Bacardi Reserva Ocho 8 Years Old Rum
Deep golden color with hints of amber. The nose is filled with the scents of dried apples, apricots, and peach met with toffee, brown spics and sweet vanilla accented oak. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush and silky core that ideally marries fruit and caramel with roasted nuts, spice, and oak. Full-bodied with a rich and dense core supported by bright spice notes and enough acidity to keep it refreshing. $29.99 – 4 Stars
Bacardi Gran Reserva Diez 10 Years Old Rum
Brilliant, deep amber color. The nose explodes with rich caramel and tropical fruits and waves of sweet brown baking spices, treacle, and toffee. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a decadent dessert style Rum that expands on the palate and finishes with sweet vanilla and cola. Full-bodied with a dense and lush core that expands to a sweet spirit that is redolent of sweet Sherry. $39.99 – 3.5 Stars
Vektor Vodka
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is subtle but focused with delicate, sweet grain notes supported by accents of wet river rocks, chalk, dried flowers, and hints of white pepper. The palate echoes the nose delivering a bright, grain-driven core with generous floral and mineral notes and a peppery finish. Medium-bodied with a lovely, silky texture that ideally carries the subtle grain and mineral notes finishing with a dose of bright acidity. $30 – 4 Stars
Cruzan Single Barrel Rum
Beautiful, deep golden to copper color. The nose is complex and alluring offering scents of butter toffee, caramel, butterscotch, and vanilla with accents of toasted oak, honey, and orange peel. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush but sprite caramel and nut centric core with waves of baking spices and silky butterscotch accents. Medium-bodied with layers of sugarcane spirit with decadent oak cask notes that offer a complex mélange of spices. $29.99 – 4.5 Stars
Cruzan Black Strap Rum
Deep, dark mahogany to black color. The aromatics are dominated by dark molasses with dark roast coffee, cola, and licorice with charred oak, vanilla, and allspice. The palate confirms the nose delivering lush molasses-focused core with waves of spice, ginger, and oak trailing to a dry finish. Medium to full-bodied with dense molasses notes throughout while supported by an interesting spice mix to keep it interesting. $17.99 – 4 Stars
Don Q Vermouth Cask Finish Rum
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, deep golden color with amber accents. The aromatics are so seductive that you can be satisfied nosing this Rum for hours. Rich red fruits mingle with charred oak, vanilla, caramel, honey, and hints of nutmeg, allspice, and white chocolate. The palate echoes the nose delivering a complex marriage of red berries with rich brown baking spices, oak, soft citrus accents, and lovely secondary notes that are unique to this great Rum. Although it's lush and generous it's also dry and vibrant on the finish as the fruit becomes tart and the spices lean toward pepper. Full-bodied with ideal balance thanks to a fresh dose of acidity and Don Q's solid commitment to make Rum without excessive sugars. $49.99 – 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 set on a silky, viscous texture 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 tasteless and neutral spirit. $29.99 – 5 Stars
Oma's Natural Cherry Flavored Vodka
Brilliant ruby to crimson red. The nose is filled with the scents of ripe sweet and tart red cherries supported by accents of cherry pit, vanilla, and subtle allspice notes. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, cherry infused core with a pleasing dose of vibrant acidity providing perfect balance and making this lush flavored Vodka nimble and refreshing. Medium-bodied with an intense cherry core while being perfectly balanced offering just enough sweetness to carry the flavors on the palate. $35 – 4.5 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery Ole George Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear with a bright amber/gold color. The aromatics are complex with scents of ripe orchard fruits and toasted grain with supporting notes of black pepper, toasted oak, dried black fruits, caramel, vanilla, allspice, and pralines. The palate is full agreement with the nose offering a lush fruit-driven core with caramel, pepper, and brown baking spices that linger on the palate for minutes. This full-bodied Michigan Rye is for the hardcore Rye Whiskey lover as it delivers classic and bold rye flavors. $53.99 – 5 Stars
D. George Benham's Sonoma Dry Gin
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose offers a bold but harmonious bouquet of bright botanicals ranging from juniper to citrus, ginger, and peppermint to name a few. The palate echoes the nose delivering a bright and bold citrus core with waves of galangal and flanking notes of coriander, juniper, and vibrant grains of paradise. Full-bodied and mind-blowing with a rich and silky texture and bold flavors with the peppermint rising on the finish. This Gin is not for the timid but if you love a powerful Gin this may soon become your favorite. $40 – 4.5 Stars
