Reviews

The Essential Guide to Oktoberfest Beers

By Clay Tolbert | September 16, 2023 |

Perhaps the greatest informal dad holiday of the entire year, Oktoberfest stands as the king of the brewing calendar. Numerous beers styles are common at these events, with the ironically named Märzen the prevailing style and guiding light for offerings from breweries around the globe for this cereal celebration. Festbier and its variants have become…

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Review: Desert Door Lady of Spain Texas Sotol

By Christopher Null | July 22, 2023 |

  Sotol may sound like a one-off experience, but Texas-based Desert Door sure does a lot with it, cranking out special editions of this unique, American twist on tequila. Lady of Spain is Desert Door’s second release in its Explorer Series for 2023, and is actually a relaunch of a previous expression which was aged…

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Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey

Review: Knob Creek Rye 7 Years Old (2023)

By David Tao | May 5, 2023 |

It’s been over a decade since we last reviewed Knob Creek’s flagship rye whiskey, and there’s ample reason to revisit it now. As of March 2023, the previously non-age stated rye now carries a seven year age statement, the first since its national launch in 2012. That’s a noticeable change for a widely available and…

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The Best Ready-to-Drink Margarita: 11 Brands Tasted

By Robert Strohmeyer | February 22, 2023 |

National Margarita Day is February 22, and true patriots of libation nation will be honoring their favorite tequila-lime traditions across this great land. For those who’d rather crack open a can than shake up a home-built cocktail, we’ve sampled 11 notable ready-to-drink options to help you with your celebrations. Whether you’re a traditionalist lean toward…

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Review: Tip Top Margarita

By Robert Strohmeyer | February 18, 2023 |

If your idea of a proper cocktail is one positively brimming with booze, Tip Top Proper Cocktails has one for you with its ready-to-drink margarita. Made with tequila, orange liqueur, and I can only assume the tiniest squeeze of lime, this stiff drink comes in at a heavy 26% abv, roughly three times the alcohol…

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Review: 10 Barrel Brewing Classic Margarita

By Robert Strohmeyer | February 17, 2023 |

Made with tequila, triple sec, lemon-lime, honey, and a little salt, Oregon-based 10 Barrel continues its craft of ready-to-drink cocktails with this Classic Margarita. Aimed at the center of the bullseye for what we all think of when we think of a margarita, this RTD classic delivers a clean, though fairly sweet, citrusy sipper that’s sure…

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Review: Drake’s Organic Boxtails Perfect Margarita

By Robert Strohmeyer | February 16, 2023 |

Margarita lovers looking for a ready-to-drink option that’s USDA organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and kosher will find a worthy candidate in Drake’s Organic Boxtails Perfect Margarita. Eschewing all things artificial, Drake’s Organic boxes up this ready-made marg with a blend of Drake’s Organic Tequila, triple sec, and fresh citrus juice. Coming in at a boozier-than-usual…

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The Magi Blended Rye Whiskey

Review: The Magi Blended Rye Whiskey

By David Tao | February 1, 2023 |

Based in Bettendorf, Iowa, Cat’s Eye Distillery has built their brand name largely on the back of sourced spirits — notably bourbon, rye, and light whiskey — from the United States, Canada, and several European countries. Bottled under the Obtainium or Nassif Family Reserve labels, their sourced whiskeys have also grown in popularity as cask…

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Booker's Bourbon "Kentucky Tea Batch"

Review: Booker’s Bourbon “Kentucky Tea Batch” 2022-03

By David Tao | December 6, 2022 |

After “Ronnie’s Batch” and “The Lumberyard Batch” dropped earlier this year, Booker’s Bourbon is back with 2022’s third expression: Kentucky Tea. As with all contemporary Booker’s releases, this one is named for a person, place, or concept near and dear to the Noe family, eighth generation descendants of Jim Beam and Master Distillers at his…

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JT Meleck Louisiana Rice Whiskey

Review: J.T. Meleck Louisiana Rice Whiskey

By David Tao | December 2, 2022 |

Bourbon has long defined the American whiskey business, though rye and single malts are fast-growing categories many drinkers are keeping close tabs on. But we may be witnessing the genesis of a newer homegrown spirit: American rice whiskey. With just a handful of producers, it’s a category whiskey drinkers can explore in a single sitting,…

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