Review: Wilderton Botanical Distillates
Wilderton is a craft non-alcoholic distillery based in Oregon whose founders Brad Whiting and Seth O’Malley “came together for a new vision of distilling.” That vision? To create botanicals-based distillates without alcohol, their premise being that flavor makes a great cocktail, not booze. To achieve the level of complexity and character needed to carry a…
Review: Single-Serve Wines of Le Grand Verre, 2021 Releases
Single-serve wines don’t often get a lot of love, but Le Grand Verre, a new brand landing in the U.S. this summer, wants to change that. Le Grand Verre describes itself pretty simply, as a “single serve, ethical, proprietarily designed, and predominantly female produced boutique wine collection of France.” Here’s some backstory: Envisioned by three…
Visiting The Industrious Spirits Company, Providence’s First Post-Prohibition Distillery
New England travelers have long known Providence — Rhode Island’s capital and economic center — as an underrated gem. It’s famous for a thriving arts community, diverse food scene (with an emphasis on seafood), and proximity to coastal havens like Newport. And while the city’s bars and restaurants have drawn crowds for decades, the distilling…
Review: 2020 La Vieille Ferme Blanc
You could do a lot worse with a cheap French white wine than this blend of Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, and Vermentino that hails from the Rhone (but which bears only a “product of France” designation). Brightly fruited with a melange of peach, pear, and lemon, it finds room for moderated elements of coconut…
Review: Wicked Weed Watermelon Dragonfruit Burst Sour and Fresh Pressed Wheat Ale
In this review, we dive into a new “Splash Pack” summer beer series from Wicked Weed Brewing, based in Asheville, North Carolina. The beers we sampled include its Watermelon Dragonfruit Burst Session Sour and Fresh Pressed Wheat Ale, which is brewed with mango, guava, and pineapple. Both beers are fruit-focused and — with each having…
Review: Armagnacs of Chateau de Laubade
Armagnac producer Chateau de Laubade got its start in 1870 in Gascony, and today it farms 260 acres of grapes used for its brandies. Laubade’s claim to fame — one of them, at least — is that it is one of few properties producing all four grapes allowed by the Armagnac appellation: ugni blanc, folle…
Review: 2020 Ryder Estate Pinot Noir Rose Central Coast
Ryder Estate is part of the Scheid Vineyards family. While it makes a variety of wines in California’s Central Coast, it’s arguably best known for its rose of pinot noir, which we review here. The wine is fresh, with a strong floral element that cuts through the nose: roses and carnations, cut with cotton candy…
Review: Nickel Dime Cocktail Syrups, Complete Lineup
Nickel Dime is based in Oakland, California, where it makes a collection of four cocktail syrups designed for home cocktailing. Created by bartender Jared Hirsch and entrepreneur Absinthia Vermut, the four-pack’s centerpiece is called Caged Heat, one of Hirsch’s most well-known cocktails. The syrups are made from natural ingredients. Consumers are directed to mix 1…
