Stambecco Maraschino Cherry Amaro
Brilliant copper/orange color. The nose is greeted with a medicinal cherry scent accented by notes of brown sugar, orange peel, and almonds. The palate echoes the nose delivering a sweet cherry-driven core with flanking notes of burnt orange, marzipan, dried herbs, and hints of vanilla. Medium-bodied with sweet fruits throughout — it's more sweet than bitter and the medicinal flavor lingers. This version of an Italian Amaro seems to be more about the package than the liquid. $35 – 3 Stars
NYAK VS Cognac
Brilliant amber color. The nose is beautiful offering waves of ripe pear and aromatic grapes with supporting notes of sweet oak, honey, pink peppercorns, and vanilla beans. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering an orchard fruit-focused core with waves of buttery toffee, caramel, and hints of ginger biscuits. Ideally balanced with fruit and spice in perfect proportions and a generous dose of bright acidity. $32.99 – 4.5 Stars
Lunazul Primero Añejo, 100% Agave Tequila
Brilliant, crystal clear. The eyes deceive the nose as you expect a burst of fruit at first nosing but get a complex oak-driven nose with waves of honey, caramel, ripe red apples, and subtle brown spices. The palate is more explosive than the nose delivering a rich and silky oak and baked agave dominant core with anise, allspice, tarragon, and vanilla bean in support. Ideally balanced with a generous dose of citrus on the finish that keeps it vibrant and crisp. Lunazul Primero is aged for 18 months in American oak and then filtered to strip all color. $29.99 – 4 Stars
St. Elder Natural Elderflower Liqueur
Brilliant, crystal clear. As you would imagine the nose is quite floral with scents of wild spring flowers in the lead supported by ripe green melon, white grapes, mango, kiwi, and star fruit with a dose of tangerine zest. The palate is in full accord with the nose offering up waves of white peach with loads of floral and tropical fruit notes flanked by a crisp dose of acidity and subtle citrus zest note. Rich but very vibrant with fresh acidity framing the bright, fruit-driven core. Nicely balanced with a bright, almost airy finish. $19.99 – 4 Stars
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye Whiskey
Deep 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
Redwood Empire Lost Monarch American Whiskey
Deep copper/amber color. The nose is quite assertive with scents of black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon with hints of caramel, sawdust, citrus, and oak. The palate agrees with the nose delivering a peppery entry followed by sweet brown spices, caramel, vanilla, and oak. Full-bodied with a take-no-prisoner approach flashing firm, charred oak notes with spicy and assertive alcohol notes. Made with a blend of aged Bourbon (40%) and Rye ((60%). $45 – 3.5 Stars
Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon Whiskey
Deep copper color. The aromatics are lush and luxurious filling the nose with scents of vanilla, caramel, honey, and candied nuts with hints of baked apple, maple candy, and nutmeg. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich and silky honey and brown spice-focused core with flanking notes of black pepper, charred oak, and hints of cinnamon. Full-bodied with a lush, sweet core punctuated by spice and oak. Made with a blend of corn-dominated Bourbon aged four to twelve years. $45 – 4.5 Stars
Martini & Rossi Riserva Speciale Rubino Sweet Vermouth
Brilliant ruby color. The aromatics are complex and alluring offering scents of ripe red fruits supported by notes of rhubarb, dried herbs and bark, and chamomile tea. The palate echoes the nose delivering a bright, fruity core with waves of botanicals that extend the palate and become tart and slightly bitter on the finish. Medium-bodied and ideally balanced with complex fruit and botanicals and a bright dose of acidity that keeps it refreshing. This "Riserva" level M&R Sweet Vermouth is a very different animal than their classic Sweet Vermouth that we all know being a big step up in complexity. It's made with Nebbiolo wines from the Langhe (Piedmont) DOC. $14.99 – 4 Stars
Greenbar Grand Poppy Amaro
Brilliant, copper/orange color. The nose leaps from the glass with fresh scents of wild flowers, herbs, bitter fruit, and citrus zest with hints of earth and pepper. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a semisweet herbal blast with generous flavors of grapefruit, dried flowers, and forest floor. Medium-bodied with great complexity, length, and balance. $27.99 – 4 Stars
Greenbar Fruitlab Jasmine Liqueur
Brilliant, ruby with hints of burnt orange. The nose is unmistakably jasmine with supporting notes of tea, citrus, and wild flowers (both fresh and dried). The palate echoes the nose delivering a sweet black tea-forward core with flanking notes of flowers, herbs, and candied lemon zest. Medium-bodied and sweet with subtle and delicate flavors that linger for minutes. $32.99 – 4 Stars
