Review: 2022 Esporao Monte Velho Reserva Red
Monte Velho (“mon-tay vell-yo”) translates from Portuguese to English as “old hill,” a reference to the grassy mound Herdade do Esporão’s estate capped by a 12th-century fortress. Esporão also remains one of the largest producers of organic wine in Portugal and on the continent and invests heavily in eco-friendly, sustainable practices—a noble and admirable pursuit…
Celebrate National Espresso Martini Day with These Cocktail Riffs
Put on your high-top Reeboks, zip up your parachute pants, and grab your Walkman. We are heading back to the ’80s to celebrate the Espresso Martini. Created by famed industry legend and bartender Dick Bradsell in the early 1980s after a guest (rumored to be a famous fashioned model) asked him to make a cocktail…
Review: Knob Creek Bourbon 9 Years Old – Eli Manning’s 2025 Bold Pick
As a University of Texas alumnus and Longhorn football supporter, I am now duty-bound to honor the Manning family for whatever role they had in bringing young Arch to us — and that necessarily extends to Eli Manning, who may not have quite the street cred of his big brother (who has his own line…
Review: La Maison & Velier Artist #13 Whiskies, 2024 Releases
La Maison & Velier operates an incredible number of sub-brands, and while its focus is on rum, it also has a bustling whisky operation, which is heavy on Scotch. The La Maison du Whisky Artist range has been with us since 2011, mostly single cask Scotch bottled at cask strength. It’s called Artist because sculptors,…
Review: Barrell Foundation Double Barrel Bourbon
In 2023, Barrell Craft Spirits introduced Barrell Foundation, the first ever non-cask strength bourbon from the Kentucky blending wizards and a welcome entry-level addition to a broad portfolio dominated by super premium offerings. Recently, Barrell decided to expand the Foundation lineup with this newest release, Barrell Foundation Double Barrel. The details are pretty straightforward. At…
Review: Hendrick’s Oasium Gin
Midnight at the oasis / Send your camel to bed The latest from the Hendrick’s Gin Cabinet of Curiosities is inspired by a visit to a Middle Eastern/North African oasis, where I’m not sure any gin has ever been consumed but, hey, who’s counting? Per the distillery: This limited release reimagines Hendrick’s through a lush…
Review: Larrikin Bourbon Bottled-in-Bond 8 Years Old
At the 2024 Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Larrikin Bourbon Co. made a big splash as part of its rebranding away from Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company — complete with a giant, inflatable kangaroo that plays on its owner’s Australian heritage. But the splash wasn’t all about the enormous marsupial, it was also about the whiskey that boss Greg…
Review: Germain-Robin California Alambic Brandy XO
Germain-Robin is unquestionably the most exciting and impactful brandy producer in the U.S., and its 7 year old Alambic Brandy is arguably the archetype against which all other American brandies are measured. Stepping up the price and quality tier you’ll find Germain-Robin XO, which is distilled exclusively in Pruhlo Charentais pot stills and aged in…