The other night, I cracked open a bottle of Laphroaig 10. It was a Christmas present from my mom. Though such a gift would normally be a sipping Scotch after dinner, something inside of me just wanted to have it while I was eating. From the first sip to the last, I was utterly blown…
Category: Product Reviews
2018 Holiday Buying Guide: Kamora Coffee Liqueur
There are some knock-offs that truly taste like their inspiration. Others are fruitless wannabees that tried in vain to be something they could never be. Kamora Coffee Liqueur manages to avoid the latter and taste almost identical to Kahlua. I was never a big drinker of coffee liqueur, but then Justin really got into White…
2018 Holiday Liquor Buying Guide: Black Box Spirits
This column is going to serve as a guide for what you may buy for the person who appreciates liquor in your life. However, the first installment is not necessarily what you would get for someone as a gift, but rather, what you might want to have on hand for that holiday party you are…
Ranking the Fall-Themed Coffees Vol. 2
Rook Pumpkin Hot It took a few extra weeks, but Rook did indeed come out with a hot pumpkin coffee. Once again, it is labeled as “pumpkin” not “pumpkin spice”. However, there are some mild notes of spice flavoring. The cold brew ran into a problem with the robustness of its taste. Too much sugar…
Ranking the Fall-Themed Coffees Vol. 1
Rook Pumpkin Cold Brew For those who have not yet had this coffee, I will warn you: it is not pumpkin spice. It is pumpkin. Many people do not quite realize that the plethora of pumpkin spice products they consume every fall do not contain any pumpkin whatsoever. Instead, we are looking at cinnamon, nutmeg,…
Fermented Musings: Sometimes You Get What You Pay For
As anyone who reads this column will know, I am a fan of The Macallan scotch. The 12-year has become my go-to imbibe not only for the flavors but affordability. At an average little over $50 a bottle, it isn’t necessarily cheap, but it’s not prohibitive at this stage of my life either. I have…
I Have Become What I’ve Mocked
This was the scene today for me: drinking a pumpkin spice latte at a Starbucks in a Barnes & Noble…while wearing a flannel, no less. Good Lord. I’ve made fun of such things at some points in my life. I discount the multi-grain bagel which was kind of blah, but I didn’t feel like quiche…
Photo of the Day: September 11, 2017
On my way out of Dienner’s in Lancaster County for breakfast one morning, I lurched my camera through the window (with permission) to get a shot of some of the most kick-ass homefries you will ever taste.
Fermented Musings: Dalwhinnie’s Balance
I had just posted a column here about how I disliked a heavy, peaty scotch and much preferred the palate and finish of the Macallan sherry cask 12 and 18 year olds. That evening, Stephanie and I went over to the Jersey City waterfront for a stroll and found ourselves settled at the Light Horse…
Fermented Musings: A Year Older Me; A Six Year Older Scotch
I came to appreciate a good scotch somewhat late in life. My experiences as a younger man tended to be with brands and styles heavy in smokey, peaty flavors, of which I am not a fan. So I avoided scotch, preferring instead a good Irish whiskey (Bushmills remains a favorite). It was only later that…
