Michter's Barrel Strength US*1 Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is beautifully complex with rich, sweet toasted grain in the lead with generous supporting scents of toffee, butterscotch, dried black fruits, charred oak, brown baking spices, and vanilla. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a rich, caramel soaked rye core with generous notes of clove, allspice, vanilla, black pepper, and nutmeg. This is absolutely an intense Rye but the ultra balanced flavors perfectly mask the high alcohol levels. $75 – 5 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery Small Batch Botanical Gin
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are bold and clear rising from the glass well before it's lifted. Scents of juniper with vibrant citrus notes take the lead with accents of angelica and cilantro. The palate echoes the nose while being somehow even more intense with the botanicals becoming nearly chewy. The juniper and citrus have become fruity being framed by vibrant citrus zest and peppery spice notes. This is a bold and intense Gin with generous botanicals delivered on a silky, creamy bed of a beautiful wheat-based spirit. $35 – 5 Stars
Don Q 151 Rum
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. Wow! This is simply amazing and complex offering scents of dried and baked fruits, cigar box, caramel, toffee, vanilla, brown butter, cocoa, fudge, cola nut, and brown baking spices. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose being impossibly rich and creamy despite its obvious strength finishing with notes of black pepper and blast of alcohol. It's as intense as it gets while being surprisingly silky and gentle with a rich and chewy mouthfeel. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Limoncello di Capri Limoncello
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is alive with the scents of lemon zest and sweetened lemon juice. The palate mirrors the nose while being far more intense delivering a vibrant and generous lemon-focused core with the sugar being balanced by a peppery note in the form of the fresh essential oils. Wonderfully intense and refreshing with fresh, sweet lemon notes bursting on the palate. $25.99 – 5 Stars
Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose reveals vibrant ginger aromas married with brown sugar with hints of citrus. Its aromatics profile is a dead-ringer for my homemade ginger syrup. The palate is in full accord with the nose with a rich, silky entry that soon gives way to flavors of freshly grated ginger. The finish builds in peppery intensity and lingers on for minutes. The Barrow's Intense is truly intense with a fresh and assertive ginger note that delivers the flavors and power that ginger lovers desire. $31 – 4 Stars
Partida Blanco, 100% Agave Tequila
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is amazingly complex offering rustic notes of baked agave with loads of salty aromatics ranging from green olives to pickles and capers with hints of earth and pineapple skins. The palate delivers a silky entry with dry tropical fruit on the mid-palate with loads of black and white pepper, lime zest, and sea salt. The second sip is far more rich and elegant with flanking notes of spice, honey, and dried herbs. This blanco is wonderfully intense while vibrant and refreshing as well. It walks the line between delicate and rustic in the best possible way. $45 – 5 Stars
Molinari Caffè Liqueur
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant, dark mahogany being nearly opaque. The nose offers the aromas of freshly roasted beans rather than brewed coffee with accents of cocoa bean, anise, nutmeg, and a hint of vanilla. The palate is reflective of the nose delivering a complex mélange of coffee bean notes that opens sweet and becomes increasingly dry offering crushed bean notes on the finish. This coffee based liqueur is bold and assertive but it's also quite vibrant and fresh inviting sip after sip. $25.99 – 4.5 Stars
Molinari Extra Sambuca
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. Pure, fresh anise seeds dominate the aromatics but there are many, subtle underlying notes that emerge such as kaffir lime leaf, fenugreek, and green peppercorns. The palate confirms the nose delivering a pure and potent anise focused blast of flavor with just enough sugar to tame the fiery spice notes. While this great liqueur is slightly over-proof you never feel any of the alcohol heat. It's beautifully intense in the nose and on the palate as it somehow manages to be refreshing and vibrant despite its richness. $25.99 – 5 Stars
Caliche Rum
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are extremely pleasing and welcoming seamlessly marrying vibrant mineral and citrus notes commonly associated with white Rum with rich notes of caramel, vanilla, brown butter and nutmeg. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose offering decadent and complex aged Rum notes with a sprite finish. It is ideally proportioned with great length as well. $24.99 – 4.5 Stars
