Review: Oban 18 Years Old Limited Edition 2008 and 1993 Distiller’s Edition
The Classic Malts Collection, which comprises a wide range of Scotch whiskys, recently announced a number of special edition, limited release Scotches. We got our hands on a few of them. Reviews will be posted over the next few days, but we’ll start with two from Oban. Oban Limited Edition 18 Years Old 2009 – It’s been…
Review: Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey Batch #33
I’m not gonna pull any punches here. Stranahan’s is the strangest whiskey I’ve ever experienced. It looks harmless enough, a bright, orange-hued spirit with a relatively mild nose — almost rye-like. Though 94 proof, the nose isn’t particularly hot. Looks promising. Then the tasting. Hmmm. Stranahan’s is a rarity among American whiskeys, distilled from 100…
Review: 2005 Maryhill Cabernet Franc Columbia Valley
Washington state may be the next big region for American wine. Maryhill Winery, based in Washington’s Columbia Valley, has been pumping out a dozen or so varietals for years now, and we got our hands on a few of the company’s recent bottles, including this 2005 Cabernet Franc. This wine, black as squid ink (well,…
Review: Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon
I’ve written about Evan Williams a few times now after seeing the brand rank highly in taste-tests of inexpensive booze. Widely regarded as the best “cheap bourbon” on the market, I figured I’d pick up a bottle and try it myself, tasting it as seriously as I would a $300 Scotch. The price of this…
Review: Sea Dog Bluepaw Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale
It’s weird beer weekend here at Drinkhacker — what with that weird Super Bowl — and next we turn our attention to Sea Dog’s blueberry brew. Er, excuse me, wild blueberry brew. Crack it open and the aroma of blueberry fills the room. It’s enticing, and immediately whets the appetite for a hearty gulp. Surprisingly,…
Review: Cricket Club Gin
From the out-there world of saffron gin we return to something more traditional, a relatively straightforward London style gin called Cricket Club (from the folks at Indio Spirits). 86 proof and crisp is a fresh apple, Cricket Club isn’t overly surprising. A moderate hand with the juniper helps some of Cricket’s other charms come through:…
Review: Gabriel Boudier Saffron Infused Gin
One look at Gabriel Boudier’s saffron gin and you are instantly intrigued. The king of the spice world married with spirits royalty? The result is intriguing to say the least, but it’s unfortunately somewhere short of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier. I tried a tiny sample of Boudier at last year’s WhiskyFest but now that…
Review: Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock
Chocolate? They aren’t kidding with this bad boy: While many beers with “chocolate” in their name achieve their flavor through the use of special malts, Sam Adams’ Chocolate Bock is flavored with real chocolate: Specifically “slowly aged on a bed of rare dark cocoa nibs from Felchlin, a renowned Swiss chocolatier. Known for their quality…
