San Francisco-based Distillery No. 209 has a lot of things going for it, starting with some legitimate history–the original 209, at a winery in St. Helena, California, dates back to 1882. The owners, as you might expect, have some…
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You might know The Pogues as a Celtic punk band that was big in the ’80s and ’90s. But now, you can know the Pogues as whiskey people, because they’ve just released The Pogues Irish Whiskey. Having consumed their share…
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Clontarf 1014 Irish Whiskey is named for a battle that took place in the year 1014 in Clontarf, near Dublin, in which an Irish king defeated an army of Vikings. It was a gruesome fight, but fortunately for us, it…
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There are a lot of perceived rules when it comes to drinking scotch–some legitimate, some not. Yes, scotch can be enjoyed neat, by the fire, while sitting in a comfortable chair and donning a smoking jacket. But some prefer a…
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Released in fall of 2015, Santera Tequila is produced in the northern highlands of Jalisco. We reviewed Santera Blanco last year, and now we’re going straight to the Añejo. Santera Añejo Tequila is aged for up to 16 months in…
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Just last month we wrote about the release of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey. It’s the finished product of a life cycle that also saw the limited releases of an unaged rye and a two year-old expression. And now,…
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After reviving the historic whiskey brand in 2011, the Teeling Whiskey Co. became the first new distillery in Dublin in 125 years. And since then they’ve quickly established themselves as a real contender in the Irish whiskey market. We reviewed…
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With the Oscars coming up, someone’s sure to get snubbed (good luck, Leo!). But, more relevant to us, what cocktails often get snubbed for their perhaps less-deserving peers? To find out, see the following thoughts from a few industry experts,…
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When you’ve got a friend who’s working in Myanmar, you tend to ask questions. “What’s Myanmar like?” is a good one. It falls right behind “Can you ship me some local booze?” So that’s how I acquired bottles of Grand…
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It would be an overstatement to say that Derek Brown birthed DC’s cocktail renaissance. After all, before he burst onto the scene, there were plenty of Washington bartenders–Todd Thrasher and Gina Chersevani notable among them–doing interesting work. But when Brown…
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Tres Papalote Mezcal is a new entrant to the category, and one that’s sporting a famous face behind the label: Cheech Marin. The actor and comedian best known as one half of the Cheech and Chong duo serves as brand…
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Valentine’s Day, perhaps more than any other holiday, is the time when inboxes and monitors are flooded with cocktails that are often questionable at best and gag-inducing at worst. But if you sift through the clutter you can find Valentine’s…
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We’ve seen all kinds of fanciful claims when it comes to whiskey brands and history. This one says it’s distilled in the dungeon of a 13th century castle. That one comes from Davy Crockett’s brother’s recipe. Too many of these…
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The Cosmo gets a pretty bum rap, but with a few adjustments it can be a seriously delicious drink.
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Yellow Rose Distilling hails from Houston, where they’ve been making whiskey since 2010. The company is currently putting out three spirits–Outlaw Bourbon, a Blended Whiskey and this, the Yellow Rose Straight Rye Whiskey. The juice itself is sourced from a handful…
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Another San Antonio Cocktail Conference is in the books, and with it, another fine event filled with educational seminars, tastings, spirited dinners and parties. Lots of parties. This year’s conference featured a rigorous educational track, with three days of classes…
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A recent trip to Havana, Cuba led to much rum drinking, as should be expected. And while we indulged in a few familiar brands like Havana Club and Santiago, discovering a couple unknown-to-us rums was a particularly special treat. One…
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One thing you can say about Nashville’s Corsair Distillery: you’ll never get the expected. That’s true for their widely available flagship releases, like the peat-, cherrywood- and beechwood-fired Triple Smoke, or the clever-if-gimmicky Quinoa Whiskey. It’s also true for their…
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New Year’s Eve. It’s a crapshoot, and when it goes wrong, it can go very, very wrong. But at its best, it’s a Champagne-fueled celebration of what was and what shall be. Or something. Either way, you’re going to need…
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Star Wars Day. It’s here. And whether you’re lining up to see the movie or barring yourself indoors to avoid the swarms of Stormtrooper clad fans, here’s something we can all agree on: a nice cocktail. So below, the Planet…
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