Blood Oath Pact IV

Blood Oath Pact 4 EmblemBlood Oath Pact IV has a delightful fruity caramel smell to it that evolves into spice and oak. The profile on this one is caramel, vanilla, and fruit that pop at the start and then fade into a light honey and prominent oak, finally finishing with spices and a returning light vanilla. (more…)

A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 7 Scene 1

A Midwinter Night’s DramThe nose on this edition of A Midwinter Night’s Dram has distinct notes of plum, orange, and rhubarb with a mix of cinnamon and cedar towards the tail. The flavor is a dark cherry with a nice amount of molasses and fall spices. On the finish, I get a nice cedar spice as well as a sweet dark fruit that I can’t put my finger on. This has similar qualities to the last edition of the Midwinter Night’s Dram that I reviewed but I greatly enjoy the dark fruit notes in this edition more than previous years. (more…)

Barr Hill Gin

Barr Hill GinBarr Hill Gin from Caledonia Spirits is about as simple as gin can get.  It’s made with juniper and raw honey.  The nose reminds me of the first trimming of evergreen shrubs in the spring.  Imagine all those clippings piled up and then accidentally falling in the pile.  I want to wear it as a cologne. (more…)

Booker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Booker's bourbonBooker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon is ideal for anyone that loves high-proof sipping bourbons. They are often around the 120-proof mark and always deliver that whiskey kick. I recommend that you add a little bit of ice to this one so that more of the more subtle flavors (vanilla and stone fruits mostly) have a chance to shine. But the flavors that are bold and up-front are spice and oak. (more…)

A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 6 Scene 4

The nose on A Midwinter Night’s Dram is reminiscent of toasted pecans and cinnamon oatmeal cookies fresh from the oven. The flavor profile continues with the theme of baked goods—I get molasses, dark chocolate, and gingerbread. On the finish, I get a nice amount of sweetness: blackberry and orange peel. Overall, this is a nice rye and a great addition to the Highwest Shakespeare line. (more…)

1792 Full Proof Bourbon

1792 Full Proof Bourbon WhiskeyI’m no stranger to the 1792 Distillery, they are one of my favorites and a daily sipper for me. 1792 Full Proof Bourbon has all the 1792 notes that you look for; rich, smooth and velvety with a nice amount of heat for an added punch. The nose has a nice amount of spiced vanilla and oak. The mouthfeel of this one is also very smooth for a barrel proof whiskey. The final added bonus of this bottle is that it has recently won whiskey of the year, so grab it while you can. (more…)

Omen Wines, Sierra Foothills, California

Omen wine glassMike is excited to have Omen Wines in the store, especially the Sierra Foothills Red Blend.  But first, here’s a little about Omen Wines in their own words…

Omen wines are hand-crafted from high-quality fruit purchased from “hidden gem” AVA vineyards. (more…)

 

Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi

Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel LabelFour Vines Old Vine Zinfandel is another great bang-for-buck wine in the Zin section.  It’s been a while since we’ve had it, and we’re happy to be bringing it back.  Kevin, in particular, likes the “peppery spiciness” of it.

About the winery:

“When we were looking to craft a winning Zin, we looked no further than the Lodi region.  Located in an enological enclave known for its Mediterranean climate and sandy soils, Lodi is the ultimate region for extracting the pinnacle of Zinfandel flavors.” (more…)