Saint-Vivant VS Armagnac
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is very pleasing and complex with sweet, honeyed apples and pears, dried fruits (think fruitcake), allspice, mace, vanilla, and orange peel. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush but very vibrant fruit-driven core with supporting accents of oak, brown baking spices, black pepper, and dried fruit concentrate that lingers with nutmeg, clove, and brown butter. Medium to full-bodied with ideal balance and length offering the full and semi-rustic flavors that Armagnac lovers seek. $28.99 – 4 Stars
Grand Marnier Quintessence Liqueur
Deep copper with orange highlights. The nose is fresh, vibrant, and unmistakably Grand Marnier offering bright scents of orange and tangerine with orange zest, fully integrated wood notes, rich Cognac with hints of vanilla, allspice, and clove. The palate echoes the nose delivering sequential waves of candied orange zest with lush Cognac and exotic spices. This is a true luxury item with very limited availability. For those of us shopping in the strata below luxury be comforted by the knowledge that the classic GM Cordon Rouge is nearly as good and it does not require a layaway plan. $799.99 – 5 Stars
Merlet Crème de Cassis
Deep, darkest ruby/garnet color with evident viscosity. The fruit purity in the aromatics is astounding with incredible concentration offering both ultra-ripe and bittersweet notes and hints of sour cherry. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush, velvet like texture of perfectly balanced black fruit concentrate with tart berry notes as the foil. Heavenly. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Merlet Crème de Mure
Deep garnet color with ripples of viscous liqueur on the glass. The nose explodes with the scents of a dense berry patch in the summer’s heat with hints of sweet cherries, wild mint and mineral. The palate is incredibly vibrant with waves of blackberry seeming nearly light, which is an amazing feat for the style. Bright, refreshing acidity runs throughout creating perfect balance and length. Superb. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Merlet Crème de Fraise
Bright garnet to burgundy with hints of orange. Rich and concentrated strawberry scents are supported by blood orange, citrus, and sweet wild flowers. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose delivering a complex fruit attack that strikes the perfect balance of tart and sweet with an ever evolving fruit core that lingers on for minutes. The descriptors could go on and on but ultimately it will never do justice to this masterpiece. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Merlet Crème de Poire
Brilliant pale straw color with evident sugars on the glass when swirled. The nose is fresh with the scents of ripe and tart pear with a serious dose of pear skin. The palate opens with a wave of delicate, sweet pear juice that soon gives way to a pear pulp concentrate and supporting citrus accents that lift the flavors to a new dimension. Perfectly balanced with long lingering bittersweet pear candy dissolving on the tongue. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Merlet Crème de Framboise
Deep ruby red with a thick coating of clear sugar on the glass. The nose is filled with the scents of raspberry concentrate as well as freshly picked berries with subtle underlying citrus note. The palate is a delicious struggle of sweet and tart berries with no clear winner beckoning you back for sip after sip in hopes of solving the puzzle. Ideally balanced and perfect in every way being nearly too good to believe. Brilliant. $24.99 – 5 Stars
La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Extra Dry Vermouth
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly floral with loads of spice, bark, on a backdrop of red grapefruit and melon pear with hints of quinine and nutmeg. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a vibrant, tart tropical fruit core with accents of wild flowers and citrus. Beautifully intense and complex with a crisp dry edge. $21.99 – 4.5 Stars
La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Blanc Vermouth
Brilliant, crystal clear. Incredibly floral with a complex tapestry of aromatics including honeysuckle, candied-ginger, white peach, grapefruit, quinine, and kumquat. The palate echoes the nose delivering a beautuful fruit-driven core with accents of spice, ginger, and fresh herbs. Wonderfully intense while being complex and delicate at the same time. $21.99 – 5 Stars
La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Rouge Vermouth
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are multifarious offering scents of ripe red fruits with dried figs and dates, anise, vanilla, and chocolate. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush, fruit center-core with generous herb and spice notes in support with hints of bitter bark and allspice. Wonderfully intense with waves of sweet and tart fruits supported by a melange of spices. $21.99 – 5 Stars
