Review: Laphroaig 16 Years Old
Islay’s Laphroaig continues to pump out the expressions, the latest of which is a 16 year old single malt, a spiritual successor to the delightful 15 year old it released in 2015. The whisky spends its entire aging time in ex-bourbon barrels, typical for most mainline Laphroaig releases. What a surprise then that this expression…
Review: Norden Aquavit
Norden Aquavit hails not from Denmark but from Detroit, where founder Robyn Cleveland crafts this Scandinavia-inspired spirit with 10 botanicals, heavy on the caraway. We received a sample and collected some thoughts. First off, the nose is an iconic example of Scandinavian aquavit, heavy with the caraway essence of rye bread as well as a…
Review: Old Soul Blended Bourbon
Jackson, Mississippi-based Cathead Distillery doesn’t make Old Soul — at least, not all of it. But it does make some of the whiskey in this unique bourbon and blends it with bourbon sourced from MGP. Here’s the kicker: Cathead uses an identical, high-rye mashbill to the one that MGP uses (21% rye, 75% corn, 4%…
Review: 2017 Renato Ratti Nebbiolo Ochetti Langhe
Renato Ratti is a well-known Barolo wine producer, but it also produces other wines iconic to the Piedmont region, including barbera. This wine, Ochetti, is made from the same grapes as Barolo (the nebbiolo grape), but is available for less than half the price. It also tastes quite a bit different than a standard Barolo,…
Review: El Tesoro Tequila Extra Anejo
El Tesoro has long had an extra anejo tequila on the market — Paradiso was first released in 1994, before extra anejo was ever legally established — but this has always been a limited release that tends to be tough to find. Now El Tesoro is launching a year-round, full-time extra anejo, billed without the…
Review: Bear Republic Challenge Series 90
Up next in Bear Republic’s Challenge Series is #90, subtitled German Connection, “inspired by German-origin ales and Gene Hackman’s slick driving skills. This only-brewed once ale is aggressively hopped with 4.5 pounds per barrel of Mandarina Bavaria, Huell Melon, and Hallertau Blanc for citrusy and fruity aromatics.” It’s a lovely brew, creamy and thick with…
Review: Redemption Rye and Bourbon (2020)
Few probably realize this, but back in 2015 the Redemption whiskey brand changed hands. What was once an independent brand is now owned by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, which has put out numerous special releases under the Redemption label in the years since. Deutsch has a wide range of brands that now includes Bib…
Review: That Boutique-y Whisky Company Offerings, Winter 2020
The good news is that our friends at That Boutique-y Whisky Company recently kicked off a new whisky club: The Dram Good Club. The so-called Dram Good Club gives drinkers access to miniature bottles of what TBWC does best: Whisky rarities that you’d otherwise never be able to sample. The bad news? The Dram Good Club…