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
Hotel Starlino Rosso Vermouth
Brilliant, bright ruby red with hints of amber. The aromatics are complex and alluring offering scents of ripe red fruits and red wine supported by notes of rhubarb, orange peel, ginger, and sandalwood with hints of vanilla. The palate echoes the nose delivering a tart, dried red fruit core with waves of bitter orange, dried herbs, cloves, and Marsala. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with rich fruits and tart citrus notes enhanced by a complex blend of aromatics. $25 – 4.5 Stars
Hotel Starlino Rosé Aperitivo
Brilliant, pink/salmon color. The nose is first greeted with the scent of fresh grapefruit with lemon and orange that evolves to sweet and tart red berries and hints of herbs. The palate confirms the nose with sweet, red berries in the lead supported by fresh herbs and citrus zest that lingers on the semi-tart finish. Medium-bodied with great balance and vibrancy delivering generous vinous fruit and citrus. $25 – 4.5 Stars
Francescano Natura Assisi Limoncello
Cloudy, with a bright yellow color. The nose is filled with the scents of lemon drops with accents of lemon zest and cotton candy. The palate echoes the nose delivering rich and sweet lemon candy focused core with subtle zest notes. Medium-bodied with incredible viscosity coating every corner of your mouth — it's a very sweet Limoncello. $21.99 – 3 Stars
Amaro dell'Etna Amaro
Brilliant, mahogany color. The nose is filled with complex and alluring aromatics including orange peel, licorice, rhubarb, cinnamon, and dried herbs. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush but vibrant core of bitter citrus, herbs, and spices with silky vanilla accents and bittersweet berries on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with incredible complexity, length, and balance. Sip after dinner or enjoy in your favorite bitter cocktail. $39.99 – 4.5 Stars
Francescano Natura Assisi Melon Cream Liqueur
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is filled with the scents of fresh-cut cantaloupe with accents of Japanese Kasugai Melon candy and watermelon hard candy with soft dairy cream. The palate is in great agreement with the nose while being more cream and less fruit than the nose would suggest. Medium-bodied with incredible viscosity coating every corner of your mouth. $21.99 – 3.5 Stars
Francescano Natura Assisi Peach Cream Liqueur
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is amazingly generous with ripe peaches and a touch of apricot nesting on a stone fruit custard. The palate echoes the nose delivering a very lush, peach and custard core that offers subtle peach skin notes as well to add interest with accents of citrus rising on the finish. Medium-bodied with incredible viscosity coating every corner of your mouth. $21.99 – 3.5 Stars
BiVi Sicilian Vodka
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is soft and delicate with notes of chalk and mineral in the lead with citrus zest accents. The palate is not at all what the nose had promised delivering a hot and rather angular attack with pithy lemon notes married with white pepper. Subtle on the nose and fiery on the palate. $29.99 – 2 Stars
Martini & Rossi Riserva Speciale Ambrato Dry Vermouth
Brilliant medium deep gold/green color. The nose is wonderfully complex offering ripe, sweet Moscato wine with waves of bitter herbs, rhubarb, and a potpourri of dried wild flowers. The palate fully confirms the nose delivering a lush, semisweet, white fruit core with waves of flowers and herbs with incredible length and a dry, citrus accented finish. Medium-bodied with a vibrant and ripe fruity core that is balanced with complex herbal and spice accents. This "Riserva" level M&R Bianco Vermouth is wildly different than their classic Bianco Vermouth that we all know being a big step up in complexity. It's made with Moscato d' Asti wines from the Piedmont region of Italy. $14.99 – 4.5 Stars
Martini & Rossi Bitter
Brilliant, electric ruby color. The aromatics are beautifully complex with scents of ripe red fruit supported by bitter bark, crushed teaberry, rhubarb, red grapefruit zest, quinine, and blood orange. The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush but very vibrant red fruit core with waves of herbs, citrus, and tart red fruits than finish dry. Medium-bodied being ideally balanced with the classic contrast of bitter herbs with a semisweet red fruit core. We love this bitter and we have a new Bitter for our regular Negroni nights as it's every bit as good — if not better — than the other brand we all know! In competitive markets this lovely aperitif sells for well under $20 a bottle. $26.99 – 4.5 Stars