Review: Baltamaro Fernet, Szechuan, and Coffee Amaro
Bitter amari continue to be developed outside of their historical homeland in Italy, with the latest release of this intense liqueur coming to us from the Baltimore Whiskey Company. The distillery is putting out Baltamaro Volumes 1 through 3, a line of three core herbal liqueurs made in very different styles. Volume 1 is an…
Review: Ninkasi Brewing Yours Truly, Pacific Rain, and Prismatic
Eugene, Oregon-based brewery Ninkasi has a bit of a cult following, and it’s just dropped three new brews, all available in cans (its first canned beers) and on draft. We tried them all. Thoughts follow. Ninkasi Brewing Co. Yours Truly Easy-Drinking Ale – With loads of malt, this brew is quite lager-like, with a doughy…
Review: Weller 12 Years Old (2018)
Van Winkle bourbons have become essentially inaccessible to the vast majority of bourbon drinkers, so naturally the hysteria has trickled down to other brands in the Buffalo Trace portfolio. The Weller line, which shares the same wheated mashbill as the highly coveted Van Winkles, has been the recipient of the majority of this secondhand enthusiasm.…
Review: NV Bollinger Special Cuvee and Rose Champagne
Since 1829, Bollinger has been producing champagne, with a specific focus on using grapes from its own vineyards (estate grapes account for 60% of the total grape supply), and a heavy use throughout the range of pinot noir, which dominates Bolli’s vineyards. Bollinger’s wines are also fermented in actual barrels, a practice that the winery…
Tasting Report: 2016 Burgundy, Part 2
As promised, today we take another look at the 2016 Burgundy vintage, which is now on the cusp of general release. This tasting considers the 2016 wines of Bouchard Pere & Fils and William Fevre (which produces only Chablis), with a couple of older bottlings thrown in for comparison’s sake. As with our prior Wildman…
Review: 2015 Stony Hill Chardonnay Spring Mountain District
This atypical Napa chardonnay is dialed back on the nose (it’s aged only in neutral oak, limiting the wood influence), some savory notes finding a companion in light melon and gentle floral tones. The palate sees a significant acidity (again, unusual for Napa chardonnay) before settling into a fruit-forward character, its melon, lemon, and quince…
Review: Vinn Distillery Vodka, Baijiu, Whiskey, and Blackberry Liqueur
Vinn Distillery is a family-owned distiller based in Wilsonville, Oregon, where it makes all of its products from non-GMO rice. That includes vodka, whiskey, baijiu, and a blackberry liqueur. How far can a little rice go in today’s distillery universe? Let’s dig in to the full lineup. Vinn Distillery Vodka – Reportedly the first rice vodka…
Review: Proud Pour 2016 Sauvignon Blanc and 2014 Pinot Noir
Over time, one becomes naturally skeptical when booze brands say they are doing something good for humanity. Whether it is saving tigers or supporting veterans, you get positively exhausted by all the positive things alcohol purveyors are doing for society. Well, let’s not hold that against Proud Pour, another charity-focused wine producer whose two wines…
