Grand Traverse Distillery Silver Reserve Rum
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is quite intriguing as the material (molasses) is quite familiar while the distillation in a hybrid pot still gives the rich, densely fruity qualities of a Caribbean pot still while being as clean and floral as a column still Rum. The palate confirms the nose delivering a dry, fruit-forward core with a silky texture. The over-proof finish gives the clove and pepper spice accents more lift as well as the charred sugar flavors that emerge on the finish. A full-bodied white Rum with lots of gusto and personality that will hold its own in cocktails. $31 – 4 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery Double Barreled Ole George Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is assertively spicy with toasted grain and black pepper in the lead. After a small water addition this Whiskey really shows its stuff offering black fruits, rye bread, black pepper, toffee, and vanilla. The palate is full accord with the nose delivering a beautiful mix of fruit and grain with hints of black cherry with loads of spicy rye and sweet caramel. This is a very intense rye that requires a water addition in my view to best expand the flavors and tame the heat. $47 – 4.5 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery 116 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. Intensely spiced with loads of brown baking spices and a rich, fruity core with hints of cocoa, French roast coffee, and charred oak. The palate is equal to the nose with a rich, caramel drenched fruit core flanked by spicy rye, black pepper, allspice and dense caramel with hints of sweet vanilla. Super intense with rich bold fruit, caramel, spicy rye, and oak to spare. $47 – 4 Stars
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. Then nose is wonderfully fruity with baked apples in the lead supported by rich caramel, wild mint, lemon zest, vanilla, sweet red cherry, pralines, and honey. The palate echoes the nose delivering a decadent fruit and grain driven core with loads of brown baking spices, spicy rye, and generous oak notes. Bold flavors without being extreme featuring mature Bourbon while flashing a vibrant and youthful exuberance; it's perfectly balanced. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. Then nose is wonderfully fruity with baked apples in the lead supported by rich caramel, wild mint, lemon zest, vanilla, sweet red cherry, pralines, and honey. The palate echoes the nose delivering a decadent fruit and grain driven core with loads of brown baking spices, spicy rye, and generous oak notes. Bold flavors without being extreme featuring mature Bourbon while flashing a vibrant and youthful exuberance; it's perfectly balanced. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Suerte Blanco, 100% Agave Tequila
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully rich and complex offering sweet agave notes with loads of citrus ranging from lime and lemon juice to zest with hints of salt and sweet herbs. The palate echoes the nose offering a generous agave fruit core with vibrant citrus accents and hints of mineral and a soft salinity. Full bodied and rich without being cloying in the slightest offering a bright dose of balancing acidity. $29.99 – 5 Stars
Suerte Extra Añejo, 100% Agave Tequila
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is really quite beautiful as so many extra añejo are simply redolent of Bourbon. Suerte Extra Añejo offers scents of baked apple, honey, vanilla bean, and ripe red berries with notes of charred oak. The palate continues in the same vein as the aromatics with the oak component taking center stage and muting the fruit a bit. It's a bold, heavily wood-influenced style that still manages to feature the fresh, balancing acidity found in their blanco. $110 – 4 Stars
Alberta Rye Dark Batch Canadian Rye Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are bold and assertive with sweet and spicy rye evident but what is very surprising is that the 1% of Sherry in the blend is so prominent in the nose. The palate echoes the nose with rich, sweet, lush flavors of spicy rye with loads of honey, vanilla, Sherry, and toasted oak casks in support. This is a big and bold Whisky that is not for the timid but with its lush and sweet nature it is a Whisky that is approachable to most spirits drinkers. $29.99 – 5 Stars
Lejay Crème de Cassis
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are wonderfully rich with scents of ripe blackcurrants, red plum, and dried blueberry. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering lush and silky ripe fruit flavors with loads of blackberry jam foiled by subtle citrus, and tart cherry notes. This is an incredibly intense Liqueur with impossibly rich fruit notes balanced by soft citrus notes and a dose of bright acidity on the finish. $29.99 – 4.5 Stars
VOV Zabajone Cream Liqueur
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is rich with the scents of sweet Marsala with rich, baked and concentrated fruit with brown baking spices, vanilla, and a blast of lemon curd. The palate matches the nose perfectly while being more expressive with the rich and sweet Marsala being delivered on a thick, creamy blanket of cream, fruit, and vanilla. This may be the most sophisticated eggnog you will find. This is a rich and mouth filling Liqueur with bold flavors that flow over the palate. $27.99 – 4 Stars
