Every month, a huge amount of booze comes across our desks — beer, wine and a whole lot of whiskey. We taste it all, and we only share the best of the best. This month: a cider that’s made with a natural wine legend, a non-alcoholic wine alternative for the summer and more.
The Balvenie Twenty-Five
The BalvenieThe first time I heard of The Balvenie was when the Scotch brand collaborated with the late Anthony Bourdain on a series of videos called Raw Craft. Once I became old enough to drink, The Balvenie was one of my first Scotch experiences, and it was a huge pleasure to get to sample the brand’s newest expression the Twenty-Five, which is part of the brand’s Rare Marriages collection, comprising the Twenty-Five, as well as The Balvenie Thirty and The Balvenie Forty. The youngest expression of the collection has all the makings of an extra-aged whiskey — so depth, maturity and intricacy — but an overwhelming lightness that makes this feel like an everyday sipper. If only it didn’t retail for $800. — Tyler Chin, Associate Editor
Del Maguey Las Milpas Mezcal
DrizlyIf you’ve been exploring mezcal in any way, getting your hands on some single village Del Maguey is a must. You’ll notice subtle differences in Las Milpas that you won’t find anywhere else — every mezcal speaks to its specific terroir, in this case, high above San Dionisio Ocotepec in Oaxaca, Mexico. Just remember, with mezcal, you sip don’t shoot. — Will Porter, Commerce Writer
