Book Review: The Bloody Mary Book
I’ll be honest: When I make a Bloody Mary (which is not often), my recipe generally includes vodka plus a bottle of high-end, premade mix. There’s plenty of great mix on the market, at least that’s how my logic goes, so why reinvent the wheel? Ellen Brown reminds us that making your own Bloodies is…
Review: Suerte Blanco and Anejo Tequila
Way back in 2013 we positively reviewed Suerte Reposado Tequila, a 100% agave Highlands bottling. Finally we’re filling out the line with a look at the blanco and the anejo. (We still haven’t tasted the extra anejo.) Thoughts on the pair of tequilas follow. Both are 80 proof. Suerte Blanco Tequila – Initially a bit…
The Drinkhacker Cartoon Moment
And now for something completely different… Jerry King is a comic strip artist specializing in boozy panels. He’d like to be a regular here. What do y’all think?
Review: The Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey 16 Years Old
Looking for an Irish whiskey that tastes like it could be from Scotland? Tyrconnell’s 16 year old single malt is just the thing to do the trick. It helps of course that it’s a double-distilled, single malt whiskey with ample age on it — all from bourbon barrels — and that it’s bottled with a bit more…
Review: 2016 Bee’s Box Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Yet another sub-label from Francis Coppola (this one’s actually a sub-label of a Virginia Dare, itself a sub-label of Coppola), here comes Bee’s Box, a wine intended to honor our flying friends. We checked out two bottles from the inaugural vintage, both with California appellations. Thoughts follow. 2016 Bee’s Box Chardonnay California – Includes 5%…
Review: Hirsch High Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey 8 Years Old
Anchor Distilling’s Hirsch brand is getting a line extension with the launch of Hirsch High Rye 8 Years Old. The whiskey is a blend made from two MGP mash bills – “one with 21% rye and another with 36% rye, resulting in a high rye content that adds spiced character while balancing the sweet notes of…
Book Review: Beach Cocktails
Fruity, slushy beach drinks don’t get the kind of respect that craft cocktails get, and for good reason: It’s hard to be serious about a drink whose ingredients are measured in cubs, not ounces. Condensed milk, coconut rum, strawberries, Midori… those ingredients aren’t typically what you consider top shelf, either. That said, a beach cocktail has…
The Do’s and Don’ts of Whisky Festivals
Having been to and worked at quite a few whisky festivals now, I’ve seen the length and breadth of the behaviour spectrum — from upmarket jaunts to paramedics arriving on scene. A whisky festival is a scene of merriment (it’s not apple juice), but there’s a line that can get crossed when people are trying…
