Ola Sol is a delicious fortified agave wine, not distilled, to 24% alcohol by volume (ABV). This is a high ABV for wine but quite low for a Tequila, typically bottled at 40% ABV. The product’s heart is five-year-old Blue Weber Agave, the genus used
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Del Barba Ranch in Contra Costa County has a remarkable 12-acre block of Carignane, Mataro Carignane, Mataro, Petite Sirah, and, of course, Zinfandel that dates back to the late nineteenth century. Contra Costa County is just under an hour east of Sa
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Druid’s Red is made with classic grapes found in the Rhône and Southwest France — this wine has the character of a generous Côtes du Rhone. The 2023 Druid’s Red is made with a blend of 30% Syrah, 27% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 19% Mourvèdre, an
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The 2022 Esprit de Tablas is a charming and nuanced Châteauneuf du Pape tribute created in Paso Robles by Tablas Creek. This is Tablas Creek’s flagship red blend, and it never fails to impress. It’s crafted with 40% Mourvedre, 28% Grenache, 22%
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The 2022 vintage marks the ninth vintage of The Tongue Dancer Putnam Vineyard Pinot Noir. Loyal BevX readers and fans of Tongue Dancer wines know the Putnam Vineyard Pinot to be synonymous with their “Pinot de Ville” designation as it was from 20
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The 2023 vintage represents our fourth look at Druid’s White with as many differing blends as Troon Vineyards moves toward their ultimate goal with these signature wines. The 2023 edition is made with a blend of 35% Grenache Blanc, 35% Marsanne, 25
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We are very pleased to see the return of the Tongue Dancer Wines Pratt Vine Hill Chardonnay now in its third release. This wine impressed in its first release and it continues on this track. There is clearly something special about this vineyard and
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Tasting the Clif Family Winery Rte Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Oak Knoll District 2023 marked our first experience with wines from this Napa Valley producer. While much of the Napa Valley is too hot to produce Sauvignon Blanc with vibrancy and complex citr
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The very first Druid’s Pink is made with a blend of 62% Mourvedre, 18% Grenache, 8% Cinsault, 7% Carignan, and 5% Counoise. The varieties used, and their proportions will change each vintage with the entire Druid’s trio. The grapes were intention
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Shucked Bourbon is an absolutely beautiful and charming Whiskey. It has been matured to perfection, showing great complex caramel, toffee, fruit, and spice notes that were never dominated by the oak cask. We all love Bourbon and have seen countless e
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The 2022 vintage marks the ninth edition of The Tongue Dancer "Pinot de Ville" (PDV). For the first time, the label does not feature a classic Cadillac DeVille but rather a guitar inspired by classic car design. The fruit was harvested in equal porti
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Forget what you think you know about Aguardiente, as Bacan is flipping the script. Aguardiente, which translates to “fire water,” is a rustic spirit that originally hails from the Iberian peninsula and is popular throughout South America. In Colo
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The 2022 vintage marks the eighth edition of their lovely Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay, and we are awed by its consistent greatness. In 2022, harvest can be earlier than usual, landing on a similar date in the 2015 vintage (the first year for this
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Hardhide Chilton County Peach Flavored Whiskey is a follow-up to its sibling Hardhide Strawberry, released in 2023. We are fans of the Hardhide Strawberry, and the Hardhide Peach is even better! Keeping true to the brand’s style, Hardhide Peach del
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First and foremost — this is a charming and tasty Gin that engages your olfactory and your taste buds in the most pleasing way. Isn't that the point? This lovely Gin is crafted with the vapor method allowing a basket with their 13 botanicals to han
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Exprimere is a new wine project with a very interesting premise. At the heart of Exprimere is some exceptional fruit grown at the Peake Ranch in the Santa Rita Hills of Santa Barbara County — a proven Pinot Noir zone. This is our second vintage of
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Glou-glou is French slang for a gulp-able wine and that’s exactly what this wine is made for — gulping. This charming and fun wine will remind many readers of a fresh, young Beaujolais. This wine is made with a blend of 62% Cinsault and 38% Grena
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Of the hundreds of Trappist Monasteries in the world only 14 (six in Belgium) currently brew beer commercially. Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle was opened in 1836 in the Westmalle Abbey in Belgium. Westmalle crafts three beers — the Triple t
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This is our second vintage of Exprimere Pinot Noirs. Like last year, the two Pinot Noirs are created as siblings exploring the nature and nurture question. The fruit is sourced from the same vineyard, the Peake Ranch, in the Santa Rita Hills of Santa
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Grenache Blanc is a wonderfully versatile grape that adds both body and acidity to blends (it’s most often used in white blends), as well as acidity and sometimes a bit of structure. It is a native of Spain but it is most often associated with the
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Contacto Alvarinho is wonderfully refreshing and much more, offering depth and style at a very friendly price. The wine is made with 100% Alvarinho, also known as Albariño when grown in neighboring Spain. Albariño has become widely known to wine lo
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An absolute superstar American Tempranillo reminiscent of wine made by the top estates in the north of Spain — notably the Ribera del Duero. The Valley View Tempranillo is different by the fact that the fruit is grown on old (40 years plus in part)
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This wine represents the 12th commercial release of the delicious Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) Rosé of Pinot Noir (the eighth that we have reviewed). This wine is an annual favorite at BevX and our readers love it as well. Their 2023 Rosé continues to
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You will have to look very closely to see that this is indeed a Rosé as the color is very faint being similar to a white wine with extended skin contact. On the nose and palate this wine delivers a wonderful hybrid of red and white wine characterist
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Frequently Belgium Wit (white) beers are named for the town from which they hail like Blanche de Bruxelles or Blanche de Bruges among others. Blanche de Chambly takes its name from the Quebec town where the great Unibroue beers are made. The label fe
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Christian Drouin is perhaps the greatest of Calvados brands with a rich history and a depth of vintages that dazzle Brandy lovers. In recent years Guillaume Drouin has also moved the great Christian Drouin brand to be the leaders in innovation in the
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This classic is brewed from 100% Scottish Optic pale malt with a touch of Crystal barley malts. Challenger and Goldings hops are employed with a clever touch reaching a modest 21 IBU. Established in 1719, Belhaven brews their beer in the rolling barl
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There is more than one Stout in Ireland and while the one brewed in Dublin is undoubtedly the most famous many Irish beer drinkers prefer a pint of Murphy's Stout. Murphy's hails from Cork and was founded in 1856. In 1892 Murphy’s Stout wins the Go
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This is the 11th vintage of Tongue Dancer Wines’ Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and as always it’s an impressive glass of Pinot Noir. We absolutely love this wine and could easily see the scores rise with a bit of cellaring. This vintage reminds us of t
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Matilda is the ideal Beer to present to your “wine only” friends. They will be won over by this Beer’s complex and unique flavors. They may even be shocked that Beer can be like this while all of us Beer fans have known what great beer is capab
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The 2022 Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) Russian River blend Chardonnay is the third release of this wine and as you would imagine — they have all been stellar and instant favorites at BevX. We could sum this up in a word — Wow — but we should probab
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We are thrilled to see another (our second look) vintage from We Know Jack! The brand arose as many have in California. Wine lovers become vineyard owners who sell their fruit to select winemakers. Over time they succumb to the temptation to transfor
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This is the third vintage of Tongue Dancer Wines’ (TDW) Foxtrot and the second on the trot from the Russian River Valley. They describe it as a fun-to-drink dance of a wine and we agree. The grapes are sourced from a single vineyard in the Chalk Hi
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The 2023 vintage began with their wettest winter ever. While the winter rain replenished groundwater it did contribute to delaying bud-break. The growing season was the coolest in over a decade with a harvest roughly a month later than usual. Luckily
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The 2022 vintage represents the sixth release of Tongue Dancer Wines’ Pratt Vineyard/Irwin Lane Chardonnay or simply the “Flying Barrel” as it is affectionately known. We have been a huge fan of this wine from the start with the 2017 vintage an
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The great Beers from Ayinger have been available in the US for more than two decades. Their Maibock is brewed in the fall and released in the spring. It's just sweet enough to fortify while offering a great balance of spice with a delicate hop inclus
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The Magnolia Montrachet moniker and label is a new one for Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) while this wine is in its second vintage. Yes, slightly confusing but not really. In the 2021 vintage TDW offered a Chardonnay under their cheeky Sly One label with
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This incredible winter seasonal Beer is a pale (Helles) style Weizen-Bock. This Weisse-Bier is a stronger version of their classic Braü Weisse designed to fortify the Beer lover in the cold winter months. The Weizen-Bock sub-style of is a relatively
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This is the debut of Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) Rambling Foot that may, or may not, have a recurring role in the unfolding tale of this beloved Sonoma winery. This label has evolved like the others before it such as Foxtrot and The Sly One as a way to
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The O'Hara's Irish Red Ale is a more recent addition to the Carlow Brewing lineup as there is a renewed interest in the style. Some Irish beer aficionados may remember this ale called by its former name, Moling's Red Ale — also made at Carlow Brewi
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American Single Malt has come a long way in a short time and Whiskey Del Bac has emerged as one of the leaders in this growing category. All of their Whiskies experience a unique aging process thanks to the climate conditions found in Tucson, AZ. The
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Made with a blend of 65% Merlot, 27% Cab Franc, and 8% Malbec. The grapes are sourced from a number of small vineyards in Washington State’s Columbia Valley. The fruit was hand-harvested in the early mornings in the months of September and October.
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A superb example of wood-finishing as the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. American Whiskey need not be all about new, charred oak; it can choose to add a bit of flair. In this case the wood comes in the shape of barrels that were used by
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Tempranillo from Texas? Once you take a sip — you will get it. C.L. Butaud has been producing 100% Texas Tempranillo for 10 years and it’s clear that they, and Texas are mastering the varietal. It’s a bold and sturdy wine with equal portions of
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The Coppers Gin is named for coins issued by the Republic of Vermont in 1785. This expressive American Gin is distilled with wild juniper berries picked in Northern Vermont along with coriander, angelica root, cassia, orange peel, and cardamom pods.
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Of the hundreds of Trappist Monasteries in the world only 14 (six in Belgium) currently brew beer commercially. Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle was opened in 1836 in the Westmalle Abbey in Belgium. Westmalle crafts three beers — the Double t
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Equator Coffees & Teas, a local coffee roaster is the source of the vital coffee component of this spirit. While many coffee Liqueurs are made with coffee extracts and concentrates, Griffo has made the commitment to use the very best materials. The c
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Old Tom style Gins are popping up with greater regularity these days. We love the broader palate and lush texture of this style of Gin but often have issue with the wood dominating the subtle flavors that make Gin unique. Ransom has deftly managed th
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Griffo’s Scott Street Gin is named for the street where Griffo Distillery can be found in Petaluma, CA (in the heart of Sonoma County). Griffo’s Gin, like their Vodka, is created with a corn-based mash bill. They prefer corn for their Gin as it g
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The classic Duvel Belgian Strong Golden Ale is among the world’s elite beers. Duvel gets its iconic golden color from barley germinated for five days in the malt house and slowly kilned to create the complex flavors and color. Duvel obtains its typ
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From package to aromatics and of the course the taste the Molinari Sambuca extra is thick with authenticity. Molinari is the world's #1 selling Sambuca. Created in 1945 by Angelo Molinari and since that fateful day the recipe has remained a closely g
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Laird’s has returned to their roots to create a straight Apple Brandy bottled at 86 proof as they had done prior to prohibition. No fewer than eight varieties of American-grown apples are used to create this beautiful spirit. Seventeen pounds of fr
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This wonderfully balanced and vibrant Rum is made primarily with both molasses and fresh cane juice. It's aged first in American white oak (Whiskey) casks and then finished in French oak Cognac barrels. Rubirosa is made at the Dominican's largest Rum
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This holiday Ale always seems to run dry before Santa makes his rounds so be sure to get your Great Lakes Brewing Christmas Ale fast. If you are not fortunate enough to live in one of the brewery’s nine states of distribution, find a friend that is
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Troon Vineyard has dropped the “fluid” (from their historic Druid’s Fluid) and replaced it with wine. The subtle name change marks a not so subtle change in philosophy for the wines. The older versions were made from purchased grapes while the
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The Abita Christmas Ale is a brown ale that is brewed with six types of malted barley and fermented with American Ale yeast. It is brewed with pale malt, as well as a combination of Caramel, Biscuit, Munich, and chocolate malts. It is hopped and dry-
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Troon Vineyard has dropped the “fluid” (from their historic Druid’s Fluid) and replaced it with wine. The subtle name change marks a not so subtle change in philosophy for the wines. The older versions were made from purchased grapes while the
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The 2021 Esprit de Tablas is a charming and nuanced Châteauneuf du Pape tribute created in Paso Robles by Tablas Creek. This is Tablas Creek’s flagship red blend and it never fails to impress. It's crafted with a blend of 35% Mourvèdre, 26% Grena
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The 2021 vintage marks the seventh vintage of The Tongue Dancer Putnam Vineyard Pinot Noir — but it’s a bit more complicated than that. Loyal BevX readers and fans of Tongue Dancer wines know the Putnam Vineyard Pinot to be synonymous with their
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The great Patelin de Tablas Rouge is made with a unique blend of 54% Syrah, 29% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 3% Counoise, and 1% Terret Noir. We have watched the makeup of this wine change through the years (this is our ninth vintage reviewed). Through t
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When Tongue Dancer Wines introduced their Pratt Vine Hill Chardonnay last year we really hoped that they would create a follow-up release. Spoiler alert — they did. The 2021 vintage is a bigger, more opulent wine but still shows incredible balance
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Troon Vineyard has gone all-in on Syrah and they are setting a standard for Syrah on America’s west coast. Troon’s Syrah is more balanced and restrained than most New World Syrah with moderate alcohol and an ideal balance of acidity — it’s ce
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The 2021 vintage marks the seventh edition of their lovely Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay — somehow this still feels like a new wine but it’s not. We have reviewed all of seven of them witnessing an amazing record of success. Having a consistent
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During the first years of the Oktoberfest, the Bavarian brewing law from 1539 stipulated that beer could only be brewed between the “Michaeli” or St. Michael’s day on September 29 and St. George’s feast day, April 23. Summer brewing in German
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We have been a fan of the Troon Vermentino since first tasting their 2014 vintage — now they are flirting with perfection. It was clear then, and remains certain now, that the climate and soils in Oregon's Applegate Valley is ideal for growing grap
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The great Beers from Ayinger have been available in the US for decades. Our BOW, the great Oktober Fest-Märzen is available August through October or as long as it lasts. It's a seasonal beer brewed in March and destined to be ready for Oktoberfest.
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This beautiful and complex cider is made with a blend of many different pear varieties including Plant de Blanc, Muscadet, Avenelle, and Poire de Grise. The pears are carefully crushed and then pressed to extract the juice. The juice is quickly sent
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This wonderfully balanced and vibrant Rum is made primarily with both molasses and fresh cane juice. It's aged first in American white oak (Whiskey) casks and then finished in French oak Cognac barrels. Rubirosa is made at the Dominican's largest Rum
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Forget everything that you know about Gin! Of course, we expect nothing but perfection from Christian Drouin and with their fabulous "Le Gin" perfection is delivered. Gin drinkers are are an opinionated crew for sure and this very expressive Gin may
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The 2022 Troon Amber is the fourth edition of this wine that we have seen and it’s our favorite. This vintage, for the first time, Troon Amber is Vermentino forward and it really showcases the tremendous Vermentino grown at Troon Vineyard. While so
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The great Beers from Ayinger have been available in the US for more than two decades. Their Brauweisse is absolutely traditional with the expected Ayinger complexity and depth of flavors. It's perfect for summer refreshment or winter nourishment.
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Padigan is the new moniker for what was 2Hawk Wines. It’s the same people and the same great vineyards only the name has changed. We first tasted the 2Hawk Sauvignon Blanc three years ago and we were thrilled by the quality of fruit and the careful
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The 2022 Troon Kubli Bench Rosé is made from a Southern France inspired blend of 55% Mourvedre, 25% Cinsault, 9% Counoise, 8% Carignan, and 3% Negrette. The grape varietals used in this wine have changed through the years but it seems like this may
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The 2021 vintage marks the eighth edition of The Tongue Dancer "Pinot de Ville" (PDV) — like last year, this one is not like the others. The first six vintages of PDV were made with fruit sourced from Putnam Vineyard in Sonoma Coast. Last year Tong
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This beautiful and complex cider is made with a blend of 30 different apple varieties. The blend is comprised of 70% bittersweet and bitter apples, 20% sweet apples, and 10% acidic apples. The apples are carefully crushed and then pressed to extract
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Hardhide is a fantastic new product that must be tried to be believed and loved. Today the market is filled with flavored Whiskies and let's be honest — most of them are rather uninspired. Most flavored whiskey has completely forgotten about the Wh
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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 Bourbo
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UNA is a fascinating new premium flavored Vodka made from a blend of fresh California-grown begonias, Florida-grown orange blossoms, and vanilla flowers from Madagascar, which create a delicate yet complex spirit. UNA is far less sweet than most flav
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This wine represents the nineth commercial release of the delicious Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) Rosé of Pinot Noir (the seventh that we have reviewed). Their 2022 Rosé continues to be made with the saigné method — a winemaking technique that bleed
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We at BevX have been looking at a lot of ready to drink cocktails as the category is red hot and getting hotter. Recently, one of these cocktail brands caught our attention — FUNKIN cocktails. FUNKIN cleverly infuses their cocktails with nitro, muc
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The 2021 vintage represents the fifth release of Tongue Dancer Wines’ Pratt Vineyard/Irwin Lane Chardonnay or simply the “Flying Barrel” as it is affectionately known. We have been a huge fan of this wine from the start. This expression typical
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What is Piquette? Piquette is a French term for a style of wine that was produced in most European farm wineries for centuries. In the spirit of never letting any good material go to waste, winemakers would add water, and sometimes a bit of sugar (Tr
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We Know Jack! Yes, it’s a seemingly silly name for a wine brand but stick with us and it will all make sense. The brand arose as many have in California. Wine lovers become vineyard owners who sell their fruit to select winemakers. Over time they s
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Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) “Sly One” just got really sly. For multiple vintage this expression was purely Pinot Noir and now we see that Chardonnay can be sly as well. Keeping with its namesake, The Sly One Chardonnay is TDW’s first Chardonnay f
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Don Q’s delicious Double Aged Port Cask Finish Rum (paired release with the Double Aged Zinfandel Cask Finish Rum) arrives on the heralded heals of Don Q’s Cognac and Vermouth Cask Finish Rums — both earning Five-Stars at BevX.com. This beautif
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The Tongue Dancer Wines 2021 Sonoma County Chardonnay appears to be a one-off but I’ve been wrong before. It’s a triple threat Chardonnay sourcing its fruit from the Bacigalupi and Pratt vineyards in Russian River Valley, and a new source in Dry
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Don Q’s delicious Double Aged Zinfandel Cask Finish Rum (paired release with the Double Aged Port Cask Finish Rum) arrives on the heralded heals of Don Q’s Cognac and Vermouth Cask Finish Rums — both earning Five-Stars at BevX.com. This delicio
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Exprimere is a new wine project with a very interesting premise. At the heart of Exprimere is some exceptional fruit grown at the Peake Ranch in the Santa Rita Hills of Santa Barbara County — a proven Pinot Noir zone. While the wines were unknown t
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This is the tenth vintage of Tongue Dancer Wines’ Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and as usual, it did not disappoint. How time flies… This expression of Pinot is made by grapes sourced from vineyards in the Sonoma Coast appellation. We have reviewed eve
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It’s been five years since we first tried Don Q’s great aged Rum finished in Vermouth casks. We were incredibly impressed and recently their latest double aged Rums are just as delicious. This complex Rum is made from a blend of the classic Don Q
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This is the second vintage of Tongue Dancer Wines’ (TDW) Foxtrot. They describe it as a fun-to-drink dance of a wine and we agree. Albeit the second installment of Foxtrot it’s a first in many respects as last year’s inaugural Foxtrot was sourc
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The great Beers from Ayinger have been available in the US for more than two decades. Our BOW, the great Jahrhundert-Bier was first created in 1978 to celebrate the brewery's 100th anniversary. Recently it has been made available in cask in the US an
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Distilled from apple and pear ciders and then rested in stainless steel as opposed to oak. It's rested for 18 months with water being gradually added in order for it to fully integrate with the pure spirit. It's absolutely wonderful and amazing to sm
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Druid’s Fluid, some say the wine that put Troon on the map, was perhaps a mistake. According to numerous sources Druid’s Fluid was born in the 1970s when, one vintage Dick Troon had a stuck fermentation that left some unfermented sugar in the win
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Druid’s Fluid, some say the wine that put Troon on the map, was perhaps a mistake. According to numerous sources Druid’s Fluid was born in the 1970s when, one vintage Dick Troon had a stuck fermentation that left some unfermented sugar in the win
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Troon Vineyard has gone all-in on Syrah. It’s easy to see why as Syrah flourishes in their estate, organic and biodynamic vineyard in Oregon’s Applegate Valley. Troon’s Syrah is more balanced and restrained than most New World Syrah with modera
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Enjoy this drink of opportunity. The California fires resulted in fewer grapes being available from 2020 which then led to empty tanks in 2021. Empty tanks want to be filled so James MacPhail filled his tanks with fresh-pressed apple juice from the R
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This is the sixth Troon Tannat that we have sampled and it is our clear favorite to date (keep in mind that 91 points was our lowest score for a Troon Tannat). The 2020 Troon Vineyard Tannat is the best American Tannat that we have ever tasted. The T
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Christmas has come early as Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) has released a new Chardonnay. The grapes are sourced from Pratt Vineyard — Vine Hill. Three great Chardonnay clones are grown here: Mt Eden, Robert Young, and FPS 70 (Dijon). The blend of these
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Kuiper Belt Gin is a small batch dry gin that contains eight natural botanicals that deliver notes of juniper berries, citrus, lavender, rose, and orange blossoms. The Space Age precision of the production process delivers an atmospheric distillate w
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The 2020 vintage marks the sixth edition of their lovely Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay. We have reviewed all of six of them witnessing an amazing record of success. The scores have ranged from 94 to 98 so you could say that it has lacked diversity
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Made entirely from ingredients harvested in Kagoshima Prefecture (Japan is divided into 47 prefectures — like small states). Anno imo sweet potatoes — only approved for growing in Tanegashima, Japan, are employed and added to the secondary fermen
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The 2020 vintage marks the seventh edition of The Tongue Dancer "Pinot de Ville" (PDV) — but this one is not like the others. For the first time in PDV history the fruit is sourced from vineyards in Russian River Valley. The 2020 fires in Californi
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Chuko Yokka Koji Awamori is made from Thai white rice and black koji like all Awamori. If you haven’t heard of Awamori do not be alarmed. There are fewer than 50 producers of Awamori in Okinawa and very little of this spirit makes it out of Japan.
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Made entirely from ingredients harvested in Kagoshima Prefecture (Japan is divided into 47 prefectures — like small states) of Japan. Kogane Sengan sweet potatoes, the most popular sweet potato in Kyushu, are steamed and added to the secondary ferm
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The Great Lakes Brewery Dortmunder Gold is part of their regular lineup and has been since 1988. This great lager takes its name from the German city that is most recognized for this style. It's a beer that strikes the perfect balance of malty richne
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This wine represents Tongue Dancer Wines sixth Chardonnay and the fourth from Pratt Vineyard Irwin Lane in the Russian River Valley AVA. Every vintage of this wine offers a unique expression while having a strong familial bond. This (2020) vintage sh
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There is precious little Vermentino grown in America — a damn shame — and Tablas Creek's Vermentino is unmatched. Vermentino is typically high in acid with flavors of grapefruit, green apple, peach, and lime with hints of blanched almonds and spr
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Leinenkugel's is a great, old family brewery founded in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin over 150 years ago. Leinenkugel's beers are now available nationwide. They offer over a dozen different styles including a collection of seasonal beers like this Sessio
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The Yebiga Bela Rakija is a true treat. A pure and authentic Rakija (pronounced Ra-Kee-Ya) that is clearly made by master distillers. Rakija is a very specific style of fruit Brandy made in the Balkans. Rakija is an essential element of the local cul
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Leinenkugel's offers over a dozen different styles including a collection of seasonable beers like their "Canoe Paddler", a classically styled Kolsch beer. Luckily, the Canoe Paddler has earned such a following that it is now available all year. We a
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This spring (2022) we get treated to a new Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) Chardonnay. A new Chardonnay is rarely cause for celebration but when it's made by James MacPhail we take notice. It's a blend from three vineyards: Bacigalupi, Pratt Irwin Lane, an
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The great Patelin de Tablas Rouge is made with a unique blend of 36% Syrah, 34% Grenache, 19% Mourvèdre, 8% Tannat, and 3% Counoise. We have watched the makeup of this wine change through the years (this is our seventh vintage reviewed) from wines w
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Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) has just introduced Foxtrot Pinot Noir. We are intrigued by any new release from TDW but this one exceeded our high expectations. The Foxtrot is one hell of a Pinot Noir that is bold, exotic, and pleasingly vexing while bein
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Made with a unique blend of 55% Malbec, 35% Tinta Roriz, and 10% Counoise. Last year's Rosé included a healthy dose of Primitivo but these vines have been pulled in favor of other varietals. Like all of Troon's wines the vines are farmed to provide
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This wine represents the eighth commercial release of the delicious Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) Rosé of Pinot Noir (the sixth that we have reviewed). How time flies… In their 2021 vintage TDW has returned to the saigné method — a winemaking techn
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This amazing Petit Verdot is made through a special selection of top grapes that are hand-harvested from their estate vineyards. This particular vineyard enjoys 10 to 12 hours of sunlight per day. The fruit is macerated for 48 hours before going thro
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This stunning Shiraz is made through a special selection of top grapes that are hand-harvested from their estate vineyards. The fruit is macerated for 48 hours before going through a 14-day fermentation in stainless steel at moderate temperatures. Af
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A quick definition of Poitin: A native Irish spirit that is typically clear and unaged made from a wide array of raw materials such as cereals, grains, treacle, potatoes, and sugar beets. Poitin was traditionally an illicit spirit made often on farms
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The spirit is made with a potato base distilled in pot stills, which is quite evident on the silky and textured palate. The primary flavors are caraway with a vibrant dose of aniseed. The deep golden color comes from Oloroso Sherry cask aging at sea
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Revanche is made with a blend of VS, VSOP, and XO Cognacs that come from four Cognac Crus: Borderies, Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, and Bons Bois. The Cognacs were selected years ago and matured in the cellars of Tessendier/Birkedal Hartmann un
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The fruit utilized for this great brandy (first, a great cider) is grown on the fifth generation DeFisher Fruit Farms whose orchards span over 500 acres. They grow heritage and contemporary varietals that are blended to make their tasty ciders — so
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Ladies and gents allow me to introduce Ultra. Tongue Dancer Wine's latest and here-to-date greatest tier showcasing the best barrel of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from a vintage. The packaging is also unique featuring a pair of artful images that appea
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Chinola, as the passion fruit is referred to by locals in the Dominican Republic, is a unique Liqueur with an unforgettable taste and clever packaging. The label has a vintage, old-world look but it's what's inside that creates the memories. Chinola
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Five years ago we reviewed the first Somrus Liqueur, Indian Cream (it has since been renamed Chai) and we were instant fans. In 2020 they released an equally delicious Coffee Cream Liqueur. It's made with coffee and chicory with real dairy cream from
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After the rebels stormed Griffin's Wharf in Boston in 1773 to take part in what we now call the Boston Tea Party, coffee became the drink of patriots. Griffin's Wharf 1773 Coffee Liqueur takes its name from this historic place giving honor to the mov
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Druid’s Fluid, some say the wine that put Troon on the map, was perhaps a mistake. According to numerous sources Druid’s Fluid was born in the 70s when, one vintage Dick Troon had a stuck fermentation that left some unfermented sugar in the wine.
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Incredibly, this is Tablas Creek’s eighteenth bottling of its 100% Grenache Blanc and this vintage is among our favorites. All of Tablas Creek wines are wines that tell the story of the vintage. Among all of Tablas Creek’s wines their Grenache Bl
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We can’t believe that this is the fifth edition of their lovely Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay — time flies. We have been fans of each release but we are not above having favorites. This lovely 2019 version is one of our favorites and it’s amaz
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This complex and delicious white is a careful blend of five varietals: 40% Grenache Blanc, 19% Roussanne, 21% Viognier, 15% Marsanne, and 5% Clairette Blanche. This wine is always driven by the vintage and how each varietal reacts to the vintage. Gre
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Ladies and gents allow me to introduce Ultra Pinot Noir (we featured the amazing Ultra Chardonnay a few weeks ago). Tongue Dancer Wine's latest and here-to-date greatest tier showcasing the best single-barrel of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from a vinta
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The 2019 vintage marks the sixth edition of The Tongue Dancer "Pinot de Ville" — how time flies. Each vintage features a different Cadillac de Villes on the label and this year the vehicle has handlebars! As always, grapes are sourced from the Putn
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The third vintage of "The Sly One" is a winner albeit an unexpected palate sensation. The first two vintages of The Sly One featured Sonoma Coast fruit. Before opening the bottle I assumed that this was still the case — I was wrong. For the 2019 vi
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The virtue of this wine is balance and restraint. The fruit is sourced from two vineyards — Sapniq and Izbisht — at an altitude of 480 meters with great sun exposure. The harvest is performed by hand followed by a cold maceration for six to eight
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Nine botanicals seamlessly marry in the Fords Gin while the Italian juniper and coriander seed are primary. Also in the mix of nine botanicals are the following: bitter orange peel, lemon and grapefruit peel, jasmine, orris, angelica root, and cassia
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Straight Edge is made with a blend of Bourbons ranging in age from five to eight years. The mash bill for this Bourbon is corn forward at 70% with 17% Rye, and 13% malted barley. It is aged in traditional American white oak and then finished in red w
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This wine represents Tongue Dancer Wines fifth Chardonnay and the third from Pratt Vineyard Irwin Lane in the Russian River Valley AVA. Every vintage of this wine offers a unique expression while having a strong familial bond. This (2019) vintage is
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Made with a unique blend of 60% Tinta Roriz, 40% Primitivo — last year's Rosé included 5% Grenache. Like all of Troon's wines the vines are farmed to provide optimal fruit for the intended wine. The grapes were very delicately, whole-cluster press
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Tromba Blanco is a beautiful expression of blanco Tequila. The agave is grown in Los Altos, in the highlands of Jalisco. This Tequila is made in relatively small batches with hand-selected agave averaging seven to eight years in age. The agave pinas
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Shocking! Another great Pinot from Tongue Dancer Wines. This is the fifth Tongue Dancer Sonoma Coast Pinot that we have reviewed and it is a consistent favorite. Each vintage is a little different but we find the 2019 to be similar in style to their
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Troon Amber is made with a unique blend of 64% Riesling, 27% Vermentino, and 9% Viognier. This is Troon’s second vintage of their Kubli Bench Amber — last year’s vintage comprised 10% more Riesling. Note that 2021 will be the last vintage of th
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The seventh commercial release of the tasty Tongue Dancer Wines (TDW) Rosé of Pinot Noir (the fifth that we have reviewed) is delicious as always. This Rosé is in short supply so get yours fast. While this wine is familiar to us and our readers thi
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We have been a fan of the Troon Vermentino since first tasting their 2014 vintage. We have watched as they have made decisions first in the their vineyards and then choices in winemaking. By no means do I think that their journey is finished but they
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Made with a blend of 95% Glera (the essential Prosecco grape) and 5% Pinot Nero. The small portion of Pinot Nero is enough to add a beautiful pink color, as well as ripe red berry notes on the nose and on the palate. The Piccolo Tesoro Rosé is bottl
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The Hamilton Petite Shrubb is a great Caribbean Liqueur built for Rum cocktails but it's extremely versatile and works very well in many traditional Brandy and Whiskey cocktails. It's made with a Rhum Agricole base with real dried orange peels from M
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This is the fifth Troon Tannat that we have sampled and it is just as good as last year's — our then favorite and now co-favorite. Like the 2017 the 2018 Troon Vineyard Tannat is the best American Tannat that we have ever tasted. The Troon Tannat g
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2Hawk shows us what New World Malbec can be. It's balanced, nuanced, with loads of earth and spice acting as the perfect companion to the dense black fruits. This is 2Hawk's first estate Malbec and it's a strong statement. If your only experience wit
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The ultimate pairing of Tannat and Malbec found in Troon's Cuvée Pyrénées in the third vintage of this inspired red blend. Troon calls their Cuvée Pyrénées a "statement wine" as they feel it demonstrates the sum of the great fruit from their es
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The Hamilton Pimento Dram was born out of need. Bartenders across the nation sought an authentic Pimento Dram for their Rum and Tiki cocktails. Sadly, we haven't had many great choices as the products we could find were often inconsistent, expensive,
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The second vintage of "The Sly One" is another winner and it seems to set the style for this wine going forward. The fruit for this 2018 vintage was sourced from Van der Kamp Vineyards on Sonoma Mountain and Putnam Vineyard in Sonoma County. The 2018
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Troon Vineyard is going all-in on Syrah. Syrah is a grape that they feel is ideally-suited to the climate and soils found in the Applegate Valley. The Syrah from this appellation creates wines that are more like the wines of the Northern Rhone rather
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Puncher's Chance Kentucky Straight Bourbon is made with a blend of four, five, and six-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbons by the Wolf Spirit Distillery. Wolf Spirit Distillery was founded in 2017 by a 17-year veteran of Campari, Umberto Luchini. Pun
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Troon Vineyard is going all-in on Syrah. Syrah is a grape that they feel is ideal suited to the climate and soils found in the Applegate Valley. The Syrah from this appellation creates wines that are more like the wines of the Northern Rhone rather t
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Tongue Dancer's fourth edition of their lovely Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay is any shining example of how this wine shows a "house style" while always being a reflection of the vintage. It exudes California style derived from the Old Wente clone
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This is the second vintage of Troon’s Côtes du Kubli Blanc but the fourth vintage of a proprietary white based on Viognier and Marsanne. The 2019 Côtes du Kubli Blanc is made with a blend of 42% Viognier, 35% Marsanne, 23% Roussanne — this is a
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The 2018 vintage marks the fifth edition of The Tongue Dancer "Pinot de Ville" and it’s clear that the "house style" is set and they are in a groove. Each vintage features a different Cadillac on the label and this year a stunning 1957 Eldorado Bia
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2Hawk says that 2018 was a "textbook Rogue Valley Indian Summer vintage." This wine is an absolute beauty that celebrates the essence of Viognier. In 2018 the temperatures were incredibly constant through the summer without the typical heat-spikes. I
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This wine shows us how Malbec can be and should be. It's balanced, nuanced, with loads of earth and spice acting as the perfect companion to the dense black fruits. If your only experience with Malbec is a dense, fruit-bomb that is more redolent of P
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The 2018 Esprit de Tablas is a charming and nuanced Châteauneuf du Pape tribute created in Paso Robles by Tablas Creek. If you love the wines of the Rhône and have not tried Tablas Creek — what are you waiting for? It's crafted with a blend of 40
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Gautier is a great, old Cognac house with a history spanning 10 generations. Gautier's cellars are located in a former mill along the River Osme. This location benefits from a natural humidity that aids in the maturation of these great Cognacs in the
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Our first review of a 2020 wine at BevX — it's a winner. The grapes were harvested at night, a technique used by winemakers to pick fruit at the coolest part of the day to preserve the grape's vibrancy and aromas. The grapes were gently pressed and
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It is clear the Sauvignon Blanc thrives in the Rouge Vineyards of 2Hawk. This lovely wine was fermented half in barrel and half in stainless steel. At blending time they determined that a blend of 45% barrel-fermented wine with 55% stainless steel fe
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This style of Rosé really gets us excited. We love the perfect balance of fruit and acidity with more generous fruit than you would think considering its very modest alcohol — just 12.9 abv. The Grenache for the 2019 2Hawk Rosé remained on the vi
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This rich and hedonistic wine is made with a classic Rhône blend of 45% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 12% Counoise, and 10% Mourvédre. The 2018 vintage provided near ideal conditions with cooler than normal temperature with a six week heatwave in July to Au
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This is 2Hawk's reserve-tier Tempranillo sourced from their oldest planting of Tempranillo dating to 2009. These Tempranillo vines grow in volcanic soils, which are unusual to the Rogue Valley AVA. This wine is fermented with indigenous yeast, as are
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This is a bold Rye with style and balance as well. It's made with a mash-bill of 95% Rye and 5% malted barley — so there is no chance of mistaking this Whiskey with a Bourbon! It's aged for three to five years in charred American oak barrels in Red
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This is the second vintage of the Red Hills Cellars Pinot Noir that we have reviewed and we sense a trend of excellence. The fruit for this delicious Pinot Noir was sourced entirely from Oregon's Willamette Valley. It was rested in French oak barrels
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The 2Hawk Grenache is made with a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah. No doubt the Syrah adds depth to the color and mingles seamlessly with the Grenache on the nose and palate. BevX readers know that we love Grenache. For 2Hawk the 2017 vintage was
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There is precious little Vermentino grown in America and that's a shame. Nearly every Sauvignon Blanc drinker loves Vermentino when they try it. Vermentino is typically high in acid with flavors of grapefruit, green apple, peach, and lime with hints
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The color may shock you as it's nearly as deep ruby red as a Beaujolais. The Red Hills Cellars Rosé drinks like the most refreshing red wine that you have ever had. It's made with 100% Grenache — a varietal that is capable of making outstanding Ro
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BevX readers know that we are huge fans of Tongue Dancer's wines. This is the fourth Tongue Dancer Sonoma Coast Pinot that we have reviewed and it is a consistent favorite. Their Sonoma Coast Pinot is a blend of multiple vineyards, in the 2018 vintag
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What is Piquette? Piquette is a French term for a style of wine that was produced in most European farm wineries for centuries. In the spirit of never letting any good material go to waste winemakers would add water, and sometimes a bit of sugar, to
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This wine represents Tongue Dancer Wines fourth Chardonnay and the second from Pratt Vineyard Irwin Lane in the Russian River Valley AVA. This vintage is a bit different than the last. Tongue Dancer frequently utilizes native yeast and in some cases
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Troon Amber is made with a unique blend of 74% Riesling, 16% Vermentino, and 10% Viognier. This unique and tasty wine is Troon's first blended orange wine. Troon has previously offered orange wines made individually from Riesling and Vermentino. Troo
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The sixth commercial release of the tasty Tongue Dancer Wines Rosé of Pinot Noir (the fourth that we have reviewed) is delicious as always and in fact it is our favorite to date. This Rosé is in short supply so get yours fast. The 2019 Rosé was ma
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Much like their wonderful Vodka, this unique spirit begins with pure maple sap that is then fermented and then distilled. The Maple Spirit is distilled to a much lower proof than the Vodka (125 proof) to retain maximum maple flavors. The bold maple s
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Made with a unique blend of 60% Tinta Roriz, 35% Primitivo, and 5% Grenache. This is the first Troon Rosé that we have seen. It is perhaps their first Rosé (certainly in the modern era of Troon Vineyard that started in 2016). This Rosé is certainl
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Tannat and Malbec mingle frequently in the Southwest of France and for two consecutive vintages they also mingle in Troon's Cuvée Pyrénées.
This great blend from Troon is playfully named Cuvée Pyrénées a call to the great and often unheralded
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The Van Gogh Acai-Blueberry offers a unique take on the berry flavored Vodkas. While most are cloyingly sweet and one-dimensional this tasty flavored Vodka deftly delivers sweet and tart berry flavors with a refreshing dose of acid and an unexpected
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Silent Pool Distillers is an artisan distillery located on the Albury Estate at the foot of the Surrey Hills in England. Silent Pool is made with a unique four-stage process that utilizes different methods of extracting essential oils based on the to
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Vermont is not just famous for maple and pints of ice cream, it is also home to great number of apple orchards. Vermont apples are pressed and fermented into a raw cider and then distilled and rested in Hungarian oak casks. This apple brandy is not a
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This is the fourth Troon Tannat that we have sampled and it is our clear favorite. In fact, this is the best American Tannat that we have ever tasted. The Troon Tannat grapes are grown in the high bench land above the Applegate River very near the sp
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This is a real beauty showing what Calvados can be with a few years of maturation seamlessly integrating oak and spice into the fold while keeping the fresh apple notes alive. The XO is made with a blend of double distilled Calvados aged 8 to 15 year
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The Esprit de Tablas is Tablas Creek's top-tiered white Rhône blend. It's made with a blend of 68% Roussanne, 17% Grenache Blanc, 7% Picpoul Blanc, 4% Picardan, and 4% Clairette Blanche. The grapes for this wine were grown in their certified organic
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Tongue Dancer's third edition of their lovely Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay is proof positive that this wine is a reflection of its vintage. The 2015 Chardonnay was bold with a brash charm while the 2016 Chardonnay is all about finesse and nuance, a
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This beautiful red Meritage is made with a classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 76%, Cabernet Franc 12%, and Merlot 12%. We love the balance (loads of bright acidity) and the complex layers offered in this Napa Valley tribute to Bordeaux. We love that
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Since much to our shock and horror Old Pulteney discontinued their great 17-year-old, this lovely 15-year-old is our new favorite Old Pulteney Malt. We find this to be the most perfect expression offered by Old Pulteney. Every Whisky distillery portf
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In the 1970s and 80s it was not hard to find charming whites in California made primarily with Semillon. For a multitude of reasons Semillon has fallen out of favor in California but we have never lost our love for the grape — especially when paire
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This 2018 Nia Pinot Noir is the third vintage that we have seen it it certainly lives up to the two previous 4-Star performances. Just as exciting is that they have maintained their $9.99 price making this one of the top Pinot Noir values. The grapes
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The 2017 vintage marks the fourth edition of The Tongue Dancer "Pinot de Ville" and it’s our favorite to date (we at BevX have never given a score of 99 points). As always, grapes are sourced from the Putnam Vineyard located in the Sonoma Coast tow
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We have sampled and enjoyed Rhone inspired red blends previously from Troon but this is the first Syrah dominant Troon wine that we have experienced. It certainly delivers classic Syrah notes of dark fruits with spicy accents while the Grenache provi
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This bold New World Cabernet with an Old World soul is made with a classic blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot. The J. McClelland Cellars wines are created by the careful blending of separate lots of wines determined by winemakers Paul Sco
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The 2017 Nia Cabernet is perhaps more supple and chewy than previous vintages while still being very juicy with low tannins and bright acidity. The Nia Cab is still an ideal happy hour Cab. The grapes are primarily sourced from California's Mokelumne
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This is the second Grenache from Troon that we have sampled and while we very much enjoyed both wines, these two wines could not be more different. Troon Vineyard is in the process of replanting their estate vineyard. In this transitional stage Troon
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This dense and charming Châteauneuf du Pape tribute created in Paso Robles is crafted with a blend of 40% Mourvedre, 35% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 5% Counoise. In this Tablas Creek red their dense estate-grown Mourvedre takes the lead, which is unmis
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We have been a fan of the Troon Vermentino since first tasting their 2014 vintage. It was clear then, and remains certain, that the climate found in Oregon's Applegate Valley is ideal for growing grapes like Vermentino. Troon Vineyard's Vermentino is
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This complex and delicious white is a careful blend of five varietals: 48% Grenache Blanc, 22% Viognier, 12% Marsanne, 13% Roussanne, and 5% Clairette Blanche. I greatly appreciate that the trio of Tablas Creek (white and red Patelin de Tablas, Côte
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Christian Brothers distill their fine Brandy in copper alembic stills just like they do in Cognac, for their great "Sacred Bond" Brandy. The grapes are all California grown and the spirit is produced from one season's harvest that is fermented into w
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Vespertino is a new star in the cream Liqueur category. The Silver Tequila base is the ideal canvas for the alluring and complex flavors of fresh cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, cocoa, and vanilla. The name Vespertino means evening in Spanish and the f
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The fruit for this charming and approachable Cabernet hails from both Napa County (86%) and Sonoma County (14%). The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then aged in French oak barrels (20% new) for a period of 20 months. This wine's name, Whisp
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2017 was a challenging vintage for Pinot Noir in many respects resulting in smaller crops. However, the concentration of fruit in this wine is clearly evident so we consider it a blessing of sorts. This wine is purely a reflection of its place of ori
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Fighting Chance Pinot Noir is made with a blend of 90% Pinot Noir, 8% Petite Sirah, and 2% other red grapes. The name refers to the struggle of growing Pinot Noir in California's Central Coast. Pinot Noir grapes are thin-skinned. They bruise. They bl
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To be honest when I heard months ago that Don Q was to release an aged Rum finished in Vermouth casks I was a bit perplexed. What would the Vermouth bring to the party and would it possibly trample on the subtle accents of their Rum? One very extende
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Just about two decades ago Prosecco took the export markets by storm and it has never stopped winning new converts. At its best Prosecco is fresh and balanced with a steady stream of bubbles and a bright finish. Prosecco is made primarily with the Gl
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We are huge fans of the previous vintage of Tongue Dancer's Sonoma Coast Pinot but somehow this 2017 edition is even better. When tasting this wine I couldn't help but be drawn into an internal conversation of single vineyard versus a marriage of fru
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For lovers of bold Red Blends the Provenance DeadEye is a must-experience wine. This wine is proof-positive that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This unique blend is made with a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petite Sirah, 5% Me
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Made with a blend of Barbera, Grenache, and Syrah sourced from select vineyards in Madera County and the Central Coast. The Barbera really shines through delivering bright strawberry notes with vibrant acidity. This Rosé is available in bottle and i
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The fifth commercial release of the tasty Tongue Dancer Wines Rosé of Pinot Noir is delicious as always but sadly in short supply.
This year's Rosé is a bit of a different animal being made entirely from the Putnam Vineyard that is well-known to B
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The Troon Vineyard Côtes du Kubli Blanc is a new product release while in many ways being an extention of their previous, delicious Kubli Blanc. While Troon replants some of their estate vineyards they were able to source some fantastic grapes from
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This wine represents Tongue Dancer Wines third Chardonnay and the first from Pratt Vineyard Irwin Lane in the Russian River Valley AVA. The Chardonnay from this vineyard is all certified organic and the fruit was hand-picked. Like their previous Char
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Nemiroff Vodka is crafted with select winter wheat and pure water from artesian springs located in their home region of Podilia, Ukraine. This pure and silky Vodka is triple-distilled before undergoing their unique 11 stage filtration process. The re
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Flavored Rum is by and large a very unsexy category. Most of the products in this segment are sickening sweet, reeking of plastic flavors, and showing colors not found in nature. Of course this isn't good enough for Destileria Serrallés and their Do
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Made primarily with Pinot Noir this Rosé is ready for summer. The fruit hails from Santa Barbara vineyards with maritime influences that offer cool nights and mornings Pinot Noir craves. 2018 was a great season for Etude's Pinot Noir vineyards with
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This unique Mourvedre is made of wine from two vintages (2015 and 2016) and fruit from two different states. The 2015 portion is made of fruit from Elephant Mountain, Rattlesnake Hills, Yakima Valley Washington. The vineyard is located on an east-fac
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This is a unique animal being lush while sprite with subtle hints of agave and charred American oak. This opulent Sauvignon Blanc is made with a 4% Albarino, 3% Chardonnay, and 1% Muscat in the mix. The Beringer Bros. Tequila Barrel Aged Sauvignon B
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This charming and hedonistic red blend is made with a blend of 41% Petite Sirah, 21% Syrah, 18% Petit Verdot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 2% other red grapes. The Beringer Bros. Bourbon Barrel Aged Red was fermented in temperature-controlle
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This California appellation Chardonnay is made with grapes grown in several of California's top sites. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks with 25% going through malolactic fermentation (this is what adds butteriness and creaminess to Chardonna
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Tannat and Malbec mingle frequently in the Southwest of France. In Cahor while the wines are dominated by Malbec it is frequently blended with Tannat. This great blend from Troon is playfully named Cuvée Pyrénées a call to the great and often unhe
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Raboso is a charming and versatile grape native to and grown in Northeastern Italy primarily in the Veneto region. Raboso is known for its high tannins, and acidity as well as a deep, dark color. It's versatile being used to create deep, age-worthy r
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This charming Napa Valley Chardonnay was bottled exclusively for Total Wine stores having been sourced from a Napa winery that is familiar to many of our readers. The fruit for this Chardonnay was harvested at night and in the morning in order to cap
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I'm a longtime fan of Caorunn (pronounced – ka-roon) and I love seeing it on the backbar as I then know that the buyer is tuned in. It features 11 botanicals including five wild-foraged Highland botanicals: rowan berry (or Caorunn in old Scottish G
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The Whip Saw Rye is made with Rye Whiskies aged up to seven years and then finished in wine seasoned French oak barrels. The mash bill is heavy with Rye at 76% with corn and malted barley. It is aged in traditional American white oak and then finishe
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From the very first rising scents from the glass the unmistakable characteristics of wheat Vodka greet the nose. Further exploration reveals much more as the Van Gogh Vodka offers a complex fruit and mineral tapestry as well. The signature Van Gogh V
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Troon Vineyard is always clever and it often signals style along with the varietal. In the USA most wine drinkers know Malbec as an Argentine wine unaware that the grape is of French origin. In my view the best expression of Malbec can be found in th
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The unique Slaughter House Whiskey is made from a mash bill of 85% corn, 8% wheat, 6% rye, and 1% malted barley then aged in American oak for nine years before being finished in French oak that previously held a red Bordeaux style wine. It is bottled
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We have been a fan of the Troon Vermentino since first tasting their 2014 vintage. It was clear then, and remains certain, that the climate found in Oregon's Applegate Valley is ideal for growing grapes like Vermentino. Vermentino is native to Italy
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This has long been one of my favorite aperitifs and it has one of the best stories in the world of wine of and spirits (that's saying something). The quick version of the story is that a stockbroker enters a bar in Piedmont belonging to Antonio Bened
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We have a had a few Vermentino wines from Troon but this is their first "orange wine" Vermentino. Orange wines are essentially white wines made like red wines meaning that they fermented with the skins. Typically white wines are made by extracting th
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The two Chardonnays to date from Tongue Dancer Wines are certainly siblings sharing many common identifiable traits while demonstrating stark differences. The 2015 Chardonnay was bold with a brash charm while the 2016 Chardonnay is all about finesse
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This 2016 Nia Pinot Noir is the second vintage that we have seen and as impressed as we were with the 2015, the 2016 Pinot might be even better. Just as exciting is that they have maintained their $9.99 price making this one of the top Pinot Noir val
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Rumson's Grand Reserve is the older sibling of their standard Rum (that is far from standard in the glass) being a blend of Rums ranging in age from five to 23 years in age. It's a big and sweet, old Rum that no doubt has massive appeal with spirits
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This stylish Gin is made with a blend of three grains (presented in order of quantity) rye, barley, and corn. All of the grains are grown on the estate. All steps from milling, fermenting, distilling, and bottling are done on the Frey Ranch property
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This bold and charming red is made with 100% Petite Sirah. The fruit for the French Bar Petite Sirah comes from the family's Rock Creek Vineyard in the eastern foothills of California's Sierra Mountains. The grapes are sustainably farmed are Certifie
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Another great Don Q Rum and one that is loved by every most every Tiki bartender. It is made with a blend of Rums aged for a minimum of three years while it seems to me that this blend also includes Rums that are much older. I am very pleasantly surp
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The fourth commercial release of the tasty Tongue Dancer Wines Rosé of Pinot Noir is thankfully more plentiful in terms of cases of offered but still quite miniscule so get yours now to avoid regret. This vibrant Rosé is made in the saigné method
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Perhaps the greatest fruit wine that we have ever tasted. You will forget it's a raspberry wine and start wondering what's in this Syrah based blend? This wine is made from a variety called Meeker raspberries, the variety known for its intense flavor
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This is the second vintage we have seen of the Troon Orange Riesling. We thought that the 2016 was a pretty cool wine as is the 2017. However, the 2017 is a good step forward as it presents harmonious flavors of citrus, mineral, and subtle Fino Sherr
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The aim with Caliche was to create a premium white Rum with the depth and character of an aged Rum. To reach these goals, Caliche is created with a clever blend of unique Rums, some aged in cask for four years. The master blend is then carefully filt
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Nothing beats the original. Commercial, repeatable Vermouth was created by Antonio Benedetto Carpano in 1786. The idea of blending wine with herbs and spices goes back centuries but Carpano was the first to record it and sell it. The base wine is a b
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This lovely Pinot is much like their previous vintage being perfectly balanced with beautiful ripe fruit. However, we find this vintage to be a bit more complex ideally weaving in accents of tea, herbs, and earth. This is a real Pinot lover's Pinot t
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The Coppers Gin is named for coins issued by the Republic of Vermont in 1785. The Sugarwood expression is made with their famous maple spirit base distilled with wild juniper berries picked in Northern Vermont along with angelica root, cassia, orange
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The anCnoc "Cutter" is part of their peaty collection that features seven unique malts each named for a different tool using in the harvesting of peat. The Cutter is a tool used for cutting peat from drier and shallower bogs. The Cutter is the "peati
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Don Q put the Rum back in Spiced Rum. If you missed the fine print on the front label indicating a three-year-old Rum within a quick nosing and sip quickly demonstrate that this Spiced Rum is all about the Rum. The lovely brown baking spice notes, es
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This Nia Chardonnay is just a joy to drink as it offers rich and complex flavors while never being heavy or fat on the palate. The grapes are primarily sourced from California's Monterey County. The coastal influence are evident as this Chardonnay is
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We were excited to see a Rosé being offered from Sonoma-Cutrer, a winery that we have loved for many years. This is the winery's second release of their Pinot Noir Rosé and our first exposure to this limited wine. While Sonoma-Cutrer is best known
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The Nia Cabernet is a lighter style Cabernet so don't come looking for gripping tannins, heady alcohol, and extracted wood notes. Rather this is a Cabernet ideal for happy hour and lighter fare. The grapes are primarily sourced from California's Moke
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This lovely and bold red blend is made with a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 25% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. While Cabernet is in the lead, the wine takes its flavor lead from the Paso Robles Syrah that gives it a bright and juicy cor
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The Montepulciano grapes come from the White Family Vineyard, which is part of the Troon estate. This block was planted in 2005 and we believe this to be the only Montepulciano grown in Oregon. In truth there is very little Montepulciano grown anywhe
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This wine is the second installment of Tongue Dancer Wines "Pinot de Ville" created with fruit from the Putnam Vineyard. This wine is very similar to last year's beautiful effort while being perhaps a small bit more vibrant with the same balance of d
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This is a bold and somewhat raw (while very refined) Chardonnay with personality and gusto. It is completely barrel-fermented with native yeasts. The wine is aged in French oak, 25% new oak, for a period of 15 months and then bottled unfined and unfi
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The Beso Del Sol Red Sangria is made with 100% La Mancha grown Tempranillo (one of Spain's most important red grapes ) blended with Spanish orange, lemon, and a touch of cinnamon. Beso Del Sol, which in Spanish means “Kiss from the Sun,” is perha
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This unique white blend is made with Marsanne 55% and Viognier 45% from the Kubli Bench in the Applegate Valley. As Troon likes to do — the two varietals are co-fermented creating a wonderful integration of the two varietals having the effect of a
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The Troon Grenache is one of those wines that marry finesse with power delivered in a perfectly balanced package. Troon says that their Grenache is reminiscent of a full-bodied Pinot Noir — we agree. Most often Grenache is blended with other red va
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This delicious wine is made with a blend of Mourvédre 31.61%, Syrah 39.66%, Grenache 16.06%, and the bonus addition of Sangiovese 12.67%. Perhaps this wine is actually a GSM+S? The Sangiovese addition was a last minute necessity as the Troon winemak
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Named for the Mull of Oa on the southwest of Islay this new expression from Ardbeg is one of the most exciting Whiskies of this year and perhaps the decade. This complex beauty is aged in a combination of cask types married in what Ardbeg likes to ca
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The Troon Cuvée Rolle takes its name from the French word for Vermentino. Vermentino is native to Italy but France actually has more acres planted and it thrives in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Vermentino is co-fermented with 10% Marsanne in sea
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The Egan's Vintage Grain was put in cask in 2009 and bottled in 2017. It rested for eight-plus years in ex-Bourbon casks and was bottled at 46% with no chill-filtration. Despite being bottled over-proof the Whiskey is not at all hot on the palate rat
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We see damn little Vermentino grown in the USA. The grape is native to Italy where it makes fresh and vibrant wines from Liguria to Sardegna and locations in between. It is also grown in the South of France with great success. For me this Troon Verme
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Simply lovely and utterly unique with aromatics and flavors seldom seen in Vodka. Made with 100% maple sap that is batch-distilled in a glass fractionating column and then gently filtered to preserve the distinct maple flavors.
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Bread & Butter wines are rapidly becoming a household name delivering a duo of popular varietals (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) from California. Unlike many of the larger volume brands, Bread & Butter is made from grapes sourced from selected vineyards
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Bread & Butter wines are rapidly becoming a household name delivering a duo of popular varietals (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) from California. Unlike many of the larger volume brands, Bread & Butter is made from grapes sourced from selected vineyards
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The Old Pulteney 12 is both rustic and refined with a vibrant saltiness that has drawn comparisons to Manzanilla Sherry. The vibrant Malts of Old Pulteney are aged in both ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks. This is one of the better values in the world of
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The Humboldt Distillery is the creation of Abe Stevens, a fifth-generation Humboldt native. The small, craft distillery is located in Humboldt, CA among the mighty redwoods and fewer than a dozen miles from the Pacific Coast. So let's answer the big
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The Humboldt Distillery is the creation of Abe Stevens, a fifth-generation Humboldt native. The small, craft distillery is located in Humboldt, CA among the mighty redwoods and fewer than a dozen miles from the Pacific Coast. Their Spiced Rum is made
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The great Antica brand and method was founded in 1868 at the Rossi D’Asiago distillery. This Sambuca earned prestigious awards including the Gran Medaglia D’Oro and the Grand Prix in Paris in 1904. A century after its creation the brand and proce
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The great Antica brand and method was founded in 1868 at the Rossi D’Asiago distillery. This Sambuca earned prestigious awards including the Gran Medaglia D’Oro and the Grand Prix in Paris in 1904. A century after its creation the brand and proce
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The Humboldt Distillery Small Batch offers all you desire from your craft Vodka — it is organic, gluten-free, and offered at a sensible price. It's made with sugarcane and like all good sugarcane Vodkas it does offer subtle grass and grain notes th
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Tongue Dancer Wines is a fantastic, tiny wine brand created by James and Kerry MacPhail. If you are a California Pinot Noir lover you likely know James' previous work with MacPhail Family Wines. In over two decades of work MacPhail built a well-deser
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There are a number of ginger liqueurs in the current market and many of them are quite good. For me there is a place for Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur as it offers the purest ginger flavors among the brands that I rate highly. Further its peppery
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The Rutte Celery Gin is delightfully unusual with a pronounced celery note. The botanicals used are: juniper, celery, coriander, angelica root, sweet orange peel, and cardamon. Rutte has used celery in their spirits from the very beginning. It's wond
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This Signature Release, single-barrel Rum is the second in Don Q's series of single-barrel releases. Like the 2005 single-barrel, the 2007 is very limited so get your bottle(s) while you can. I first tasted this Rum from the cask roughly 10 months ag
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So, what the hell is Singani? I'm glad you asked. Singani is a unique Brandy produced in the mountains of Bolivia. It is considered to be the national drink of Bolivia. It is made exclusively with the Muscat of Alexandria grapes that have been grown
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Relax, you have found your value Pinot Noir. Nia Pinot Noir has the versatility to work as a cocktail hour wine, as well as pair with a range of dishes at the table. The grapes are primarily sourced from California's Mendocino County. It is made with
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Again, like the last vintage of MT Reserve is a blend of Tannat and Malbec (60% and 40% respectively). However this wine is a co-ferment, not a blend, as the grapes went through fermentation together. This might seem like a distinction without a diff
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Run Riot is a wine brand with a point of view. They aim to make wines that are big and bold, eschewing all notions of subtlety and simply packing as much flavor and texture possible into a single bottle of wine. These wines will either thrill you or
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Saint-Vivant is a great, old-school brand that has grown into one of the most recognized Armagnac brands in the world. While often in the shadow of its famous French Brandy sibling Cognac, Armagnac is actually is the eldest French Brandy with deep tr
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Gautier is a great old Cognac house with a history spanning 10 generations. Gautier's cellars are located in a former mill along the River Osme. This location benefits from a natural humidity that aids in the maturation of these great Cognacs in the
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This very stylish Syrah is made with 100% Syrah. The grapes are sourced from the Full Quiver Vineyard in Oregon's Applegate Valley. These vines represent one of the oldest plantings from a Tablas Creek Syrah selection in Oregon. After harvest the gra
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Arranta is Scottish for bold or daring. It is bolder than the classic Speyburn 10 and its 46% abv at bottling reinforces the pleasingly assertive style. The Whisky is aged solely in first fill ex-Bourbon casks that are hand-selected by the distillery
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Gautier is a great old Cognac house with a history spanning 10 generations. Gautier's cellars are located in a former mill along the River Osme. This location benefits from a natural humidity that aids in the maturation of these great Cognacs in the
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Can a wine exhibit vibrancy and a silky texture all at once? The answer is yes and we found it with the Troon GSM. This delicious wine is made with a blend of Mourvédre 50.6%, Syrah 45.2%, and Grenache 4.2%. The varietals were fermented and barrel a
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Chateau Lassègue's vigneron (winemaker and viticulturist) and co-owner Pierre Seillan has created another masterpiece and it may be my favorite Lassègue to date. There is just so much to love with this wine in this vintage as it demonstrates classi
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Cedar Ridge is the first licensed distillery in the state of Iowa since Prohibition. Yes, these guys are really making Whiskey in Iowa. (I assume that everyone got that so let's move on.) The Cedar Ridge Malted Rye is made with an undisclosed mashbil
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Pinot Grigio has become a popular choice for a white wine by the glass rivaling Chardonnay in some places. With popularity comes mediocrity and such is the case for Pinot Grigio as much of it is rather dull and boring. Luna Nuda breaks that mold as t
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This wonderful Pinot Noir has been given the cheeky moniker, "Pinot de Ville.” The grapes are sourced from the Putnam Vineyard. The vineyard is just six miles from the Pacific Ocean in the town of Annapolis, CA. The cool coastal breezes are ideal f
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Americans are now very familiar with all-malt beers and single malt Whiskies form Scotland. This is a true single malt from Iowa utilizing nothing but the best malted barley and then aged in a selection of oak casks. The aging is carried out using So
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I've been watching the Clyde May's brand since its introduction some five years (or so) ago. The Whiskey for this latest offering was made in Kentucky and rested for five years in heavily charred oak casks. The visual, the nose, and certainly the pal
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It's not often that you find an American Sangiovese that could easily pass as a Tuscan but Troon masters the feat. Instead of creating a big and brooding Cabernet facsimile they let the Sangiovese express its classic understated fruit perfectly inter
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Varela Hermanos is the family owned and run drinks company who created and crafts the delicious Ron Abuelo Rums. The family has been distilling in Panama since 1936 and the incredible stock of mature Rum is the brand's secret weapon. The aged Rums ar
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You don't see a lot of Vermentino grown in the US. The grape is native to Italy where it is utilized in wines from Liguria to Sardegna (these can be very special) and locations in between. It is also grown in the South of France with success as you w
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I prefer Hinterland's traditional beers finding them to be true to the classic while showing a definite house-style. Among the traditional styles is their seasonal Oktoberfest. Hinterland’s Oktoberfest is a must-try for lovers of Bavarian lagers. T
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The Rutte Old Simon is named for the distillery's founder, Simon Rutte. This great Genever, the original Gin, is said to be made with one of Simon's old recipes dating back to 1872. Forty percent of the spirit utilized is a rich, all-malt pot-still s
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Varela Hermanos is the family owned and run drinks company who created and crafts the delicious Ron Abuelo Rums. The family has been distilling in Panama since 1936 and the incredible stock of mature Rum is the brand's secret weapon. The aged Rums ar
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The Tannat grapes are grown in the high bench land above the Appellate River very near the spring snow lines. Tannat is far from a household name but it is an important and very capable grape. Tannat is believed to have originated in the Basque regio
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Pure molasses Rum from St. Maarten is blended with bright coconut flavors creating a super and indispensable item in your Tiki bar. We were blown away by the quality being offered at such a modest price and it has inspired some new summer cocktails w
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I love having my palate challenged and as this was my first USA-made Malbec and Tannat blend I was ready for the task. From the very first nosing to the last sip I am convinced that these two grapes are made for each other. The fruit profiles and cer
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The base spirit is primarily made with organic winter wheat with a small portion of Grappa di Barolo. The clear spirit is infused with a complex blend of herbs, botanicals, and spices including licorice, vanilla, bitter orange, ginseng, rhubarb with
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The primary talking point with Sloane's Gin is their practice of distilling each botanical separately and blending the single botanical spirits to create the desired Gin. In sum nine botanicals are utilized: juniper, iris root, coriander, angelica ro
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Nine botanicals seamlessly marry in the Fords Gin while the Italian juniper and coriander seed are primary. The subtle but vital notes are provided by the following: bitter oranges, lemon and grapefruit peel, jasmine, orris, angelica root, and cassia
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Most of the craft Gins need some work in my view while this Gin is ready for prime-time. The Peninsula Gin is created with the Grand Traverse Wheat Vodka as a base that is then infused with juniper, orange peel, lemon peel, angelica root, coriander,
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This tasty and unique Vodka is made with a blend of four grains (presented in order of quantity) corn, rye, barley, and wheat. All of the grains are grown on the estate. All steps from milling, fermenting, distilling, and bottling are done on the Fre
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This tasty and unique Vodka is made with a blend of four grains (presented in order of quantity) corn, rye, barley, and wheat. All of the grains are grown on the estate. All steps from milling, fermenting, distilling, and bottling are done on the Fre
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This Signature Release, single-barrel Rum is the first in an upcoming series of single-barrel releases. This single-barrel from 2005 is limited to just 6,000 bottles from the 2005 vintage. The cask was chosen in part due to its deep woodiness that mi
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Is there anything more Aussie than a Cabernet and Shiraz blend? Only a Men at Work reunion and a massive Vegemite giveaway could hope to compete. The Insurrection Shiraz/Cab is crafted by veteran winemaker Steve Roden. The grapes are sourced from coo
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The name 13 Celsius is more than a name, it's a guide to the wine's perfect serving temperature. To help you out the label changes color from gray to blue at precisely 13 degrees Celsius. This would be a gimmick worthy of an eye-roll if the wine in t
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The Rums is created and aged in Trinidad, a home to many fabulous Rums. This "standard" Rumson's offering is made of a blend of five year old Rums from the same distillery. I love the slightly funky notes found on the nose and the palate while the br
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In another life, or maybe it was just a decade ago, I spent a good deal of time navigating through the Cognac region in search of quality Cognac that exuded some sense of a point of view. It was in this time period that I first became a fan of Croize
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I've been watching this brand since its introduction some five years (or so) ago. The first offering was good but it was a bit confused. That was then as the present version is spot on for what they are trying to achieve. At the heart is a five to si
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This is a rich and hearty, double distilled Irish Single Malt that will surely delight devotees to the category. It's bottled at a generous 47% abv and non-chill filtered to preserve its silky texture and complex aromatics. While many new Irish Whisk
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This Whiskey is pure ambrosia that will undoubtedly appeal to a wide audience from the novice to the aficionado. This is the Teeling's flagship Whiskey and it features a very high malt proportion. The Whiskey is finished in Rum casks to add another l
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First of all — this is a serious Brandy and it's seriously good. I don't mean good by some demented, ironic hipster measure rather good in a real world this tastes phenomenal kind of way. It's also probably the greatest Brandy value on the planet.
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Usquaebach is a great "old-school" brand that has been around long enough to have immortalized by Robert Burns in his poem "Tom O'Shanter" in 1791. Usquaebach has been blended by the Laing family for three generations. The name is derived from the Ga
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This charming Whisky is aged in ex-Bourbon casks and based on its appearance and flavor profile I would conclude that many of these casks are not first fill. Balblair does not add color to their Whiskies, which is always desirable to me.
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anCnoc, formerly known as Knockdhu, has been the preferred name of the Single malt by this old Highland distillery since 1994. They offer a wide range of age-statement and non age-statement Whiskies, as well as vintage range. The style is intentional
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This charming Whisky is aged in ex-Bourbon casks and based on its appearance and flavor profile I would conclude that many of these casks are not first fill. Balblair does not add color to their Whiskies, which is always desirable to me.
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This no age-statement Whisky is aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. There is no information offered regarding the ages of the Whiskies included in this vatting. I've long been a fan of the Whiskies from Old Pulteney, the most northerly distillery
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This tremendous Tequila is the fourth edition in Tequila Herradura’s small-batch tequila series. While the others focused on fancy wood finishes this expression showcases Tequila "in the raw" taken straight from the still. Just one sip and you will
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This wonderful product is exceptional in every way and delivers a taste experience that is second to none. Unlike so many liqueurs, cream based or otherwise, the Coole Swan is never cloyingly sweet and its careful balance of flavors is one of this be
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Perhaps the greatest Merlot I have ever had (I have had thousands). This is Cornerstone Cellar's first release under their single vineyard program. To further shake things up they went with Merlot, a varietal that often plays a supporting role in the
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Consider a Liqueur crafted in Chicago with pure dairy cream from Wisconsin, exotic spices from India, and Caribbean Rum. The idea is challenging enough before actually getting the proper balance that we find today in the bottle of Somrus. This is a t
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This mountain beauty is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon so it clearly could have been labeled as a Cab. The vines sit at 1,500 to 1,600 feet above sea level on rugged rocky soils that require the vines to struggle to survive. The result is a very low yield of
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This Whisky is distilled in both a pot still and column stills. The Rye Whisky then aged for a minimum of eight years before it's given a small addition of Amontillado Sherry and briefly rested in charred white oak casks. The Sherry notes in this Whi
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The 2012 Michael’s Cuvée is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon with 9% Merlot. The blend was selected from the Oakville Station Vineyard (To Kalon) 57%, 28% Kairos Vineyard in Oak Knoll, and 9% Ink Grade Vineyard on Howell Mountain. Michael’s Cuvée is name
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Van Gogh is made in small batches at the Royal Dirkzwager Distillery in Schiedam, Holland. While the brand is just a decade in age this distillery has been creating great spirits for well over 100 years. Their Double Espresso is a bigger and sweeter
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It's no wonder that bartenders both seasoned and wet behind the ears are and have been gushing over the Carpano Antica Formula. In a time when the term "classic" is thrown about indiscriminately it is without a doubt that this is a classic. It's simp
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This fetching Vodka from Slovakia is made from late harvest Durum wheat and mountain spring water in a 12th century village. It certainly has touched on all of the romance attributes. As always, what really matters is what's in the bottle and the Gor
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Rivulet joins the ranks of elite Liqueurs that have graced the marketplace in the past decade. Rivulet starts with a base of American Brandy that is aged in Bourbon casks. They chose pecan as the central flavor discovering that America produces 95% o
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It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since the Van Gogh Espresso was first introduced. It's as good as ever thanks to the talents of third-generation distiller Tim Voss and his unique double-infusion method. This superb espresso flavor is mad
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The Carpano Dry Vermouth is a relatively new product having just hit the US market in 2014. Their "dry" is a less sweet version of the classic Carpano Bianco with a similar but distinct herb and spice infusion. The Carpano Dry was created with cockta
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I simply love this brand. Lunazul delivers great and complex flavors without challenging the budget. When I go to a bar and see that they are featuring Lunazul Blanco in their margaritas I know that I am in good hands. Lunazul is the clever choice as
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The White Rocks! is a unique blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Orange Muscat (see if your friends can guess). This is not a wine to sit and examine it's a wine to drink and enjoy. The Red Rocks! drinks like a Côtes du Rhône while
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First of all - I'm a sucker for a great Rosé. The Rocks! Rosé is unique from start to finish starting with the blend: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Syrah. This drinks like a red wine in many respects while delivering the vibrancy a
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Most of the craft Gins need some work in my view while this Gin is ready for prime-time. The Peninsula Gin is created with the Grand Traverse Wheat Vodka as a base that is then infused with juniper, orange peel, lemon peel, angelica root, coriander,
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The Rye Whiskies offered by Michter's are better than ever as they offer the right balance of spice, fruit, and decadent caramel and sweet notes. This limited bottling is bottled at barrel strength (no dilution whatsoever), a decision that is applaud
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BevX readers know I am a big fan of well-made rosé and this one certainly fits the bill. For years I have eagerly awaited the release of the Cornerstone Cellars Corallina as it is consistently one of the year's best rosé and this year is no excepti
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The wines from Les Dauphins have taken Europe by storm. The perfect combination of style, hedonistic pleasure and value have made the brand an overnight success. Now these wines have arrived in the US. Their Côtes du Rhône Rouge is made with a clas
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Made with 100% Pinot Noir grown in four different vineyard locations in both the Santa Maria Valley (3) and the Los Alamos Valley. These are vineyards that are well suited for growing Pinot Noir. This wine also features four different clones of Pinot
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The Molinari Caffè is a reformulation of their Sambuca Caffè that was as much anise as it was coffee. This new version features the coffee deftly blending Arabica beans from Guatemala and the Dominican Republic with Robusta beans from Java, Togo, a
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Anyone who has visited Italy recognizes Limoncello as a post-dinner staple. This tradition has been carried on by many Italian restaurants around the world. Sadly, most Limoncello tastes manufactured because it is relying on powdered lemon and lemon
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The 2012 vintage was a banner one for those in the Napa Valley particularly anyone with vineyards at elevation. Sunny days and cool nights promoted long, slow ripening and a depth of fruit flavor and character that can only be achieved in the best ye
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A vintage like 2005 comes around just a few times in a century. Chateau Lassègue's vigneron (winemaker and viticulturist) and co-owner Pierre Seillan considers the 2005 vintage to be on par with the great 1982 vintage. This is why Seillan made the r
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This great Whiskey is 100% Irish Pot Still Whiskey aged in Sherry butts that had previously aged Irish Whiskey. Many of the casks were fairly neutral but a complex and supporting Sherry note can certainly be detected. The constant temperature and hig
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Pietra Santa's winemaker, Alessio Carli is understandably in love with grapes from his home but on my few visits to Pietra Santa I can always find Alessio going on about the quality of the Merlot grown at the estate. After one taste I had to agree, t
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One of the Partida slogans has been that they fuse tradition with tech. What this means is that they cook their mature agave piñas (7-10 years old) in state-of-the-art stainless steel ovens rather than the old stone ovens in order to preserve pure a
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The 2012 vintage was a banner one for those in the Napa Valley particularly anyone with vineyards at elevation. Sunny days and cool nights promoted long, slow ripening and a depth of fruit flavor and character that can only be achieved in the best ye
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The grapes were hand-picked in October and November. Fermentation took place in stainless steel at a cool temperature. The resulting wine exudes a strong sense of purity and unique character. According to Helfrich: "We passionately create our own Als
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I once asked Pietra Santa's winemaker, Alessio Carli to name his favorite grape. 'My favorite Italian varietal is certainly Sangiovese. I'm originally from Siena and when I was living in Italy, I started making wine with Sangiovese.' Carli went on to
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