Review: Gran Centenario Plata Tequila (2020)
The last time we encountered Gran Centenario’s Plata tequila was way back in 2008! Has 12 years changed anything about this unique joven-esque tequila, which spends a short 28 days in French Limousin oak barrels before bottling (and rendering it a very pale yellow in color)? (One thing that’s changed is the price, driven down…
Review: Ciroc Summer Watermelon Vodka
Ciroc has been making a play for the tropical fruit vodka market, with an enjoyable Mango Vodka and now a re-release of its Summer Watermelon vodka. Calling it a Limited Edition maybe adds a little cachet to what could otherwise be just another flavored vodka, but it does mean that when it’s gone, it’s gone……
Review: Four Gate Bourbon Batch 6 The Kelvin Collaboration II
We only recently had our first round with Four Gate Whiskey Company, a custom blending operation in Louisville. We’re skipping ahead here from batch 4 of its unique bourbons to batch 6, which is in turn an update from its inaugural batch 1. (Not reviewed here, alas.) Like batch 1, the whiskey is made from…
Review: Black Stallion 2018 Heritage Chardonnay and 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Gaspare Vineyard
Here’s a yin-yang of wines from Napa’s Black Stallion Winery, a low-end chardonnay alongside one of its vineyard designate cabernets. 2018 Black Stallion Heritage Chardonnay Napa Valley – This is Black Stallion’s entry level chardonnay, and if you’re a fan of oak, well, you’ll love it. The overwhelmingly buttery wine features a heavy extraction of…
Review: New Riff Backsetter Bourbon and Backsetter Rye
Kentucky’s New Riff prides itself on putting a “new riff” on tried-and-true American whiskey traditions. As more and more craft distilleries push the creative limit to stand out on the shelves, these “riffs,” like their use of malted rye, have started to seem a little less innovative. Still, New Riff has kept a few unique…
Review: Ninkasi Peach Maiden the Shade Summer IPA
This is a spin on Ninkasi’s prior summer seasonal, Maiden the Shade, and as the name implies, it’s an IPA — with Alpha CO2 Extract, Centennial, Crystal, Palisade, Amarillo, Simcoe, Columbus, and Chinook hops — that has peach puree and flavoring added. Ninkasi isn’t messing around with the peaches here. They’re sweet and juicy and…
Review: Tom’s Town Double Oaked Bourbon and Pendergast’s Royal Gold Bourbon
Tom’s Town Distilling is named after Tom Pendergast, “the country’s most corrupt political boss,” who plied his trade during Prohibition in Kansas City. Now the KC-based operation pays homage to the corrupt man with a line of spirits, including gin, vodka, and these two bourbon whiskeys. Both are sourced, presumably from MGP since the fine…
Review: Wines of Garofoli, 2020 Releases
Garofoli‘s 2020 releases, largely built for warm-weather drinking, have arrived. Not familiar with the Italian operation? Some notes from the brand follow. As the oldest family-owned winery in the Marche region of Italy, Garofoli dates back to 1871 when Antonio Garofoli began producing wine in his hometown of Loreto for the steady stream of pilgrims…