Peat, Phenols, and ppm: Why Scotch Tastes Smoky
My first taste of peaty whisky was Talisker 10, and like they say with other things, you never forget your first. I wasn’t sure if I liked it, it was like someone had put a bonfire in my whisky. Now, I love it and feel like smoky notes give a complexity to many whiskies, especially…
Review: 2015 Landmark Vineyards Overlook Chardonnay Sonoma County
Landmark’s latest release of its iconic chardonnay has arrived. This year’s is initially a bit overwhelming with oak, this wine settles into a groove driven by dried apples, lemon peel, and fall spices. The finish is almost bitter at times, with sherried overtones, including more pumpkin-esque spice and a touch of gentian on the back…
Review: Tuaca Liqueur (2017)
The last time we heard from Tuaca was back in 2012, when the classic liqueur got an ill-advised brand overhaul, complete with a wholly out-of-place modernized bottle and label. A cinnamon-heavy version called Cinnaster came a year later. Sazerac bought the brand in 2016 and earlier this year relaunched it — not just with the old…
Review: Taylor Fladgate 325th Anniversary Tawny Port
The Port house of Taylor Fladgate celebrates 325 years of operation in 2017, so what better time than to put out a unique expression of Port? This is a tawny port with no age information (though on tawnies, an age statement doesn’t mean much anyway), but the winery does offer some information on its production:…
Review: New Amsterdam Raspberry and Lemon Vodkas
In the last few years, we’ve reviewed (and recommended) a number of New Amsterdam products due to their wide availability, low price point, and general quality (you can find those reviews here, here, here, here, and here). The addition of Raspberry and Lemon flavors to New Amsterdam’s range of flavored vodkas makes sense, and the…
Drinkhacker 2017 Wine Cheat Sheet / Vintage Chart
October is here, and that means it’s time for the Drinkhacker Wine Cheat Sheet, our quick ‘n’ handy guide to various wine vintages, which you can cut out, fold up, and keep in your wallet or purse so it’s always at the ready. Why not turn this into an app? Well, apps are hard, and PDFs…
Review: Patron Extra Anejo Tequila
Patron has added its first new addition to the core tequila lineup in 25 years: at long last, an extra anejo bottling. This isn’t Patron’s first dance with extra anejo. Patron Extra Anejo 7 Anos hit as a limited edition in 2015, and the infamous Guillermo del Toro Extra Anejo dropped earlier this year. The…
Review: 2016 Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio
Ah, that classic of the Chinese restaurant wine list gets an upgrade with its 2016 vintage, courtesy of Christian Siriano, who designed the flowery label for this vintage. That’s probably the most interesting thing about this wine, which is decidedly muddy for pinot grigio, with only modest notes of marshmallows, lilac, and out-of-place savory sage…
