Rutte Celery Gin
See the Full BevX Featured Review - Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is rather delicate allowing the sweet scents of the pot still distillate to rise from the glass. The celery is certainly evident and it seems to accentuate the fruity notes of the juniper and the sweetness of the angelica with hints of spring flowers and citrus. The palate echoes the nose delivering soft, sweet herbal notes with vibrant citrus that finish with a touch of mint and cardamon. Medium-bodied with ideal balance and a beautiful complexity. The botanicals are pronounced while delicate with great length. $37.99 – 4.5 Stars
Rutte Dry Gin
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is quite expressive being led by citrus with fresh, green herbs and juniper not far behind. Exotic brown spices emerge after several nosings providing a warming sense. The palate echoes the nose while being more vibrant and spicy with the secondary brown spices taking the lead now being followed by citrus and juniper with hints of sandalwood and black pepper. Medium to full-bodied with an assertive and complex melange of botanicals that present themselves one after another from the front palate to the very, very long finish. $37.99 – 5 Stars
Rutte Old Simon Genever
See the Full BevX Featured Review - Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is very unctuous and malty with scents of grains in the lead supported by hints of roasted nuts and spices (coriander and subtle caraway notes) with soft citrus and juniper accents. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and silky texture that gives life to the toasted spice core with the caraway really accentuated. Full-bodied with a rich, nearly chewy, malty, and grain core supported by bright juniper, spice, and notes of hazelnut. $37.99 – 5 Stars
Mahón Gin
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are quite beautiful as the grape spirit is very evident acting as the perfect platform for the vibrant juniper and citrus notes with hints of coriander, bark botanicals, and lavender. The palate echoes the nose delivering a silky but sprite grape spirit core with a lovely marriage if bright juniper and lemon with earthy spices and soft wildflower accents. Medium to full-bodied with perfect balance and great length. $47.99 – 4.5 Stars
Fords London Dry Gin
See the Full BevX Featured Review - Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The juniper steps up and takes center stage followed by a toasted coriander note supported by the angelica with citrus, floral jasmine, and lavender. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a lush and oily center palate with juniper and citrus in the lead creating a slightly sweet core that becomes quite dry on the finish. Medium-bodied with ideal balance and a texture that far surpasses most in its class. $25 – 5 Stars
Sloane's Dry Gin
See the Full BevX Featured Review - Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. This Gin is very aromatic with spicy cardamom notes hitting first followed quickly by the citrus and soft peppery notes that lead to subtle hints of vanilla. The palate echoes the nose delivering a vibrant citrus-focused core with the other botanicals bringing support on the flanks with floral notes rising on the finish with accents of lemon zest. Medium-bodied with perfect balance and a complex mélange of citrus and exotic botanicals. $27.99 – 4.5 Stars
Père Magloire Fine V.S. Calvados
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is very floral and fruity with many expressions of apple offered such as juice, fresh picked apple, and baked apples. The palate surely echoes the nose delivering a lush and sweet apple-focused core with lovely wood-derived notes of caramel and brown baking spices. Medium-bodied with long, lingering fruit notes capped by a slightly tart dose of acidity that keeps it fresh and balanced. $34.99 – 3.5 Stars
Corazón Blanco, 100% Agave Tequila
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is quite aromatic with waves of sweet agave, fresh herbs, citrus, and pickling spices seamlessly married. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, baked agave core with flanking herbal and citrus notes with long, lingering notes of agave with coriander seed and hints of yellow mustard seed. Medium-bodied with perfect balance thanks to a vibrant dose of fresh acidity. $24.99 – 4 Stars
Booker's Big Time Batch Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nosing at full strength shows dense fruit and spice notes with sweet caramel but a big blast of alcohol as well. With the addition of water it really blossoms revealing nuanced scents of banana bread, rich caramel with allspice, black pepper, cloves, ginger, orange peel, vanilla bean, and star anise. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich and powerful core of fruit and spice with countess barrel notes and a long, trailing finish that becomes drier as it fades. Full-bodied and quite aggressive with its nearly 70% abv but it does become a more gentle giant with the addition of water. $299.99 – 5 Stars
Knob Creek Limited Edition – Batch 1 2001 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics offered by this Bourbon are so rich and seductive that it's hard to stop nosing. The dense toffee, caramel, and baked fruit notes are perfectly married and jump from the glass (especially after a water dose). Supporting notes of charred oak, brown baking spices, and vanilla. The palate echoes the nose with a decadent, sweet fruit, caramel and nut core supported by brown spices and pepper that become drier and more wood forward on the finish. Full-bodied with the rich baked fruits and spices carrying the higher proof with ease and style. $129.99 – 4.5 Stars
