Balblair Vintage 2003 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is very seductive and complex offering scents of honey, white peach, apricot, toasted grain, butterscotch, citrus zest, lavender, and nutmeg. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a lush, fruity core with waves of fresh herbs, honeycomb, and orange with subtle cask notes on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with a rich, silky palate that while generous with fruit and grain never seems heavy as it's ideally balanced with bright, clean acidity. $55 – 5 Stars
Herradura Colección de la Casa Reserva 2015, Directo de Alambique Silver, 100% Agave Tequila
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully expressive and complex offering scents of sweet baked agave, tart lemon candy, lime zest, sautéed nopales, and poblano pepper with hints of black peppercorns and coriander. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush and beautiful agave-filled core with flanking notes of spice, citrus, and hints of sea salt. This is a full-bodied plus Tequila bottled over-proof while still being perfectly balanced, tantalizingly viscous, and dare I say delicate. $89.99 – 5 Stars
Elijah Craig 21 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Deep, brilliant amber color with hints of copper and mahogany. This incredible Bourbon provides great joy straight from the bottle. After a few minutes of aeration this beauty really comes to life offering complex scents of dried fruit, rich honey, caramel, spicy rye, walnuts, toasted coconuts, and brown baking spice. This is instantly among my all-time favorite Bourbon aromas. The palate is equally robust and rustic with black pepper on the front-end that reluctantly gives way to brown baking spices and then brown butter and honey. This is an assertive rye-heavy style but it is remarkably gentle and semisweet at times as well changing constantly in the glass. A true legend. $140 – 5 Stars
Buchanan's Special Reserve 18 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is simply beautiful, perfectly weaving scents of peach and plum with wild flowers, honey, toffee, orange peel, and Sherry with hints of cocoa nibs, smoke, and tropical fruits. The palate is in full support of the nose offering further dimension and texture to the rich and decadent fruit and spice flavors with a long, trailing finish that is dominated by caramel and brown baking spices with a touch of pepper. Full-bodied with incredible length and complexity, perfectly marrying sweet and savory flavors. $75 – 5 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery True North Rye Vodka
Brilliant, crystal clear. Beautiful aromatics offering scents of lemon curd, dried black fruits, dried flowers, spicy rye bread, and subtle mineral notes. The palate echoes the nose delivering the complex set of flavors on a silky, viscous palate that carries the vibrant and rich flavors like a fluffy cloud. Medium-bodied and sure to destroy any ideas you may have about Vodka being a neutral spirit. $30 – 5 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery Ole George Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are complex and pure with scents of toasted grain, black pepper, sourdough rye bread, dried black fruits, caramel, vanilla, allspice, and pralines. The palate is full agreement with the nose offering a silky and zesty marriage of fruit, caramel, pepper, and brown baking spices with a silky blast that coats the palate and lingers for minutes. This is a wonderfully intense Rye that also offers incredible balance and style. A must have for "Rye Heads" as this is pure, unadulterated Rye Whiskey. $54 – 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
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
Johnnie Walker Rye Cask Finish 10 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are rich with sweet grain, malt, caramel, toffee, and loads of brown baking spices with accents of candied ginger, vanilla bean, and peppery rye notes. The palate mirrors the nose delivering a lush malt and grain core with baking spice and black pepper notes rising on the finish. The rye notes are evident but a companion to the grain core rather than a dominating force. Ideally balanced with long, lingering flavors and a fresh dose of acidity. $45 – 5 Stars
