Super-Cheap Winepod on the Way
The Winepod gizmo I used to create my own Chateau de Null may no longer be for sale — a victim of the recession that made $4,500 DIY wine urns a tough sell — but former CEO Greg Snell has a new trick up his sleeve: A $500, stripped-down version that might put (easier) home…
Review: 2005 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
Recent vintages of Silver Oak have not really impressed me, and that’s sad — in the ’90s, Silver Oak was one of the most reliable wines you could buy… and you paid for that reliability, too. But then the ’00s came along and Silver Oak just wasn’t the same. Bummer. I’m happy to report that…
Review: El Grado Tequila Reposado
Released this summer, El Grado is a new, ultrapremium, 100 percent agave tequila to arrive on U.S. shelves. Available in the three traditional expressions (and mainly in Texas for now), we got our hands on the reposado for a sample. Rested for six months in old bourbon barrels, El Grado’s reposado is a pale yellow…
Thoughts on Clock Bar, San Francisco
Clock Bar is a hotel bar, yes. But you know what? I like hotel bars — good ones, anyway. They’re not as loud. Not as crowded. And the drinks that get made are often top notch. Plus you get to talk to random tourists, not just jaded locals. Good times. After passing by many times,…
Review: Deschutes Brewery Jubelale Winter Ale 2009
I’m the first to admit it’s weird to be drinking this “festive winter ale” during the week of Labor Day. No question. But Deschutes’ Jubelale 2009 arrives October 1, we got it early, and gosh darnit we’re gonna drink it now, even if it is still hot outside. I went in expecting gingerbread and eggnog…
Review: Evan Williams Honey Reserve Liqueur
Watch out American Honey, there’s another bourbon-inspired honey liqueur on the market, and it’s gonna be breathing down your neck but quick. Evan Williams has turned in its own rendition on the honey-flavored liqueur, this one with the promise of “extra-aged bourbon” in the mix. It can’t be much — the color of this liqueur…
Tasting Ciroc’s Red Berry and Coconut Vodkas with Master Distiller Jean-Sebastien Robicquet
Ciroc is one of the big spirits success stories in recent years, and it’s now, according to the company, the #3 ultrapremium vodka brand on the market, after Grey Goose and Belvedere. (Fun fact: The name is made up, a combination of the French words cime (summit) and roche (rock).) This week I had the…
Review: Cupcake 2008 Riesling and 2007 Petite Sirah
Readily available at your typical supermarket, the Cupcake Vineyards label is a solid value for everyday drinking. Some thoughts on two recent varietals follow. 2008 Cupcake Riesling is extremely dry for this varietal, harvested from Washington’s Yakima Valley and fragrant with aromatics. Herbal notes give way to a curious collection of fruit flavors — melon,…
