Review: Grey Goose Vodka (2021)
Grey Goose is simultaneously one of the most loved and hated spirits brands in the world. Legions of martini drinkers have turned Grey Goose, which is now owned by Bacardi, into a must-call phenomenon on the back bar, and today some 20 million bottles of the stuff are sold every year. (Though this number has…
Review: Spirits of French Lick The Mattie Gladden Bourbon Bottled in Bond
For a long time, any bourbon you might find on a shelf that carried the words “Distilled in Indiana” on its label was almost certainly produced by whiskey powerhouse MGP. That’s all starting to change though, because the craft distilling craze hit Indiana the same way it did the rest of the country, and several…
Review: BDI Corridor Bar Unit
If you’re looking to upgrade your home bar, remember that it’s not just about the bottles on the shelves. A carefully curated selection of spirits and wine deserves a comfortable place to tuck in for the evening. Plus, if you’re like me, you have an unreasonable number of cocktail and tasting glasses scattered throughout the…
Review: Cotton & Reed White Rum, Dry Spiced Rum, and Allspice Dram
Cotton & Reed opened its doors in 2016 in Washington, D.C.’s trendy Union Market neighborhood, becoming the first rum distillery ever in the District. The distillery prides itself on making interesting rums with flavors specifically geared toward cocktails, although neat sipping is encouraged, as well. They also promote a “restrained approach to sugar,” meaning these…
Virginia Distillery Co. Courage & Conviction – Bourbon Cask, Sherry Cask, and Cuvée Cask
Virginia Distillery Co. introduced their flagship single malt, Courage & Conviction, in the spring of 2020, and they’ve wasted no time in adding to the portfolio with not one but three new whiskies in the Courage and Conviction line: Bourbon Cask, Sherry Cask, and Cuvée Cask. All three releases are drawn from stocks used in…
Review: 2018 Marina Cvetic Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Riserva
We last considered Marina Cvetic’s trebbiano back in its 2011 vintage. Trebbiano has never been the world’s most thrilling grape, and here it showcases a ton of citrus, almost tropical acidity — but it’s backed by notes of green vegetable, hemp rope, and bread dough. A moderate vanilla note builds on the finish, tempering the…
Review: Wheatley Vodka
When you hear the words Buffalo Trace Distillery, probably the very last spirit that comes to mind is vodka. Well, maybe tequila, but vodka is definitely down at the bottom of that list. It may surprise you then to know that not only does the world-famous whiskey distillery produce a vodka, but its master distiller,…
Recipe: French Manhattan
Who doesn’t love French things? Well, I guess there was that whole Freedom Fries kerfuffle years ago, but since then I hardly know anyone who doesn’t talk fondly about the trip they took or will eventually take to the wine and culinary capital of the world. This cocktail is perfect for the budding Francophile, adapted from…
