Review: NV Graham Beck Brut Rose
We previously reviewed Graham Beck Brut sparkling wine, and today we are sampling their Brut Rosé. Both are made in the Méthode Cap Classique, which is the South African terminology for the traditional Champagne method of having secondary fermentation occur in the bottle. Both also use the same grapes, but in different proportion. For the…
Review: Bardstown Bourbon Fercullen Blended Whiskey
Bardstown Bourbon Co. embraced the trendy “bottle it yourself” concept back in 2021 with the launch of their Distillery Collection, a series of releases available exclusively at the distillery in Bardstown. Visitors can purchase these bottles in the gift shop or, if they really want a made-for-social-media memory, they can hand-bottle their own from a…
Review: Cognacs of Drouet – VSOP, XO Ulysee, Fine Melina, and Muscat Cask Finish
Drouet is a Cognac producer that traces its history back to 1848. Revitalized by the present, 4th generation, they use sustainable agriculture practices across their 40 hectares of vines located in both the Grande Champagne (70%) and Petite Champagne (30%) crus to create an impressively broad portfolio of traditional expressions and unique “craft” Cognacs. We…
Review: Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey 4 Years Old (2022)
For such a humble brand, Old Overholt Rye has undergone an awfully large number of reinventions over the last decade, including a full relaunch with proof change only 2 years ago, a bonded expression, and an overproof version. Now standard-issue Old Overholt is changing once again, keeping the new 43% abv but adding a 4…
Review: 2021 Flat Top Hills Pinot Noir
We had the good fortune to review a selection of offerings from Flat Top Hills around this time last year. And we continue that good fortune into 2022 with the opportunity to review winemaker Randy Herron’s 2021 Pinot Noir. We’re a bit delayed due to an unfortunate bout of Covid that robbed me of the ability…
Review: Filibuster Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon 5 Years Old
Virginia’s Filibuster has been producing craft spirits for years, maturing to the point where it has finally released its own bonded bourbon offering. This five year old whiskey is made from local Shenandoah Valley grains (corn, rye, barley; no proportions stated) and water, with 12 barrels produced in total. Soft and supple, this is a…
Book Review: How to Make the Best Coffee at Home
It always feels like a flippant cop-out to reply “the one that’s in your hand right now” whenever someone asks me the name of the best (insert style of spirit here) they can procure, but any other response I could offer would send them on a wild goose chase that will, more often than not,…
Review: Chattanooga Whiskey Founder’s 10th Anniversary Blend
To celebrate 10 years in business, Chattanooga earlier this year dropped its Founder’s 10th Anniversary Blend, which is composed of “three whiskey recipes” distilled in both Chattanooga, Tennessee and in Indiana by MGP. I don’t have a perfect understanding of how this blend comes together, but here’s what the company says: It’s made with “two…
