Review: Basil Hayden Golden Rye (2026)
Basil Hayden is out with a new edition. Well, sort of. Their latest, Golden Rye, is replacing the whiskey formerly known as Malted Rye introduced in 2024. It’s part of a new portfolio strategy that narrows the core lineup to two whiskeys, this newest rye release and the original Basil Hayden Bourbon. A more experimental…
Review: 2022 Pacher Hof Sylvaner Alte Reben
Alto Adige occupies one a curious corner of Italian wine. Tucked into Italy’s far north against the Austrian border, it carries a distinctly dual identity, shaped by Italian and Germanic influence in language, culture, and winemaking. Alpine peaks dominate the landscape, but the vineyards benefit from a surprisingly varied climate, with daytime sun and warm…
Review: Maestro Dobel Blanco and Tahona Tequila Blanco
Maestro Dobel continues to innovate, this time by returning to the good old days of artisanal tequila production (and eschewing its trademark cristalino presentation). Dobel Tahona Tequila Blanco is a 100% organic blanco tequila made with classic techniques: tahona agave pinas crushed on a volcanic stone wheel, masonry oven roasting, fermentation with open-air wild yeast…
Review: 2024 Serena Mode 0.0 Sauvignon Blanc and Cinsault Rose Non-Alcoholic Wines
Chile’s Miguel Torres is the brand behind Serena Mode, a new non-alcoholic brand made from real varietal fruit — listed on the label — and vintage-dated. Two dealcoholized expressions are currently available. Let’s give them a try. 2024 Serena Mode 0.0 Sauvignon Blanc – A big, juicy, golden grape juice experience, this is a fairly…
Review: GlenDronach 56 Years Old
The GlenDronach has been making whisky since 1826. To celebrate its bicentennial, the historic distillery has released (in very limited supply) its oldest expression to date: The GlenDronach Aged 56 Years. True to form for the Highland producer, this whisky certainly leans into sherry maturation, having spent its entire life across Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez…
Review: Wines of Baldacci, Spring 2026 Releases
The Baldacci family has established itself as a perennial favorite on the site, often making post-review encore appearances on our curated roundups of top 10 wines. Their familiarity is not without solid justification: nearly three decades into the winery’s run, the story is less about chasing notoriety than building something of high-quality reliability: something to…
Review: A. Smith Bowman Abraham Bowman Special Release #26
Virginia whiskey lovers, you know the drill. A. Smith Bowman is out with another Abraham Bowman Special Release. The lottery closed May 11 (womp womp), but there’s still a chance some bottles will go unclaimed at the end of the month. In the past, a few bottles have even circulated through the Virginia ABC and…
Review: GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro
Next up in the trend of countertop appliances you-never-thought-you-needed-until-it-existed is apparently the portable ice machine. You’ve hoarded the waffle maker, insta-pot, espresso machine, and air fryer. Make room for an ice maker because folks, they are here to stay. Fellow writer Jacob Kiper provided an intriguing prologue on the role and view of ice in…