Winking Owl Pinot Grigio

Name: Pinot Grigio

Winery: Winking Owl

Price: $3.50

My Review: Well, you certainly get what you pay for. I feel like I make the same facial expression as the owl on the bottle of wine when I take a sip of this Pinot Grigio. Honestly, the taste itself is not THAT bad considering how cheap it is. There are some nice flavors of pear and apple in the wine. The only negative is the sour sensation that occurs with each mouthful. 

We attempted to pair this with a ham quiche, but this was not the right move. This wine was far too citrus-y and sour for egg, ham, and pepperjack cheese. Still, if you are looking for a cheap bottle of wine to gain an extra screw cap wine bottle for making limoncello, this will suit you perfectly.

Blanton's Original Single Barrel Bourbon

Name: Original Single Barrel Bourbon

Distillery: Blanton's

Price: $64.99

My Review: My dad bought Blanton's completely by accident for the first time. There was a special Virginia ABC drop and he didn't know what it was, but he bought the last bottle. Little did we know, this would launch our journey into the world of quality bourbon!

We love to joke that the bottle looks like the Holy Hand Grenade from Monty Python and the Holy Grail; however, this is definitely not something you want to share with the Killer Rabbit! It is hard to describe the difference between fantastic and decent bourbon, but this one definitely shines above all the others I have previously tried. It is very smooth with caramel-vanilla taste to it. I love it so much! The only downside is that I have never been able to buy myself a bottle because I cannot find it! This bourbon disappears quickly during Virginia ABC drops. I guess for now I will have to continue to mooch servings off of my dad!!

'O Lord, bless this thy hand grenade, that with it thou mayst blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.'

Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout

Name: Black Chocolate Stout

Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery

Price: $14.49 for 6 bottles

My Review: My Grandmother is from Brooklyn, NY, so this beer caught my eye. She has a shirt that says, "Brooklyn, only the strong survive", which has always stuck with me. I'm not surprised this tough stout is a product of there!

Personally, I love a dark beer! This is not for an inexperienced beer drinker. It has incredible notes of dark chocolate and coffee. Like many stouts, the alcohol percentage is higher than other beers. However, it is so tasty that it is easy to ignore it! So drinker beware!!

Grateful Dead - Sharkey's

Name: Grateful Dead

Ingredients: Vodak, Gin, Rum, Blue Curacao, Black Raspberry, Sours, and Sprite

My Review: This was the perfect way to recover from my final presentation in Senior Design! Beware of drinking it too quickly since it is very full of alcohol. Personally, I don't like cocktails that are overly sweet, but this is the perfect amount. I like to still be able to taste the liquor. I highly recommend you try this on your next trip to Blacksburg, VA!