BevX Reviews – Different By Design
Below is a quick look at our latest reviews published at BevX June 21, 2023. Click the links to get the score and the full analysis of each beverage. Every Wednesday we release new stories, introduce our latest reviews, and send our subscribers their weekly, free digital newsletter. (Subscribe here.)
We had another busy week at BevX with new, tasty beverage reviews to share.
We have shifted our reviews format in order to offer more reviews for our review hungry readers. The review pages (links below) will now offer a full tasting note with links to a full detail review for our Featured Beverages.
As always you see all of our reviews here:
Beverage of the Week
Kuiper Belt 6 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Kuiper Belt, by E-40, has done it again with another stunning Kentucky Bourbon. Their debut Bourbon Whiskey aged eight years was an instant hit leaving Whiskey fans to wonder what the follow-up would be or if there was even going to be another Bourbon release from Kuiper Belt…
See the Beverage of the Week feature
Latest Reviews
Wine Reviews
Tablas Creek Grenache Adelaida District 2021
Brilliant, medium ruby/garnet color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red cherry, rose petals, and dried herbs with supporting notes of violet, red currant, and star anise. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of raspberry, red plum, elderberry, and forest floor. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. $45 – 5 Stars/97 points
Tablas Creek Côtes de Tablas Adelaida District 2021
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red plum, dried herbs, and earth with supporting notes of black tea, graphite, tapenade, and fancy cured meat. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of bramble, blackberry, black currant, and mineral. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a voluptuous and meaty texture. Made with a blend of 47% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 15% Counoise, and 8% Mourvedre. $40 – 4.5 Stars/95 points
Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Rosé Columbia Valley 2022
Brilliant, pale salmon color. The nose is moderately intense, offering scents of strawberry and hibiscus flower with supporting notes of quince and watermelon. The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of tart red cherry and nectarine. The finish is crisp with bright citrus accents. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture. Far more reminiscent of a Southern French style than an American west coast Rosé. $20 – 4 Stars/91 points
Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Riesling Yakima Valley 2022
Brilliant, light straw color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of green apple and honeysuckle with supporting notes of lime, jasmine, mineral, and bees wax. The palate confirms the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of white peach, citrus zest, and hints of green tea. The finish is long and lingering. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant yet juicy texture. An annual classic. $20 – 4 Stars/91 points
Spirits Reviews
Hardhide ponchatoula strawberry Flavored Whiskey
Brilliant, medium burnt orange color. Unlike most flavored Whiskies, Hardhide brings the Whiskey as it’s the first scent to catch the nose followed by ripe red berries and a touch of honey. The palate echoes the nose delivering a sweet Whiskey-focused core with waves of strawberry, lemon zest, and honey. Full-bodied and pleasingly balanced with waves of Whiskey and fruit offered with the proper dose of sweetness. Bottled at 86 proof so it’s not shy. $32.99 – 4 Stars
Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
Brilliant, faint steely blue color. The aromatics are citrus-forward with waves of grapefruit, lime, and lemon peels supported by notes of green tea, juniper, cardamon, and earth. The palate echoes the nose delivering a spicy, citrus-focused core with assertive caraway and pepper accents and juniper and tea rising on the finish. Full-bodied and ideally balanced with a bright dose of citrus and acid that finishes dry with lingering spice notes. $36.99 – 4.5 Stars
Clonakilty Distillery Minke Gin
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are citrus-forward with waves of orange flesh and lemon zest, supported by accents of pine cone, fresh fennel fronds, and sea salt. The palate echoes the nose delivering a silky, fruit-driven core with flanking notes of citrus, juniper, and pepper with a complex lactic note. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a bright dose of acidity and salinity that keep it very refreshing. $29.95 – 4 Stars
Gracias a Dios Oaxaca Agave Gin
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose offers a wild ride as the number of new scents multiply with each inhalation. Waves of juniper, citrus, baking spices, and smoke fill the nose. The palate confirms the nose delivering a rich, viscous fruit and roasted bell pepper core with waves of salt, charred pineapple, and rosemary. Full-bodied and ultra funky walking the line between Mezcal and Gin — not sure which one is winning! $39 – 4 Stars
Premium Mixer Reviews
Q Mixers Margarita Mix (USA)
Medium gold color, hazy with a light stream of bubbles. The nose is filled with the scent of Key Lime pie with a touch of honey. The palate echoes the nose delivering a semi viscous limeade-driven core with both sweet and tart lime notes. Medium-bodied with a serious punch of lime that remains with the addition of ice and Tequila. $5.49, 4-pack cans, 7.5 oz. – 4 Stars
Q Mixers Club Soda (USA)
Brilliant, crystal clear with a fine bead of bubbles. The nose is totally neutral. The palate is clean and refreshing with a distinctive note of salt and mineral. Light-bodied, perfectly clean, and ready for cocktails. $4.99, 4-pack cans, 7.5 oz. – 4 Stars
Q Mixers Ginger Beer (USA)
Pale straw color, slightly hazy with a constant stream of bubbles. The nose offers a punch of candied ginger with hints of pepper and chili. The palate echoes the nose delivering an even bigger, delicious ginger punch followed by a pleasingly fiery hit of chilies. Medium-bodied with a refreshing fizzy core and super spice accents. $5.99, 4-pack cans, 7.5 oz. – 4.5 Stars
Q Mixers Hibiscus Ginger Beer (USA)
Brilliant, bright ruby color with a constant stream of bubbles. The nose offers scents of ripe red berries with just a faint hint of ginger. The palate confirms the nose with a bit more ginger heat rising to meet the red fruits. Medium-bodied with a refreshing fizzy core and a sweet hibiscus floral fruitiness. $4.99, 4-pack cans, 7.5 oz. – 4 Stars
Q Mixers Spectacular Tonic (USA)
Brilliant, crystal clear with a fine bead of bubbles. The nose is rather subtle with soft earthy tones coming through with hints of citrus. The palate delivers a more potent quinine punch than the nose would suggest giving the tonic any earthy, slightly tannic mouthfeel. Medium-bodied with a firm quinine grip. $4.99, 4-pack cans, 7.5 oz. – 3.5 Stars
Q Mixers Sparkling Grapefruit (USA)
Brilliant, pink color with a constant stream of bubbles. The nose offers scents of ripe pink grapefruit with hints of citrus zest. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a grapefruit explosion with just enough natural sweetness to give it body. Medium-bodied with perfect balance and great grapefruit flavors. $5.99, 4-pack cans, 7.5 oz. – 4.5 Stars