Review: Knob Creek Bourbon 15 Years Old
It was only a few weeks ago when we took our most recent look at Knob Creek’s 12 Year Old bourbon expression (and the reintroduced 9 Year Old), but now we’re back again with another three year leap forward. Knob Creek 15 Years Old is the oldest whiskey the brand has ever released, and it’s…
Review: Sacred Sauce
We don’t typically review hot sauces or other condiments, but if you think about it, a bottle of fiery stuff is always important to have on hand when you’re noshing on bar food — or kicking the spice level up on a Bloody Mary. Sacred Sauce can work to both ends, and it comes in…
Review: Old Nation M-43 New Orthodox IPA
When discussing Michigan and beer, the western section of the state has dominated not only Michigan for several decades, but has been a legitimate contender for the best beer scene in the Midwest. The list of reputable breweries reads like a top-tier basketball starting lineup: Bell’s and Founder’s on the back court; Short’s, Dark Horse,…
Review: Jura Journey
Journey is a new no-age-statement release from the island-based Jura Distillery. It’s aged entirely in ex-bourbon barrels, but otherwise details are scarce. As is typical of youthful, bourbon-barreled single malts, the focus remains pretty squarely on the grain. Toasty with a gentle woodiness and just a hint of smoke, it’s wholly, overwhelmingly harmless on the…
Review SoNo 1420 Vodka – We Woodruff/Elder Flower and Bo Blood Orange
SoNo 1420 is — perhaps you’ve guessed — a brand that revolves around cannabis. The Connecticut-based operation uses hemp seeds in its whiskeys and uses hemp flower in its gins. However, its three vodkas — two of which we review here — are hemp-free. Let’s give these spirits a try. Both are 80 proof. SoNo…
Review: Bully Boy Distillers Merchant Gin and Estate Gin (2020)
We’ve covered the gins of Boston’s Bully Boy Distillers on several occasions. Recently the distillery rebranded its two gins — relaunching them with much different labels and mildly different identities. The recipes have not been altered, but batch and bottle numbers have been eliminated. Let’s dig in. Bully Boy Distillers Merchant Gin (2020) – Launched…
Recipe: Beast of Burden
We’ve long been fans of the craft whiskey and gin rolling out of Kentucky’s New Riff Distillery. When you arrive at the distillery in Covington, the very first thing you notice when walking through the front door is a small yet bustling tasting bar, dubbed The Aquifer. One of the many cocktails on offer there…
Review: Wines of Sullivan Vineyards, 2020 Releases
Sullivan Vineyards has been “Rutherford’s cabernet sauvignon hideaway” since 1972. This small producer offers a collection of ultra-premium bottlings with a focus not on cabernet but on merlot and chardonnay, too. It’s top tier of wines are known as the James O’Neil collection, a block selection representing 5 percent of the estate’s vineyards which is…
