Christian Drouin Vintage 1970 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Deep, brilliant copper/amber color. The nose deftly marries the scents of rich, baked apple and sweet caramel contrasted by vibrant cider notes with accents of cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, red currant, and clove. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich and decadent apple-driven core with waves of brown baking spices, toffee, red fruits, and rich vanilla cream. Ideally balanced with great length and weight. We tasted this great Calvados 10 years younger and it was great and continues to be a great Vintage Calvados. $499 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin XO Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant golden to copper color. The aromatics are amazingly fresh and vibrant with scents of fresh-pressed apple and cider, roasted apples, baked stone fruits, toasted almonds, brown baking spices, and a splash of vanilla. The palate is equally youthful and mature delivering layers of ripe fruit, spice, mineral, a fine salinity, and trailing floral notes, with cinnamon heat, vanilla bean, and oak on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with a vibrant texture offering layers of ripe fruit and generous portions of spice, vanilla, and oak. $95 – 5 Stars
Somrus Coffee Cream Liqueur
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekViscous and creamy with a mocha color. The nose is filled with the aromas of a boutique cafe with scents of freshly roasted coffee supported by notes of mocha and milk chocolate with hints of chicory. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush and silky cream and coffee-driven core with waves of chocolate, spice, and sweet Rum rising on the finish. This is a rich and mouth-filling liqueur with a surprising vibrancy that keeps it from becoming heavy or cloying. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Basil Hayden's 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant gold/amber color. The nose is very intense with scents of charred oak, vanilla bean, caramel, toasted grains, and a lovely dried fruit accent fill the nose. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush caramel and oak-driven core with waves of brown baking spices, toffee, and sweet brown sugar. Full-bodied and so incredibly silky and lush while also offering ideal balance with oak, caramel, fruit, and spice in perfect measure. $69.99 – 5 Stars
Michter's US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, deep amber color. The nose is beautifully complex with rich, sweet toasted oak equalled by decadent Rye Whiskey with generous supporting notes of toffee, caramel, fruitcake, brown baking spices, and vanilla with hints of sandalwood. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush, caramel-soaked rye core framed by toasted oak with generous accents of clove, allspice, vanilla, black pepper, nutmeg, and ginger. Full-bodied and absolutely intense while being ideally balanced with bright acidity with each component in perfect measure. A limited release, get it while you can. $85 – 5 Stars
Michter's Single Barrel 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, deep copper color. The nose is seductively layered with rich toffee, toasted oak, brown butter, caramel, and maple with accents of brown baking spices and vanilla bean. The palate echoes the nose with caramel, roasted nuts, and charred oak in the lead supported by waves of cinnamon, maple fudge, and nutmeg. Full-bodied and ideally balanced with a generous dose of acidity and firm oak accents that linger on the long finish. Absolutely gorgeous and a candidate for the Spirits of the year. $130 – 5 Stars
Michter's Single Barrel 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, deep amber color. The nose is beautifully complex with decadent, dark caramel, roasted nuts, butterscotch, dried black fruits, charred oak, brown baking spices, and vanilla. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush, caramel-soaked rye core with generous notes of clove, oak, allspice, vanilla, black pepper, and orange peel. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a beautiful intensity that ideally marries sweet cereal, caramel, and exotic spices. $160 – 5 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
Old Pulteney 15 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, pale amber color. The aromatics are intense and complex with waves of honey, toffee, ginger, candied citrus zest, and cocoa nibs. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich and powerful honey and malt-driven core with waves of vanilla, dark chocolate, and citrus with hints of black pepper and sea salt. Full-bodied with dense malt throughout balanced with fresh acidity, citrus, and right salinity. Since much to our shock and horror Old Pulteney discontinued their great 17-year-old, this lovely 15-year-old is our new favorite Old Pulteney Malt. $90 – 5 Stars
Nemiroff Vodka
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear The nose is ultra clean and pure with scents of wet river stones, chalk, and sweet grain (wheat), with accents of under-ripe pear, dried flowers, and mineral. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich wheat-centric core with waves of mineral and citrus zest with supporting notes of white pepper, vanilla bean, and ginger. Medium-bodied with a lovely, silky texture that ideally carries the sweet wheat and mineral notes finishing with a dose of bright acidity and pepper. This lovely wheat Vodka from Ukraine is super versatile and an amazing value as well. $19.99 – 5 Stars
