Andrén is hardly a new brand. Founded in a small town in Sweden in 1868, this family business is devoted to producing ultra-luxe confections, which it promptly…
