Review: 2015 Big Smooth Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon
With its velvet labels and funky scripting, first impressions of Big Smooth wine mainly run to raised eyebrows and tempered expectations, even though it is part of the Don Sebastiani & Sons empire. Made from grapes grown in Lodi, the wine is actually produced and bottled in Napa. We tasted both expressions available from the wine’s 2015…
Review: Old Forester Signature 100 Proof and Perfect Old Fashioned Syrup
Old Forester, “America’s First Bottled Bourbon” has partnered with Bourbon Barrel Foods to launch its line of Cocktail Provisions, a collection of three bitters, two syrups and one tincture, all designed to elevate (but simplify) the home cocktail experience. Created by Louisville-based Bourbon Barrel Foods and Old Forester Master Taster and Bourbon Specialist Jackie Zykan,…
Review: Godelia 2015 Godello-Dona Blanco and 2012 Mencia
You’ll find Godelia in the Bierzo region of Spain, north of Portugal, near the Rias Baixas region. Some details: Godelia is a relatively young project, at least in its present form. Over half of Godelia’s 86 acres of vineyards were planted in 1989. Yet, the remaining 40 acres feature 100-year-old bush vines planted on the…
Review: Spreewood Distillers Stork Club Straight Rye Whiskey
Although it may seem like it, the explosion in craft whiskey distilling over the last decade hasn’t been confined to America alone. Even countries without a tradition of whiskey-making have started to get in on the game. Germany’s Spreewood Distillers is a great example of this trend. In a country better known for schnapps and…
Review: Evans Brewing Co. Son of a Beach, Joaquin Dead, Breakfast Black, and Chocolatte
Evans Brewing sent more of its offerings for our consideration. We tasted them all from 16 oz cans, but they’re available in bottles of various sizes, too. Evans Brewing Co. Son of a Beach Blonde Ale – This foamy blonde ale is bursting with lemon notes, something like a shandy on steroids. Honestly it doesn’t…
Review: Booker’s Bourbon “Kathleen’s Batch” 2018-01
The first 2018 batch from Jim Beam’s Booker’s Bourbon is here: Kathleen’s Batch. Here’s the gist: The release of Booker’s “Kathleen’s Batch” marks a special and historic moment for the brand as the batch is named in honor of Kathleen DiBenedetto, who worked closely alongside Booker Noe as brand manager of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection, including Knob Creek Bourbon, Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, Baker’s Bourbon and…
Review: 2017 Sonoma-Cutrer Rose of Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
The 2017 release of Sonoma-Cutrer’s rose of pinor noir is, as always, built to emulate a Provence-style wine, heavy with flowers and hints of strawberries, but remarkably dry on the finish. As with the 2016 release, I get touches of orange peel, though I don’t catch any of the brown sugar notes here like those…
Review: Seven Stills of San Francisco Tomahawp Whiskey
Seven Stills of San Francisco continues its march of collaborative whiskeys with Tomahawp. It starts as a Double IPA (also called Tomahawp) brewed in collaboration with Alvarado Street Brewery. The whiskey takes the Tomahawp beer and ages it in new American oak. As Seven Stills notes, “We didn’t do anything post-distillation to the whiskey aside from…