Booker's Batch 2015-06 6 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is filled with rich, caramel soaked grain with supporting notes of dried red fruits, vanilla, allspice, clove, nutmeg, and charred oak. The palate is in full agreement with the nose as it delivers a rich and spicy fruit and grain core with loads of spices ranging fiery black and white pepper to brown baking spices and vanilla bean. Very intense with no punches pulled as this delivers dense and assertive flavors of grain, wood, and spice. $60 – 4.5 Stars
Somrus Indian Cream Liqueur
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredible and one of a kind. The exotic scents of rose, dairy, cardamon, pistachio, and cinnamon with hints of sweet citrus and bergamot. The palate echoes the nose with the addition of a silky, creamy texture that acts as the perfect delivery vehicle for the complex floral and spice notes. Medium-bodied with perfect balance and an ever evolving collection of spice notes that linger for minutes. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Ventura Limoncello
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is filled with the vibrant scents of freshly juiced lemons with a healthy dose of fresh lemon zest and lemon drop candy. The palate echoes the nose delivering rich and concentrated lemon flavors with a bigger dose of peppery lemon zest that veers towards white pepper that builds on the finish. This is definitely on the intense end of scale for Limoncello as the tart and pepper zest notes are not entirely enveloped in sugar. $28 – 4 Stars
Ventura Orangecello
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are so pure and forward offering bright scents of candied, sliced blood orange with accents of mandarin orange and red grapefruit. The palate is in full agreement with the nose, rich and concentrated orange flavors that focus on the juice and pulp with a vibrant dose of zest that add an edge and keep it fresh. It's a big mouthful of orange with waves of sweet juice and zesty peel. $28 – 4.5 Stars
Papa's Pilar Blonde Rum
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is rich and exotic with scents of butter toffee, marzipan, vanilla, lemon drops, ripe tropical fruit, and subtle spice notes. The palate echoes the nose delivering a silky, buttery texture with ripe fruit, citrus zest, nutmeg, cinnamon, and hints of clove. Medium-bodied with a lush and generous mouthfeel giving layers of fruit and spice with a bright dose of acidity to keep it balanced. $29.99 – 4 Stars
Papa's Pilar Dark Rum
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is filled with scents of charred oak, vanilla, generous brown baking spices, earth, concentrated fruit, mocha, hints of black pepper, treacle, and Bourbon. The palate absolutely confirms the nose as it offers a viscous fruit and caramel core with loads of spice, oak, and Sherry. Full-bodied and quite intense with dense barrel notes, molasses, and baking spice notes lingering for minutes. $39.99 – 4 Stars
Old Forester Birthday 2015 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. This is a very aromatic Bourbon offering a complex set of aromatics featuring generous oak notes, sweet vanilla, dried orchard fruits, cigar box, orange peel, toasted walnuts, dried herbs, and brown baking spices. The palate echoes the nose delivering more pepper upfront than the nose suggests while quickly developing a lush and spicy fruit and caramel core with loads of baking spices building on the finish. This is a full-throttle Bourbon that marries intensity with complexity. $79.99 – 5 Stars
Michter's Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully layered with pepper and brown spices mingling perfectly with brown butter, caramel, and butterscotch supported by rich, sweet toasted grain, and vanilla. The palate echoes the nose with black pepper and cloves in the lead quickly followed by a melange of brown baking spices, butter toffee, roasted cashews, baked apples and pears, and cinnamon stick with hints of burnt sugar and oak. This is an intense Bourbon while perfectly balanced with a raw, rustic charm that begs for sip after sip. $48 – 5 Stars
Old Forester Birthday - 2010 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant amber color with an orange tint. The nose is incredibly fragrant and complex with dried fruits, vanilla, caramel, nougat, orange zest, and brown baking spices. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush but sprite mouthfeel with waves of silky fruit and caramel with flanking spice notes and a deft touch of oak. New flavors are revealed with each sip and a splash of water presents even more. $49.99 – 4 Stars
Old Forester Birthday - 2011 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant amber color with an orange tint. The aromatics rise from the glass as it's being poured. Nosing can be accomplished from 18 inches away. The nose is incredibly fragrant and complex offering up the essence of Bourbon with dried fruits, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, orange zest, and brown baking spices. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich but vibrant mouthfeel with waves of silky baked fruit, caramel, clove, allspice, and black pepper. A splash of water brings all the flavors into harmony. Super! $49.99 – 4 Stars
