Review: First Landing Bourbon
Most people don’t associate Maryland with bourbon, but the founders of Tobacco Barn Distillery would argue that Maryland was actually ground zero for America’s native spirit. It’s true that icons of bourbon history like Basil Hayden and Henry Wathen lived in the Chesapeake Bay region of southern Maryland before heading west to what would become…
Review: Amrut Indian Single Malt Whisky and Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Earlier this month, we reviewed Amrut’s peated single malts, made with sourced Scottish barley. Now we’re rounding out the core line up with a look at two single malts distilled in India from 100% Indian ingredients. Both single malts, a standard and cask strength, are distilled from barley reportedly sourced from the states of Haryana,…
Review: 2018 Flora Springs Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay Family Select
Two new whites, ready for summer sipping, from our friends at Napa’s Flora Springs. Let’s dig in. 2018 Flora Springs Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley – Grassy and fruity on the nose, this wine takes a decidedly sour turn on the palate with a moderate slick of ammonia and a big grapefruit character. Increasingly green as…
Review: Royal Brackla 12, 16, and 21 Years Old
Royal Brackla is the third leg in Dewar’s single malt portfolio — in addition to Craigellachie and Aberfeldy — and while it’s the largest of the trio, it’s probably the least well-known. The distillery, founded in 1812, has been opened and closed over the years, most recently reopened in 1991. Located in the Highlands on…
Original Recipe: The Revelation Cocktail
I was sipping on some Braulio the other day and thought I would explore its place in a cocktail. I put together the Revelation (named after a viewing of Hamilton, but with apologies to this 1908 monstrosity) as a spin on both the Boulevardier and the Ritten Word, with some fun twists in the mix,…
Celebrate National Tequila Day 2020 with Our Favorite Cocktails
We can think of no better time of year to celebrate tequila than summer, so the liquor gods knew what they were up to when they made July 24th National Tequila Day. If, like us, simply reading the following cocktail recipes featuring tequila makes you want to don on a swimsuit, throw on your sunglasses,…
Review: Port Askaig 18 Years Old
The latest whisky from Port Askaig — the independent bottler that specializes exclusively in the whiskies of Islay — is an 18 year old expression from an undisclosed distillery. The single cask release was aged in a bourbon cask and yielded just 250 bottles. Considerable peat on the nose quickly blows off to reveal a…
Book Review: American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon from Ripy to Russell
There are lots of whiskey books out there. I think I saw an entire shelf full on my last visit to a bookstore. Despite that abundance, it’s hard to find a brand-specific book that drills down into the history of a particular distillery. David Jennings’s new tome, American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon from Ripy to…
