Review: Kooper Family Rye and Sweetheart of the Rodeo Bourbon
Kooper Family Whiskey is a Dripping Springs, Texas-based distillery that we last visited in 2016 when we reviewed its (now discontinued) 100% Rye release. Today we take a fresh look at Kooper’s current lineup, which is built around a blended rye and straight bourbon. Everything is sourced, but much of the aging is done in…
Review: Citizen Seltzer, Complete Lineup
The folks at Citizen Cider are stretching their wings, moving — sort of — into the hard seltzer category. The twist? This trio is essentially a (more) sparkling, (slightly) flavored version of Citizen’s apple ciders — all with no added sugar — rather than the more traditional malt beverage or raw alcohol + sparkling water…
Review: GlenAllachie 10, 12, 15, 18, and 25 Years Old
GlenAllachie is a Speyside distillery that was founded in 1967, and it’s been shuttered and reopened at least once since then. In 2017 the distillery changed hands for at least the third time, and it is now up and running again under independent management. The distillery now has 50,000 casks aging on site, and the…
Review: Tangent 2018 Albarino and NV Canned Rose
Tangent is a brand that is “an exploration of alternative white varietals which thrive in cool climate environments.” The Edna Valley operation lays claim to one of the largest Albarino vineyards outside of Spain. Thoughts on two new releases follow. 2018 Tangent Albarino Paragon Vineyard Edna Valley – Bright and fruity, this wine is a…
Review: Wines of Sonoma-Cutrer and Pt. Reyes Cheese, 2020 Tasting
“Wine and cheese” go together so well it’s almost a cliche. Recently, Sonoma’s Sonoma-Cutrer Winery got together with one of northern California’s most noteworthy cheesemakers, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese, to arrange a side-by-side tasting of both of their most iconic products. Three wines were tasted alongside four cheeses — Original Blue, Bay Blue (a mild,…
Review: Sierra Nevada Flipside Red IPA
As we all look forward to a mercifully cooler fall, here’s a beer supposedly tailor-made for the next season. Sierra Nevada’s Flipside Red IPA was introduced in 2013 as a seasonal, cooler-weather contrast to the brighter, summery beers that comprise the brewery’s core line-up. It leans heavy on the tropical fruit and citrus from a…
Review: Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey (2019)
We’ve covered the core lineup from Michter’s pretty thoroughly and even some of the rarer unicorns like Michter’s 20 Year, but a pair of whiskeys are on annual offer from the distillery that you may have not even heard of. And for good reason. Known as the Legacy Series, Shenk’s Homestead and Bomberger’s Declaration have…
Review: Blood x Sweat x Tears Vodka
Behind the opaque, black bottle of Blood x Sweat x Tears (aka Blood, Sweat, and Tears, aka BST) you’ll find a craft vodka from Eugene, Oregon-based Wolf Spirit Distillery. I don’t have a lot of production information about this spirit, except that its made from local wheat and water and is freeze filtered before bottling.…
