Straight Edge Bourbon Whiskey
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant, deep mahogany color. The nose is wonderfully complex offering generous scents of sweet toasted grains, allspice, nutmeg, caramel, honey, and vanilla bean with hints of red fruits. The palate fully confirms the nose delivering a rich grain and fruit core (the red fruits really pop here) with supporting notes of brown baking spices, toasted oak, and honey. Full-bodied being silky while bold with a long and complex palate that is ideally balanced thanks to a bright dose of acidity. Straight Edge is made with a blend of Bourbons ranging in age from five to eight years. $49.99 – 4.5 Stars
Whip Saw Rye Whiskey
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant, deep amber/mahogany color. The nose instantly reveals that this is not your typical Rye Whiskey. Beautiful scents of vanilla cream, red cherry, caramelized sugar, candied citrus zest, and hints of tropical fruits. The palate fully concurs with the nose delivering a core with sweet grains soaked with ripe red fruits supported by caramel, oak, fruit cake, and spicy rye accents. Full-bodied and damn intriguing as the wine casks essentially turn this Whiskey into a ready-to-drink cocktail tasting like a well crafted Manhattan. Made with Rye Whiskies aged up to seven years and then finished in wine seasoned French oak barrels. $49.99 – 4 Stars
The Famous Grouse Ruby Cask Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, deep copper with hints of burgundy. The nose is reminiscent of Christmas with waves of brown baking spices, red fruits, and vanilla bean. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich, fruity core with spice accents creating flavors redolent of fruit cake with toasted oak rising on the finish. Medium-bodied with a bright fruit and spice core framed by oak and a bright dose of acidity. This is part of The Famous Grouse's cask series. This expression sees their original blend finished in Port seasoned casks. $34.99 – 4 Stars
The Famous Grouse Bourbon Cask Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant golden color. The nose is quite attractive offering scents of toasted oak and grain with supporting notes of caramel, vanilla, baked orchard fruits, and a hint of honey. The palate echoes the nose delivering a spicy oak core with waves of brown baking spices, toasted coconut, and soft pear accents. Medium-bodied with good length and ideal balance thanks a bright dose of acidity. This is part of The Famous Grouse's cask series. This expression is a blend of Whiskies primarily aged in American oak including Bourbon casks. $34.99 – 4 Stars
Partner Sweet Vermouth
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant deep ruby color. The nose is fruit forward with scents of ripe red berries filling the nose supported by accents of smoke, brown spices, dried herbs, and bitter earth notes. The palate echoes the nose delivering silky, ripe red cherries with tart fruits and wave after wave of dried and herbs and toasted spices with hints of sandalwood and anise. Medium-bodied with a vibrant and ripe fruity core that is balanced with complex herbal and spice accents. $25 – 4 Stars
Slaughter House American Whiskey
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant amber color with hints of ruby. On the first nosing the red fruits rise from the glass followed by scents of sweet, toasted grain, oak, red currant, honey, and brown baking spices. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich and robust corn Whiskey core with loads of red fruits, spice, toffee, and caramel. Full-bodied with a silky and sweet fruit and grain center with waves of spice and caramel. The Slaughter House Whiskey is made from primarily corn (85%) then aged in American oak for nine years before being finished in French oak that previously held a red Bordeaux style wine. $39.99 – 4.5 Stars
Martini & Rossi Riserva Speciale Ambrato Dry Vermouth
Brilliant medium deep gold/green color. The nose is wonderfully complex offering ripe, sweet Moscato wine with waves of bitter herbs, rhubarb, and a potpourri of dried wild flowers. The palate fully confirms the nose delivering a lush, semisweet, white fruit core with waves of flowers and herbs with incredible length and a dry, citrus accented finish. Medium-bodied with a vibrant and ripe fruity core that is balanced with complex herbal and spice accents. This "Riserva" level M&R Bianco Vermouth is wildly different than their classic Bianco Vermouth that we all know being a big step up in complexity. It's made with Moscato d' Asti wines from the Piedmont region of Italy. $14.99 – 4.5 Stars
Martini & Rossi Bitter
Brilliant, electric ruby color. The aromatics are beautifully complex with scents of ripe red fruit supported by bitter bark, crushed teaberry, rhubarb, red grapefruit zest, quinine, and blood orange. The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush but very vibrant red fruit core with waves of herbs, citrus, and tart red fruits than finish dry. Medium-bodied being ideally balanced with the classic contrast of bitter herbs with a semisweet red fruit core. We love this bitter and we have a new Bitter for our regular Negroni nights as it's every bit as good — if not better — than the other brand we all know! In competitive markets this lovely aperitif sells for well under $20 a bottle. $26.99 – 4.5 Stars
Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant deep copper with hints of gold. The nose is rich and generous with waves of butterscotch, wood, nutmeg, and apricot with hints of deep caramel. The palate echoes the nose with a lovely fruit and toffee-driven core supported by accents of brown baking spices, red currants, sweet grains, and baked apple. Full-bodied with a lush and silky core that finishes dry with vibrant spice and wood notes. The 1910 Old Fine has undergone a second barreling in a lightly toasted, heavily charred barrel. The resulting Whiskey has bold wood and burnt sugar accents to be sure. $54.99 – 4 Stars
Highland Park Magnus Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, deep golden color. A wonderfully complex nose offering scents of Christmas cake with a bold dose of peat followed by notes of citrus, orange peel, honey, heather, and jasmine. The palate echoes the nose delivering a vibrant, fruity core with flanking notes of peat, earth, citrus, brown baking spices, ginger, and heather. Medium to full-bodied with sweet fruit becoming dry on the finish with a bright dose of acidity. Made with a portion of Orcadian peat burned in the distillery’s own kiln. $37.99 – 4 Stars
