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
La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Blanc Vermouth
Brilliant, crystal clear. Incredibly floral with a complex tapestry of aromatics including honeysuckle, candied-ginger, white peach, grapefruit, quinine, and kumquat. The palate echoes the nose delivering a beautuful fruit-driven core with accents of spice, ginger, and fresh herbs. Wonderfully intense while being complex and delicate at the same time. $21.99 – 5 Stars
La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Rouge Vermouth
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are multifarious offering scents of ripe red fruits with dried figs and dates, anise, vanilla, and chocolate. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush, fruit center-core with generous herb and spice notes in support with hints of bitter bark and allspice. Wonderfully intense with waves of sweet and tart fruits supported by a melange of spices. $21.99 – 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
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. Then nose is wonderfully fruity with baked apples in the lead supported by rich caramel, wild mint, lemon zest, vanilla, sweet red cherry, pralines, and honey. The palate echoes the nose delivering a decadent fruit and grain driven core with loads of brown baking spices, spicy rye, and generous oak notes. Bold flavors without being extreme featuring mature Bourbon while flashing a vibrant and youthful exuberance; it's perfectly balanced. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. Then nose is wonderfully fruity with baked apples in the lead supported by rich caramel, wild mint, lemon zest, vanilla, sweet red cherry, pralines, and honey. The palate echoes the nose delivering a decadent fruit and grain driven core with loads of brown baking spices, spicy rye, and generous oak notes. Bold flavors without being extreme featuring mature Bourbon while flashing a vibrant and youthful exuberance; it's perfectly balanced. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Suerte Blanco, 100% Agave Tequila
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully rich and complex offering sweet agave notes with loads of citrus ranging from lime and lemon juice to zest with hints of salt and sweet herbs. The palate echoes the nose offering a generous agave fruit core with vibrant citrus accents and hints of mineral and a soft salinity. Full bodied and rich without being cloying in the slightest offering a bright dose of balancing acidity. $29.99 – 5 Stars
Alberta Rye Dark Batch Canadian Rye Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are bold and assertive with sweet and spicy rye evident but what is very surprising is that the 1% of Sherry in the blend is so prominent in the nose. The palate echoes the nose with rich, sweet, lush flavors of spicy rye with loads of honey, vanilla, Sherry, and toasted oak casks in support. This is a big and bold Whisky that is not for the timid but with its lush and sweet nature it is a Whisky that is approachable to most spirits drinkers. $29.99 – 5 Stars
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is big and complex with rich caramel and baked grain notes supported by a collection of brown baking spices that include clove, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg with dried black fruit, ginger biscuits, vanilla, and toasted oak. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a silky and spicy, grain driven core with sweet honey notes and drier spices like black pepper emerging on the finish. This is a hearty Whiskey with many layers that become more defined and enjoyable with the addition of water. This is one of the most ideally balanced Rye Whiskies you will encounter. $37.99 – 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
