Poli Distillerie Sarpa di Poli Grappa
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly floral with fresh scents of savory herbs (tarragon and peppermint jump out), rose petals, aloe, citrus zest, and mineral. The palate fully concurs with the nose delivering a zesty, rustic fruit, and herbal core with generous citrus notes adding dimension and a peppery punch. Medium-bodied with a rich and slightly chewy core offering perfect balance with a generous dose of bright acidity. $53 – 4 Stars
Poli Distillerie PO' di Poli Aromatica Grappa
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose surely lives up to its name offering up fresh scents of lavender, rose water, wild flowers, pink peppercorns, pine cone, and earthy notes redolent of turmeric. The palate is in full agreement with the nose while being remarkably delicate and mildly viscous with a rich floral core and flanking notes of pepper, ginger, and rose water rising on the finish. Medium-bodied with a rich, semi-viscous core that remains very vibrant offering perfect balance with a generous dose of bright acidity. $70 – 5 Stars
Nardini Aquavite di Vinaccia Bianca Grappa
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are wonderfully floral and complex intertwining fresh flowers with dried flowers, hints of tea and honey add accents with subtle notes of earth. Rich, dense, and viscous with flavors of citrus, jasmine tea, blanched almonds, wild flower honey, and loads of savory herbs that become bitter in all the right ways on the finish. Full-bodied with layers of intense flavors (aided by the higher proof) and a silky, viscous core that is kept clean with a generous splash of acidity. $53 – 4.5 Stars
Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
Perfectly clear with a hint of pewter. Fresh and delicate on the nose with pure, candied orange peel with delicious, concentrated orange and tangerine juice notes. The palate is incredibly viscous with a sweet, orange-centric entry that gives way to orange zest, ginger, and hints of clove. The spicy elements keep it vibrant and balanced. $36.99 – 4 Stars
Carpano Bianco Vermouth
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are simply beautiful showcasing fresh, sweet herbs and spring flowers on a backdrop of fruity white wine with hints of grapefruit, honey, and peach. The palate echoes the nose delivering a silky and lush fruit driven core with waves of honey, spice, white flowers, and citrus. Full-bodied with a fresh dose of bright acidity while offering a sweet and juicy center. $20.99 – 4 Stars
Carpano Dry Vermouth
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is generous and complex with a vibrant white wine core with bright notes of citrus juice and zest, coriander, fenugreek, yellow mustard seed, and rice wine vinegar. The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush, wine-driven core with supporting notes of citrus, spice, and bright floral flavors with a deft dose of sweetness. Full-bodied while being perfectly balanced with deep, off-dry wine notes and trailing spice flavors. $20.99 – 4 Stars
Punt e Mes Vermouth
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is deep and dense with a sweet, fruity wine core with generous supporting notes of bitter herbs, cloves, allspice, orange zest, and anise. The palate confirms the nose while possibly being more robust with a fruity, vinous core that brilliantly merges sweet Vermouth and bitters. Wonderfully intense and full-bodied with robust and assertive fruit and bitters in one ideally balanced package. $18.99 – 4.5 Stars
Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly complex and pleasing offering scents of orange marmalade, sour cherries, raspberry, allspice, clove, buckwheat honey, bark, mango chutney, and Earl Grey tea. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering waves of fruit, spice, and herbs that become more dry and tart on the finish. Rich and full-bodied delivering generous fruit flavors with vibrant spice and citrus notes that provide balance and structure. $29.99 – 5 Stars
Campari Bitters
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are wonderfully complex with scents of bitter bark, teaberry, cranberry, rhubarb, grapefruit zest, quinine, and blood orange. The palate echoes the nose delivering bitter herb and spice flavors that are more tart than sweet with generous citrus notes. Perfectly balanced with the classic contrast of bitter with a mild sweet, fruit core. $29 – 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
