Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon Whiskey
Deep copper color. The aromatics are lush and luxurious filling the nose with scents of vanilla, caramel, honey, and candied nuts with hints of baked apple, maple candy, and nutmeg. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich and silky honey and brown spice-focused core with flanking notes of black pepper, charred oak, and hints of cinnamon. Full-bodied with a lush, sweet core punctuated by spice and oak. Made with a blend of corn-dominated Bourbon aged four to twelve years. $45 – 4.5 Stars
Greenbar Grand Poppy Amaro
Brilliant, copper/orange color. The nose leaps from the glass with fresh scents of wild flowers, herbs, bitter fruit, and citrus zest with hints of earth and pepper. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a semisweet herbal blast with generous flavors of grapefruit, dried flowers, and forest floor. Medium-bodied with great complexity, length, and balance. $27.99 – 4 Stars
Greenbar Fruitlab Jasmine Liqueur
Brilliant, ruby with hints of burnt orange. The nose is unmistakably jasmine with supporting notes of tea, citrus, and wild flowers (both fresh and dried). The palate echoes the nose delivering a sweet black tea-forward core with flanking notes of flowers, herbs, and candied lemon zest. Medium-bodied and sweet with subtle and delicate flavors that linger for minutes. $32.99 – 4 Stars
George Dickel Bottled in Bond 13 Years Old 2007 Tennessee Whisky
Brilliant, deep bronze/amber color. The nose is very seductive and generous offering scents of red currants and red cherries with supporting accents of oak, clove, allspice, almond butter, and caramel. The palate echoes the nose delivering fruit-forward flavors of red berries with loads of brown baking spices, nut brittle, oak, and ginger. Full-bodied with great balance and a bright note of acidity with defining spice accents. Distilled in the spring of 2007. $44.99 – 5 Stars
Black Button Empire Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, deep copper/bronze color. The nose is filled with the scents of charred oak supported by roasted nuts, baked orchard fruits, and a generous dose of black pepper. The palate echoes the nose delivering an assertive oak-driven core tamed somewhat by ripe fruit, caramel, and brown baking spices. Full-bodied with a dominate wood presence. $74.99 – 3.5 Stars
Laird's 10th Generation Bottled in Bond 5 Years Old Apple Brandy
Brilliant amber color. The aromatics are very generous featuring both baked apple and sweet, ripe apple juice with accents of toffee, caramel, kirsch, brown baking spice, vanilla bean, and charred oak barrels. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush, apple-driven core with generous notes of caramel, roasted nuts, allspice, ginger biscuits, black pepper, and subtle campfire accents. Full-bodied with rich, sweet fruit supported by loads of spice and bright acidity giving perfect balance. A beautiful bottled-in-bond apple Brandy from Laird's. $41.99 – 4.5 Stars
Laird's Applejack Apple Brandy
Brilliant, bronze to amber color. The nose is filled with the scents of baked apples with accents of sweet, charred oak, caramel, vanilla fudge, and hints of five-spice. The palate confirms the nose delivering a rich yet sprite, apple-driven core with supporting notes of brown baking spices, sweet caramel, oak, and cinnamon. Full-bodied with sweet fruit supported by a generous dose of spice and caramel balanced with bright acidity. This is an American classic and it's as good as ever. $24.99 – 9 Stars
New Holland Knickerbocker Barrel Gin
Brilliant, pale golden straw. The aromatics are very interesting and certainly barrel-driven with scents of cola and Whiskey with accents of ginger, sweet citrus, and a host of brown baking spices supported by hints of brown sugar. The palate is in somewhat agreement with the nose as the decadent Whiskey and brown spice notes give way to peppery ginger and citrus notes that become redolent of lemongrass and citronelle. Full-bodied with dense brown spirit and brown spice notes that are foiled by citrus and ginger ultimately becoming dry. $29.99 – 3.5 Stars
Booker's Pigskin Batch 6 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear with a light mahogany color. The nose reveals a wonderfully decadent caramel and fudge core with vanilla wafers, brown baking spices, and toasted oak. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a luscious, silky caramel-driven core with spicy oak and pepper accents that become spicier on the finish. Full-bodied, incredibly silky and generous while displaying great balance and a powerful delicacy. $89.99 – 5 Stars
Rootstock Applejack 5 Years Old Apple Brandy
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, golden color. The nose is filled with the scents of baked apples with assertive supporting notes of campfire, toffee, and vanilla bean. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, apple-driven core with waves of brown baking spices, sweet caramel, oak, and candied ginger. Full-bodied with bright fruit supported by loads of spice, with silky sweet nuts and caramel. $55 – 4.5 Stars
