Review: Glenfiddich 14 Years Old Bourbon Barrel Reserve
Welcome to the latest addition to the Glenfiddich permanent lineup. Matured exclusively in bourbon casks for 14 years, it is finished in heavy charred new American oak barrels (finishing time unstated). No question, this is classic, unsherried Glenfiddich through and through. Glen-fiddie loves to play with new oak here and there, and it does quite…
Review: Royal Salute The Eternal Reserve
Royal Salute is one of those curious blended whiskies that everyone seems to know about, but no one ever seems to drink. I’ve oddly never sampled a dram from the porcelain (not glass!) flagon, which calls the Strathisla distillery its home. Beyond the decanter, all expressions of Royal Salute have a gimmick, and a pretty…
Review: Wild Ginger Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer
Nashville-brewed Wild Ginger isn’t the first alcoholic ginger beer on the market, but it’s a solid selection nonetheless if you’re looking for a Dark & Stormy with a bigger kick — or simply (and more likely) a pre-mixed ginger cocktail of sorts straight from the can. Wild Ginger is on the sweet side from the…
Review: Amaro di Angostura
Bored with Fernet? Hardcore bartenders — and few other people — take things one step further: They drink Angostura bitters as a shot. (Never mind that they are not classified as a potable beverage.) Now you needn’t be that insane to get the flavor of pure Angostura in a proper beverage, as the Trinidad-based distiller…
Review: Milagro Tequila, Core Lineup (2015)
It’s been seven years since we looked at Milagro’s core line of three tequilas, and that early review is certainly showing its age. It’s time for an update of this readily available and largely affordable Highland tequila. Here’s a look at the standard lineup as of 2015. All expressions are 100% agave and 80 proof.…
Review: Abhainn Dearg Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Abhainn Dearg (pronounded: Aveen Jarræk) is located on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. It’s the only distillery located out here, and the malt whisky it produces is young and pungent. A brand new operation, the first whisky (new make) was released in 2010. Reviewed here is a limited release of a 2011 single malt,…
Review: Wines of Liberated, 2015 Releases
I’m not sold on the Hitchcock-meets-James Bond labels (or the name), but the prices of Liberated’s wines are hard to beat. One doesn’t often find wines of this quality at the $20 or lower level, but these guys are putting together a solid product. Thoughts follow. 2014 Liberated Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County – Lightly tropical,…
Review: Cognac Paul Giraud – VSOP, Napoleon, and Tres Rare
Paul Giraud is a small Cognac producer that has been harvesting its own vineyards to make brandy since the 17th century. While not commonly available in the U.S., you can find a bottle or two of the eight expressions the company makes if you look hard enough. Today we take a spin through three expressions,…
