Review: Pinhook Bourbon Country Straight Bourbon 2018
Kentucky-based non-distilling producer Pinhook appeared on the crowded American whiskey stage back in 2014, and since that time they’ve released annual, limited bottlings of sourced bourbon and rye reportedly from MGP. Despite the Indiana origins of their initial offerings, the distillery embraces all things Kentucky with a particular emphasis on horse racing. The distillery’s name…
Review: Wines of Francis Ford Coppola, 2019 Releases
Never one to shy away from a wine release, Francis Ford Coppola hits the ground this summer with (at least) five new releases, thoughts on which you’ll find below. 2017 Francis Ford Coppola Sofia Brut Rose Monterey County – The iconic Sofia sparkler (wrapped in plastic, natch) really pushes the boundaries of the definition of…
Review: Garrison Brothers Balmorhea Bourbon (2019)
Texas-born bourbons are not exactly known for their delicacy, and Garrison Brothers — which stakes a claim as being “the first corn to cork bourbon distillery in America opened beyond Kentucky, and the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas” — has long stood proudly on those very laurels. While its standard Texas Straight Bourbon and…
Review: Deschutes Brewery Lil’ Squeezy and Humm Zinger
Two new seasonals designed for summer sipping from our buddies up in Bend, Oregon. Deschutes Brewery Lil’ Squeezy Juicy Ale – Lil’ Squeezy — a nod to Deschutes’ Fresh-Squeezed IPA — is the Oregon brewery’s stab at a sessionable hazy/New England IPA. It’s nod a bad effort. The richness of the malt and an abundance…
Review: Copper Fox Distillery Sassy Rye and Cognac Finish Rye
Virginia’s Copper Fox Distillery has been busy of late. They continue to expand at their second distillery and tasting room in Williamsburg, which opened in 2016. That distillery is larger than the original Sperryville location near the Shenandoah Valley and will eventually house a still twice as large as their original, a bigger malting house,…
Review: Solod Alpine Crystal and Bavarian Dark Vodka
Solod is a new vodka brand from the Ukraine, and it comes in two expressions, both built around (and arguably flavored with) malted barley. It’s really weird stuff (stay tuned) but, given the price point, something that might be quite appealing to cost-conscious shoppers. I don’t have a lot of data on exactly how these vodkas…
Review: Single Malt Whiskies of France’s Maison Benjamin Kuentz
Maison Benjamin Kuentz is a brand of single malt whiskies — four, at present — produced at G. Rozelieures Distillery in Lorraine, France. They’re all young whiskies — but quite fresh and light on their feet. I haven’t been able to track down a ton of production information about the products — but I did…
Review: Mighty Swell Spiked Spritzers (2019 Flavors)
Based in Austin, Texas, Mighty Swell is part of the burgeoning spiked spritzer market. At present the company offers four varieties, with its most recent flavor added earlier this year. Per the company: “Mighty Swell Spiked Spritzers were born of a desire to create a premium tasting, ready-to-drink alcoholic beverage that fits consumers active lifestyles…
