Review: Jura 10 Years Old
Is it peated? Unpeated? Sherried? This new 10 year old single malt from Jura (located on the eponymous island next door to Islay) is all three. Here’s some info on this brand new expression: Jura Whisky today announced the launch of Jura 10, an exceptional Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky and the first release in…
Review: 2013 Abadia Retuerta Sardon de Duero Seleccion Especial
Ribera del Duero is a well-known Spanish wine region, but Abadia Retuerta chooses not to use that regional name, instead selecting the more flexible “Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon” geographical indication. Though it hails from the same part of the country, Abadia Retuerta’s Sardon de Duero designation lets the winery choose more liberally among…
Review: Twisted Path Vodka, Gins, and Rums
Twisted Path Distillery can be found in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it’s been making organic spirits “entirely from scratch” since 2014. The company is churning out a growing line of products from what appears to be a hybrid pot still — again, all certified organic. We tasted five. Thoughts follow. Twisted Path Vodka – Grainy on the…
Review: 2016 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
A classically-styled New Zealand sauvignon blanc, this is a pineapple- and lemon-stuffed fruit bomb, with a fair amount of pepe du chat giving it a subtle ammonia-laced edge. The finish feels a bit on the flat side, but as an aperitif the wine is eminently drinkable, should something uber-tropical be on your mind. B / $13…
Review: Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon (2017)
Rare Breed has always been a unique bird in the Wild Turkey lineup, a small batch cask strength spirit that changes from year to year, and which — curiously enough — has been on the rise when it comes to proof. Recently Rare Breed underwent a rebranding. Some details: Wild Turkey has always been exceptionally…
Review: 2015 Bougrier Chenin Blanc “V” Vin de France
Another Vin de France offering — composed of grapes sourced from anywhere in the country — this chenin blanc offers pungent aromas of honeysuckle and grassy notes, leading into a palate of lightly tropical notes, apricots, and a slightly perfumed floral character. The finish is surprisingly acidic and mineral-heavy, slightly sour but otherwise clean and…
Review: Amrut Spectrum 004 Single Malt Whisky 2017
In 2004, Amrut Distilleries, based in Bangalore, India, introduced the first single malt whisky made in India to the UK market. Since then, the distillery has released several expressions of single malt all over the world using Indian barley, as well as peated barley sourced from Scotland. Amrut bottles their whisky at a comparatively younger…
Review: Monday Night Brewing Serrano Eye Patch Ale
We haven’t heard much from Atlanta’s Monday Night Brewing in a few years, but at last the company is out with a new release: Serrano Eye Patch Ale, and IPA brewed with serrano peppers. The brew is actually a reissue of a beer that went off the market in 2015, and the company is finally bringing…
