Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye Whiskey
Deep copper color. The nose is filled with the classic scents of an American Rye as it offers complex spice notes with sweet, honey-soaked grains, and hints of brown baking spices and oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a complex caramel and spice-driven core with accents of mandarin orange, caramel, allspice, and cinnamon. Full-bodied with great length and ideal balance and bright acidity. Made with 95% Rye with 5% malted barley. $45 – 4.5 Stars
Redwood Empire Lost Monarch American Whiskey
Deep copper/amber color. The nose is quite assertive with scents of black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon with hints of caramel, sawdust, citrus, and oak. The palate agrees with the nose delivering a peppery entry followed by sweet brown spices, caramel, vanilla, and oak. Full-bodied with a take-no-prisoner approach flashing firm, charred oak notes with spicy and assertive alcohol notes. Made with a blend of aged Bourbon (40%) and Rye ((60%). $45 – 3.5 Stars
Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon Whiskey
Deep copper color. The aromatics are lush and luxurious filling the nose with scents of vanilla, caramel, honey, and candied nuts with hints of baked apple, maple candy, and nutmeg. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich and silky honey and brown spice-focused core with flanking notes of black pepper, charred oak, and hints of cinnamon. Full-bodied with a lush, sweet core punctuated by spice and oak. Made with a blend of corn-dominated Bourbon aged four to twelve years. $45 – 4.5 Stars
Martini & Rossi Riserva Speciale Rubino Sweet Vermouth
Brilliant ruby color. The aromatics are complex and alluring offering scents of ripe red fruits supported by notes of rhubarb, dried herbs and bark, and chamomile tea. The palate echoes the nose delivering a bright, fruity core with waves of botanicals that extend the palate and become tart and slightly bitter on the finish. Medium-bodied and ideally balanced with complex fruit and botanicals and a bright dose of acidity that keeps it refreshing. This "Riserva" level M&R Sweet Vermouth is a very different animal than their classic Sweet Vermouth that we all know being a big step up in complexity. It's made with Nebbiolo wines from the Langhe (Piedmont) DOC. $14.99 – 4 Stars
Greenbar Grand Poppy Amaro
Brilliant, copper/orange color. The nose leaps from the glass with fresh scents of wild flowers, herbs, bitter fruit, and citrus zest with hints of earth and pepper. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a semisweet herbal blast with generous flavors of grapefruit, dried flowers, and forest floor. Medium-bodied with great complexity, length, and balance. $27.99 – 4 Stars
Greenbar Fruitlab Jasmine Liqueur
Brilliant, ruby with hints of burnt orange. The nose is unmistakably jasmine with supporting notes of tea, citrus, and wild flowers (both fresh and dried). The palate echoes the nose delivering a sweet black tea-forward core with flanking notes of flowers, herbs, and candied lemon zest. Medium-bodied and sweet with subtle and delicate flavors that linger for minutes. $32.99 – 4 Stars
George Dickel Bottled in Bond 13 Years Old 2007 Tennessee Whisky
Brilliant, deep bronze/amber color. The nose is very seductive and generous offering scents of red currants and red cherries with supporting accents of oak, clove, allspice, almond butter, and caramel. The palate echoes the nose delivering fruit-forward flavors of red berries with loads of brown baking spices, nut brittle, oak, and ginger. Full-bodied with great balance and a bright note of acidity with defining spice accents. Distilled in the spring of 2007. $44.99 – 5 Stars
The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, pale gold color. The nose is very attractive with scents of dried fruit, citrus zest, and apricot with hints of sea salt (although not a coastal malt), orange peel, and caramel. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a richer, sweeter malt impression with flavors of toffee, chocolate, and baking spices with a hint of anise on the finish. Medium-bodied and ideally balanced with bright citrus accents taming the sweet caramel malt core. A great value. $35 – 4 Stars
Yebiga Bela Rakija
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are profound and alluring led by ripe stone fruits with waves of forest floor, lavender, citrus zest, and wild flowers. The palate confirms the nose delivering a full expression of dark plum with generous spice notes including black pepper that rises on the finish. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with vibrant acidity ideally framing the ripe fruit. $29.99 – 4.5 Stars
Tromba Blanco, 100% Agave Tequila
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is amazingly complex and generous with loads of ripe agave, ripe pineapple, wild flowers, honeysuckle, citrus zest, and white pepper. The palate echoes the nose being lush with ripe agave supported by vibrant layers of citrus, earth, sea salt, coriander seed, and lime. Medium-bodied with bright acidity that gives the generous fruit great balance and length. $34.99 – 4.5 Stars
