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Sorghum based spirits have been around for a while, but they are still enough of a novelty they immediately draw our attention. Sorghum has often been distilled out of desperation. The South during the Civil War and Prohibition were just two times the cereal grain was pressed into service. But in the booze world, everything old is new again, and oftentimes we rediscover the neglected and can’t quite remember why we ever forgot about it. We have seen sorghum rum, vodka, and b

In many areas of the country, wine shoppers will never see muscadine wine on the shelf. A specialty of the Southeast United States, muscadine wines tend to be sweet, and rarely go above 10% ABV. If your only experience with sweet wines are northern natives like Concord, Muscadines can likewise jolt the taste buds with their flavor, with lots of aromatics and notes of tropical fruit and an interesting tart-sweet kick unlike any other wine, and one that must be tasted to be tru

The history of Indiana wine predates statehood. In the early 1800s, Swiss immigrants settled near Vevay, along the Ohio River in the Southeast Indiana, and planted Alexander grapes. Then, Nicholas Longworth’s nearby Cincinnati wine empire (based on the Catawba grape) expanded to Indiana in the 1820s until disease wiped out the vineyards at the end of the century. What few wineries remained did not survive Prohibition, but a few enterprising souls convinced the 1971 Indiana Ge

Based out of Madison, Wisconsin, Restoration Cider was inspired to make cider after visiting Northwest Spain (not Basque country in the Northeast, where our last cider review came from). Their lineup contains several blends of apple juice and some other Wisconsin fruit. Our tasting panel sat down with their Door County Cherry Semi-Dry. Medium gold, with a pinkish hue, lightly carbonated, just a touch above petillant. Apple up front, giving way to a light yeast note then to ta

Basque ciders are, like most things Basque, a delightful blend of the rustic and the funky. Certainly not a cider to start your journey with, they are one enthusiasts snap up when they see one on the shelf, which sadly isn’t often. Our tasting panel recently sat down with Gurutzeta, and it is worth seeking out. Hazy, light amber on the pour. The directions tell you pour this from a high height to stimulate carbonation, but even then, the carbonation is light. Lemon zest up fr

Sicily seems to be getting all the love these days from fans of off the beaten path grapes, and why shouldn’t it? Full of indigenous varietals, great topography and volcanic soils, it is indeed fabulous. However, we would also suggest checking out another Mediterranean island, Corsica. French, and probably best known as the birthplace of Napoleon, Corsica also has it ancient winemaking tradition and interesting varietals to explore. We recently sat down with the 2015 Domaine

Beer/wine blends are nothing new, but often the sum is not better than the parts. When our tasting panel sat down with Urban Artifact’s Brut Fruit Tart Ale with Pinot Grigio Grapes, we didn’t know what to expect, but we were pleasantly surprised with what this can had to offer. Medium light carbonation, light hop aroma, along with caramel and zest. Golden amber color that has an orange tinge (later upon review of the can, it notes the wine juice is given extended skin contact

Located in the heart of Nashville, Corsair Distillery has spent the last decade making a solid lineup of gins and whiskeys. Our tasting panel recently sat down with a bottle of their Triple Smoked Whiskey. As the name would suggest, this single malt is smoked with Wisconsin cherry wood, German beech, and Scottish peat. When we see that, we expect a layered depth of flavor. It delivered, with a complexity from start to finish that was first-rate. Deep amber in color, nose of

French ciders are characterized by their fruity aroma and character, which often comes from slow or arrested fermentation or back-sweetening with juice. Rich and full, they often have spicy and farmyard notes. French ciders represent one of the best values around, mostly costing under $15 for a 750ml. If you like white wine, beer, or bubbly, you will enjoy French cider. Like many ciders, they tend to be low ABV, making them perfect for long summer days. Our tasting panel rece

Chicago’s Koval Distillery takes the urban distillery to new heights. Not content to simply make a whiskey, a rye, and a few other dark spirits to be sold in their cocktail bar, Koval creates unique flavor profiles unlike any other distillery. Bourbon with millet instead of rye in the grain bill and a four grain whiskey are all fantastic, and their ginger, rose hip, and chrysanthemum and honey liqueurs are likewise top-notch. We are pleased to report their Cranberry Gin likew

Mountain View Vineyards sits in the Poconos Mountains in the northeast part of the state. The Poconos are full of resorts, as well as recreational areas catering to boaters, hikers, and skiers. The mountain range is also home to seven wineries, with more on the way. Focusing mostly on French-American hybrids, they cater to the tourist crowd while also showing continual improvement in their offerings. Our tasting panel recently sat down with Mountain View’s Noiret (read our pr

Noiret (nwarh-ET) was developed by Cornell University at their Agricultural Experiment Station in 1974. After years of testing, it was released in 2006, and was specifically designed for Northeast grape growers. A complex hybrid, it has Chasselas, Concord, Steuben, Chancellor, Diamond, Iona, and Catawba in its family tree. Released with its sibling Corot Noir, the two are sometimes confused. Noiret is more cold sensitive than others in its category like Corot Noir and Chambou

Just about 40 miles south of the Michigan state line sits Country Heritage Winery. Northeastern Indiana isn’t exactly known for its viticulture, but Country Heritage Winery is growing and making some fantastic wine, proving there is more than corn in Indiana. It is also providing a blueprint for other marginal regions on how to punch above your weight. Varietal selection, winemaking skill, and a scrappy attitude are vital when the deck is stacked against you, and this winery