When asked to describe his portfolio of wines, Jordan Kivelstadt, the gregarious and talented winemaker behind Kivelstadt Cellars, spiritedly describes them as “as eclectic as the people who make them.” While this sentiment is certainly reflected in the unique varietals and fresh take on the wine industry, his humble description …
With the return of cocktail culture came the tales of yore: gunslinging sheriffs, mad-cap outlaws and wild women. And whiskey. Always whiskey. Hochstadter’s Slow & Low Rock and Rye is a throwback to the bygone days when the Rock & Rye – a cocktail of rye, sweetened with rock candy- …
Self-professed Bourbon enthusiasts might scoff at the idea of a flavored newcomer entering the line-up of a tried & true premium brand; however, a judgmental attitude about the Knob Creek Smoked Maple Bourbon will leave you missing out. Born out of Booker Noe’s nostalgia for the smokehouse and the sugar …
If your city was a flavor a vodka, what would it be? According to the limited-edition Absolut Chicago, the Swedes think Chicago should be green olives and rosemary- or in their words “a unique blend of the past with the cutting edge of right now…” While we wholeheartedly agree these …
Even without the boldly stated identity on its label, your first impression of the new Defiant American Single Malt Whisky ($45) might be one of blatant defiance. That’s right, American Whisky; and that wasn’t a whiskey fueled typo either. Blue Ridge Distilling Co., founded by marine salvage divers (true story), is a maverick little …
With only 12 handblown vessels in existence, the Penfolds Ampoule Project ($168,000) is a testament to the respect that Penfolds has not only for fine wine, but for innovation and heritage. Penfolds commissioned South Australia’s finest artists and craftsmen to create a rare objet d’art, designed to store wine in the most ideal environment. Sealed in …
Like the rare metal after which it is named, Johnnie Walker Platinum Label ($110) is rich, refined and carries an air of prestige. A complex blend of single malt and grain whiskies are matured for a minimum of 18 years before bottling. The Platinum Label is a skillful blend of …
At first glance, it’s the exotic, redheaded beauty on the label of the 2011 Scarlett Cabernet Sauvignon that captures your attention; but it’s the wine inside that will win you over forever. This complex Cab hails from some of the best vines in Napa Valley, which is immediately evident in …
You know the drill- new season, new beer. But the generalizations stop here. With the release of the New Belgium Accumulation White IPA, the boys at New Belgium Brewing Co decided to go against the grain for their Winter Seasonal. In lieu of the predictable toasty, caramel malts, clove and …
Microbrews & controversy. Not only are they two of the hottest trends of 2013, but also a topic that Founders Brewing Co. is quite familiar with. The Founders Brewing Co. Breakfast Stout ($11.99/4-pack) is a seasonal beer with a cult-like following, only available October – December. Touted as the “coffee …
Remember when you had that perfect G&T in London and then spent weeks trying to replicate it at home without success? So does everyone. The good news is, the moment Fever-Tree Premium Mixers entered the U.S. market, the dilemma immediately vanished. Subtle botanical flavors mixed with spring water and the …