Book Review: 101 Gins To Try Before You Die
Honestly, I don’t think there are 101 gins you need to try before you die. I would be surprised if there were 20. Ian Buxton makes a case for the former, however, in his slim, straightforward book — which was recently revised and updated, and it’s easy to get sucked in. The usual suspects are…
Review: Absolut Watermelon Vodka
If you’re going for a flavored vodka, it may as well be something natural and appropriate for the season, like watermelon, and from a reliable brand like Absolut. Last summer we reviewed a limited edition Ciroc Summer Watermelon Vodka, so how do the two compare? Well, Ciroc’s label admitted to the use of some artificial…
Review: Very Old Barton 100 Proof
Back in 2018, we offered up our Top 10 Best Bourbons Under $20. Since then, prices have continued to creep northward on most of that list, surpassing the modest dollar threshold we set at the time. Heaven Hill’s aged-stated and bonded White Label, which earned top honors on that list, was such a coveted bargain…
Review: Firestone Walker Parabola, Amburana, and Double Barrel 2021
As Firestone Walker says, “Of all the beers in our Proprietor’s Vintage Series, Parabola is the most notorious,” describing it correctly as a “beast of a beer,” a monster that spends a year in whiskey barrels before bottling and which always lands in the double digits of alcohol by volume. This year we’re looking at…
Review: Foghat Cocktail Smoker
The pandemic has seen a huge upsurge in the number of ready-made cocktails in cans and bottles on the market, as people have adjusted to drinking at home more often. While there are some incredibly good pre-mixed cocktails available, there’s still nothing to beat a freshly-made cocktail creation of your own, especially when you have…
Review: Mic.Drop Rye L20-01 4 Years Old
The latest Mic.Drop release from PM Spirits isn’t a bourbon but a rye, another young gun at 4 years old, sourced from Wilderness Trail Distillery in Danville, Kentucky. Mic.Drop L20-01, which was released late last year, is drawn from just 5 casks of rye distilled in 2015 and bottled in 2020, made from a mash…
Review: Bully Boy Distillers Amaro Rabarbaro
Boston’s Bully Boy Distillers makes a somewhat traditional amaro, but this Rabarbaro expression is built around a more uncommon recipe. The “Rabarb” is for rhubarb, which is paired with black cardamom, marjoram, chamomile, cloves, yarrow, amd bitter orange to make a decidedly unusual experience. (The company suggests using it as an alternative to sweet vermouth…
Review: Goodfolks Peru Cajamarca Blend Coffee
In keeping with Kentucky tradition, the month of May shines a light on Louisville for numerous reasons, the primary being the running of the horses at the Kentucky Derby. Louisville also has a special place at the heart of this site for blessing us with a king’s ransom of bourbon throughout the last 8,000+ reviews…