Johnnie Walker Platinum 18 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Deep bronze with hints of gold and copper. The nose is absolutely luxurious offering a careful marriage of fruit, rich malt, sweet grains, toffee, roasted nuts, clove, allspice, honeycomb, smoky Islay notes of peat fires, and faint sea breezes. The palate echoes the nose delivering a perfectly balanced dram that builds in intensity as it sits on the tongue. This beautiful blend offers the best of lush Speyside Whiskies punctuated by the essence of Islay with a glorious grain presence that binds it all into one seamless package. $80 – 4.5 Stars
Grand Mayan Reposado, 100% Agave Tequila
Brilliant golden color. The nose is filled with the scents of ripe tropical fruits that soon become overwhelmed with barrel notes offering accents of toasted nut, chocolate, and brown baking spices. The palate echoes the nose while offering even less fruit as the heavy-handed oak dominates smothering all of the agave notes. Medium to full-bodied with a dominating note of oak and oak astringency with no balance at all. This is everything that is wrong with far too many modern Tequilas – wood dominated with an astronomical price tag. $79.99 – 2 Stars
Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brilliant amber and deep copper color. The nose is filled with the scents of toasted grains, baked orchard fruit, caramel, charred oak, and vanilla with hints of mocha. The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush fruit and grain driven core with flanking notes of brown spice, milk chocolate, vanilla, and caramel with hints of fresh mint. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with loads of bright acidity that better allow the complex spirit to shine with wood as an accent rather than a dominating force. Made with a mashbill that included corn, rye, wheat, and barley all estate-grown, distilled, and bottled. A true American farm Whiskey. $49.99 – 5 Stars
Grand Macnish Sherry Cask 15 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, amber color. Scents of orchard fruits hit the nose first followed by fruit cake, oak, and Sherry. The palate confirms the nose delivering a fruit-centric core with flanking notes of brown spice, coconut, Sherry, and bitter chocolate on the finish. Medium-bodied with a rich fruit and spice core that would be more pleasing with a bit more acidity. A decent value for a an older blend — it won't knock your socks off but it's a nice dram. $42.99 – 3.5 Stars
Kraken Black Spiced Rum
Deep, black color. The nose is assertive with the scents of chocolate, coffee, and cloves with accents of ginger, cinnamon, and pepper. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a sweet chocolate and molasses driven core with loads of Christmas cake spices. Full-bodied with a viscous palate. Great name — great packaging and an average Spiced Rum. $18.99 – 3 Stars
Miel de Tierra Joven, 100% Agave Mezcal
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose reveals a Mezcal that is far more floral than most with subtle smoke notes and a bright lemongrass accent. The palate fully confirms the nose delivering a herbaceous, slightly soapy character with waves of pepper and citrus. Medium to full-bodied with a mild hot note on the mid-palate. We are looking for a bit more complexity and refinement in our $80 agave spirits. $80 – 3 Stars
Uncle Bob's Root Beer Flavored Whisk(e)y
Brilliant, deep amber color. At first nosing it's clear that root beer is in charge filling the nose with scents of a spiked root beer float. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a viscous and sweet, root beer focused core with a faint accent of American Whiskey (or perhaps that's just imagined). Assertively sweet with a moderate alcohol feel. This spirit is far more reminiscent of a Liqueur or Schnapps than a flavored Whiskey. $19.99 – 2.5 Stars
Grand Macnish 12 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, golden amber color. The nose is rich with waves of smoke, roasted nuts, baked apples, oak, and brown baking spices. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a round fruit-driven core with accents of spice, wood, and a hint of chocolate. Medium-bodied with a nice sense of balance while we wanted a more sustained palate and a bigger malt punch. $26.99 – 3.5 Stars
Pau Maui Vodka
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is subtle and delicate with notes of tropical fruits with hints of pepper and minerals. The palate confirms the nose delivering a bright, fruit-driven core with rising pepper accents and crisp mineral notes on the finish. Medium-bodied with subtle flavors and enough bright peppers notes keeping it balanced. $21.99 – 3.5 Stars
Fabrizia Limoncello
Cloudy, looking akin to freshly squeezed lemon juice. The nose is filled with the scents of freshly cut lemon zest with accents of cane sugar being redolent of homemade lemonade with a vibrant dose of zest. The palate echoes the nose delivering a bright lemon-driven core with a refreshing dose of zest and just enough sugar to give it body and tame the tart flavors. Medium-bodied with bright and crisp flavors of fresh lemon zest with a deft dose of sweetness. $18.99 – 4 Stars
