Review: Suntory Ao World Whisky
It’s safe to say that a whisky like Suntory Ao is one of the most unique whiskies the market has ever seen. The idea, however, is simple: Gather up whiskies from the five most noteworthy whisky regions in the world —Â Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the U.S. — and blend them into a perfect…
Review: NV Avaline Sparkling Wine (2021)
Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power’s Avaline project began with a humble pair of white and rose wines, but now the brand’s success has led to new expressions, including a red wine and a sparkler, which we review here. This nonvintage bottling is actually a Spanish wine made from the same grapes as the white —…
Get to Know This Ridiculously Good Rum From a Proud Trinidadian Maven
SPONSORED CONTENT The brainchild of Proud Trinidadian Marc Farrell, Ten To One has recently been taking the Spirits Awards scene by storm, winning Best Rum of 2020 at both the LA Spirits and Asia International Spirits competition, and quickly gaining a reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the market. Ten To One’s…
Review: Mayor Pingree Rye and Bourbon 13 Years Old (2020)
We know Michigan-based Valentine Distilling best for its eponymous vodka, but the company also produces gin and a number of whiskeys, two of which we review here. What’s in these bottles of “Old Ping,” named after a beloved Detroit mayor who served in the 1890s? We’ll describe each in turn. Mayor Pingree Rye Whiskey (Orange…
Review: 2018 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Russian River Selection
This brightly fruity pinot noir surprises not just with its bold cherry fruit but also cranberry and blueberry notes. Secondary notes of bay leaf, tobacco, and some baking spice offer nuance. But it’s the bold berry fruit that really resonates here, right through to the tart finish. A- / $45 / garyfarrellwinery.comÂ
Review: Bomberger’s Declaration Bourbon and Shenk’s Homestead Whiskey (2020)
The 2020 editions of Bomberger’s and Shenk’s, the duo of annual whiskey releases that make up the Michter’s Legacy Series, arrived briefly on shelves last fall. Each was limited to less than 2000 bottles, so there wasn’t a lot to go around, but we managed to get our hands on samples of each. For both…
Review: Virginia Distillery Co. Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky (Dr. Jim Swan Batch)
Virginia Distillery Co. hit a major milestone with the 2019 release of their long-awaited, house-made single malt, Courage & Conviction. A second release of that single malt, three times bigger than the first, hit shelves in the spring of last year. While the first release was dedicated to the distillery’s late founder, Dr. George G.…
Review: Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch C920 (September 2020)
We’re finally getting around to coverage of the final barrel proof release of Larceny from 2020, which dropped in September. As a reminder, these releases are coming out with roughly the same schedule as Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batches, with a rotating series of cask strength whiskeys hitting up to 4 times a year. Larceny release…