Review: Wines of Eberle, 2018 Releases
Eberle is one of the best-known wineries in Paso Robles, yet somehow we’ve never visited. The good news is its 2018 releases recently arrived for tasting and review. Thoughts on four classic — and some unusual — bottlings follow. 2016 Eberle Chardonnay Paso Robles Eberle Estate Vineyard – Nice and chewy, this chardonnay’s vanilla notes…
Review: Jan Stephenson Flavored Rums
Golfers and booze brands have been a trend since Caddyshack made hijinks on the links cool, with everyone from Greg Norman to Fuzzy Zoeller getting in on the game. Jan Stephenson is the first female golfer — in fact, the first female athlete of any sport I’m aware of — to release her own liquor brand:…
Tasting Fetzer’s New Premium Fringe Collective Wines, 2016 Vintage
We stood atop a hillside in the morning wind, and Sebastian Donoso explained his passion behind making Fetzer’s new Fringe Collective wines. He is enamored with the struggle. What struggle, you may ask. The struggle of the grape to be nourished, the struggle of the vine to take root, the struggle for it to live…
Review: Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2018 Edition
One of the most anticipated releases of the fall whiskey season is here — or rather, five of them, as Buffalo Trace’s quintet known as the Antique Collection has arrived. While all are familiar faces, it wouldn’t be the BTAC without some switcheroos and surprises, all of which we outline below for your reading pleasure.As…
Book Review: Drink: A Cultural History of Alcohol
There are plenty of wine books out there, and a smaller, yet not insignificant, number of books on beer. Spirits books, mostly focusing on the recent whiskey craze, seem to hit the shelves every other week. Few authors, however, attempt to cover all types of alcohol, much less place it in the context of recorded…
Review: Mic.Drop.2 Bourbon 13 Years Old
Last year, PM Spirits (the guys behind The Street Pumas collection) debuted a limited release, 8 year old bourbon called Mic.Drop (we did not manage to review it, alas). It was a runaway hit, and as all good mic drops go, it demanded a sequel. Enter Mic.Drop.2. This one’s even more rarified, a single barrel…
Review: 2016 Chateau Auguste Rose Bordeaux
Here’s a rarity ’round these parts: Rose Bordeaux. This one’s made from 85% merlot, 10% cabernet sauvignon, and 5% cabernet franc. The winery is positioning it as a cocktail ingredient in sangria, gin fizzes, palomas, and more, but it also works as a light aperitif on its own. Closer in flavor to a standard white…
Review: Kaiyo Japanese Mizunara Oak Whisky – Original, Peated, and Cask Strength
In the world of whisky, Japan is finally starting to see some competition. As much as I love Suntory and Nikka, it’s been a delight to see whiskies from the likes of Ohishi make it to the U.S. Now another new player has entered the game: Kaiyo, which has a story as interesting as any…