Review: Smirnoff Coconut Vodka
What’s that? You want more nutty vodka flavors? You got it! Here’s a coconut monster from Smirnoff, one of the big producers of flavored vodkas. Clear, unlike UV’s milky white oddity, Smirnoff again shows that when it comes to coconut, the natural companion is rum, not vodka. There’s something about these two that just doesn’t…
Review: Johnnie Walker Double Black
Johnnie Walker, like the rest of the whisky industry, is betting on black. Twice. Formerly available only as a duty-free product, the company is (today) releasing as a limited edition a new blended Scotch called “Double Black,” a more heavily wooded and smoke-infused version of its classic Black Label — for my money, Walker’s best…
Tasting the Wagner Family of Wine, 2011 Releases
Best known for producing Caymus — a Napa Cab which gained a massive following over the last 10 years, especially with its “Special Selection” bottling (tragically not reviewed here) — the Wagner family actually produces wine under a multitude of labels. We tried six, courtesy of a TastingPanel.com kit of minis sent our way. Notes…
Review: 2006 Kaesler Grenache “The Fave” Barossa Valley
One sip and this Aussie Grenache will just about knock you down. At 16 percent alcohol, it’s a bruiser amongst bruisers and a wine that isn’t likely to win any awards in a nuance contest. That said, it’s really full of flavor: Jammy, as you’d expect, but surprisingly lush with rich plum and cherry fruit,…
Review: Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon 10 Years Old (2011)
Henry McKenna is a value-priced Bourbon from Heaven Hill with serious street cred: Single barrel and bottled in bond (100 proof), it’s aged 10 years and sold to retailers, who pick out their own barrels and sell them direct. This is common with many distilleries, but not at these prices. This McKenna is the 9th…
Review: Wines of Haras, 2011 Releases
Haras de Pirque, or just “Haras,” hails from Chile’s Maipo Valley, where it produces a series of very affordable wines, inspired by the winery’s love of horses. Tasted twice. The first round of wines were clearly damaged by heat in shipping. 2010 Haras Sauvignon Blanc Maipo Valley – Tropical nose, with a touch of lemon…
Review: Hiram Walker Caramel Apple Liqueur
Oddball combo spirits week continues here at Drinkhacker with what sounds like a natural one: Caramel Apple Liqueur. Hey, if nothing else you can at least be absolutely certain that this is one spirit that contains caramel color. A light and minimalist liqueur, this is a relatively mild concoction that is more reminiscent of the…
Review: Stolichnaya Stoli Chocolat Razberi Vodka
What do you do when you run out of flavors for your vodka? Start making combinations. Stolichnaya, which makes a Razberi vodka now but not a Chocolat, combines the two flavors, long considered natural buddies in the dessert world, into a single mega-vodka. Stoli’s intentions here aren’t tough to fathom: The gooey, chocolate-dripping raspberry on…
