King of Kentucky Barrel No. 3 — 2020 14 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brilliant deep amber color. The nose is alluring and complex with notes of sweet fruit cake, caramel, vanilla bean, and orange peel with accents of candied ginger, and maple. The palate echoes the nose delivering a dense, baked cherry and maple core with waves of brown baking spices, herbal liqueur, and sweet, charred oak. Full-bodied with a complex and dense palate that greatly evolves with water and aeration. Sip slowly as it's not cheap and there are fewer than 2,000 bottles available. $250 – 4.5 Stars
Michter's Single Barrel 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, deep copper color. The nose is seductively layered with rich toffee, toasted oak, brown butter, caramel, and maple with accents of brown baking spices and vanilla bean. The palate echoes the nose with caramel, roasted nuts, and charred oak in the lead supported by waves of cinnamon, maple fudge, and nutmeg. Full-bodied and ideally balanced with a generous dose of acidity and firm oak accents that linger on the long finish. Absolutely gorgeous and a candidate for the Spirits of the year. $130 – 5 Stars
Michter's Single Barrel 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, deep amber color. The nose is beautifully complex with decadent, dark caramel, roasted nuts, butterscotch, dried black fruits, charred oak, brown baking spices, and vanilla. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush, caramel-soaked rye core with generous notes of clove, oak, allspice, vanilla, black pepper, and orange peel. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a beautiful intensity that ideally marries sweet cereal, caramel, and exotic spices. $160 – 5 Stars
Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brilliant amber and deep copper color. The nose is filled with the scents of toasted grains, baked orchard fruit, caramel, charred oak, and vanilla with hints of mocha. The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush fruit and grain driven core with flanking notes of brown spice, milk chocolate, vanilla, and caramel with hints of fresh mint. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with loads of bright acidity that better allow the complex spirit to shine with wood as an accent rather than a dominating force. Made with a mashbill that included corn, rye, wheat, and barley all estate-grown, distilled, and bottled. A true American farm Whiskey. $49.99 – 5 Stars
Kraken Black Spiced Rum
Deep, black color. The nose is assertive with the scents of chocolate, coffee, and cloves with accents of ginger, cinnamon, and pepper. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a sweet chocolate and molasses driven core with loads of Christmas cake spices. Full-bodied with a viscous palate. Great name — great packaging and an average Spiced Rum. $18.99 – 3 Stars
Uncle Bob's Root Beer Flavored Whisk(e)y
Brilliant, deep amber color. At first nosing it's clear that root beer is in charge filling the nose with scents of a spiked root beer float. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a viscous and sweet, root beer focused core with a faint accent of American Whiskey (or perhaps that's just imagined). Assertively sweet with a moderate alcohol feel. This spirit is far more reminiscent of a Liqueur or Schnapps than a flavored Whiskey. $19.99 – 2.5 Stars
Pau Maui Vodka
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is subtle and delicate with notes of tropical fruits with hints of pepper and minerals. The palate confirms the nose delivering a bright, fruit-driven core with rising pepper accents and crisp mineral notes on the finish. Medium-bodied with subtle flavors and enough bright peppers notes keeping it balanced. $21.99 – 3.5 Stars
Fabrizia Limoncello
Cloudy, looking akin to freshly squeezed lemon juice. The nose is filled with the scents of freshly cut lemon zest with accents of cane sugar being redolent of homemade lemonade with a vibrant dose of zest. The palate echoes the nose delivering a bright lemon-driven core with a refreshing dose of zest and just enough sugar to give it body and tame the tart flavors. Medium-bodied with bright and crisp flavors of fresh lemon zest with a deft dose of sweetness. $18.99 – 4 Stars
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye Whiskey
See the Full BevX Featured Review - Beverage of the WeekDeep copper color. The nose is filled with the classic scents of an American Rye as it offers complex spice notes with sweet, honey-soaked grains, and hints of brown baking spices and oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a complex caramel and spice-driven core with accents of mandarin orange, caramel, allspice, and cinnamon. Full-bodied with great length and ideal balance and bright acidity. Made with 95% Rye with 5% malted barley. $45 – 4.5 Stars
Heeet Hot Cinnamon Flavored Vodka
Brilliant, crystal clear with legs evident. The nose is punctuated by a vibrant blast of cinnamon with little else competing for your attention. The palate echoes the nose delivering a mildly sweet and refreshingly spicy cinnamon core with accents of pepper and sugar. Full-bodied and intensely flavored with cinnamon offering all of the heat and sinus clearing aromatics that you would expect. $24.99 – 3 Stars
