Texas Wine Country Visits 2026, Part 2 – K Estate, Untamed, Adega Vinho, Grape Creek
I wasn’t planning to return to the wine rooms of Texas’s Hill Country, but a visit from my daughter prompted another day trip to the region, during which we visited four properties in this increasingly bustling area. As always, thoughts follow, along with some top picks to look out for. K Estate Part of the…
Review: Hard Truth Master Distiller’s Reserve Dark Roast Rye
Hard Truth Distilling is in Nashville, Indiana, although most visitors know the area simply as Brown County. That distinction matters here, because the name of Hard Truth’s latest rye seems almost tailor-made for its home. Brown County gives you the color, and Dark Roast gives you the whiskey. Released in September 2026, Hard Truth 2026…
Review: Nock Tequila and Mezcal, Complete Lineup
Although the Nock tequila brand opened in 2010, its current incarnation dates to 2022. That is when CEO Melissa Mathieson along with Master Distiller Daniel Antonio Tuesta Popolizio and Master Mezcalero Miguel Martinez produced the 100% agave, 100% additive free tequilas and mezcals we are trying today. They are starting to get national distribution in…
Review: The Paring 2024 Pinot Noir and 2021 Red Blend
So The Paring is a funny name for a wine brand. Like you, probably, I assumed it was “The Pairing,” like, wine that is to be enjoyed with a meal, a succulent meal. But no, The Paring refers to, well, I’m not entirely sure, as the company behind the Santa Barbara County-based portfolio of wines…
Review: Larrikin Single Barrel Rye 9 Years Old
Larrikin Bourbon Co. was founded by Greg Neeley, a former officer in both the Royal Australian Navy and the United States Navy. The name comes from an Australian term with a long history. During the 1860s and 1870s, “larrikin” referred to a young hooligan or troublemaker, often associated with working-class men, drinking, fighting, and a…
Review: NV Tabor Hill Blanc de Noir and Rosso di Lago
Few people associate Michigan with wine country, but the Tabor Hill Winery in the Lake Michigan Shore AVA has a fifty-year history of winemaking. They produce a range of offerings, including multiple varieties of reds, whites, sparkling, and fruit wines. Today we are trying two special new releases, including one white and one red, both…
Review: Tax the Rich Bourbon and Felon Vodka
There is a certain expectation that whiskey should remain whiskey, that a bottle ought to concern itself with what is inside it and leave politics at the door. I understand the appeal. For many people, bourbon is an escape from the daily arguments of American life, and the idea of keeping politics out of the…
A Visit to Rosebank Distillery, “The King of the Lowlands”
Pass through Falkirk, Scotland, and it’s easy to think of two words that might otherwise sit in opposition: “sleepy” and “industrial.” Conveniently, those could describe the city’s Rosebank Distillery, a 186 year-old operation that’s today known for both its mothballed era — spanning nearly three decades — and its award-winning vintage casks. Admittedly, my interest…
