Christian Drouin Vintage 1996 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are rich and dense with scents of wild honey, baked apples, caramel, red fruits, almonds, brown baking spices, and dried fruits (fruitcake like). The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering waves of fruit ranging from plum, red berries, apricot, and of course apple with hints of honeycomb, nutmeg, and oak. Medium to full-bodied with intense waves of fruit and spice while maintaining a very pleasing balance. $163.99 – 4 Stars
Christian Drouin Blanche de Normande Eau-de-Vie-de-Cidre
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. Incredibly fresh with ripe, crisp apple and pear, sweet fresh press juice, and hints of citrus. The palate carries the nose being decidedly sweeter allowing it to fill the mouth with ripe apple and pear flavors and to linger on for minutes. Medium-bodied with rich fruit and crisp acidity that keeps it perfectly balanced. $48.99 – 4.5 Stars
E&J VS American Brandy
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics reveal a very fruity, vinous Brandy with loads of brown baking spices with vanilla and cinnamon in the lead followed by dried red and black fruits and sweet toffee. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush but vibrant marriage of fruit, spice, and sweet oak. Medium-bodied with ideal balance and long, lingering flavors of spice and dried fruits. $10.99 – 3.5 Stars
E&J VSOP Superior Reserve American Brandy
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly fragrant with the scents of baked apples and dried red cherries supported by a generous dose of brown baking spices, oak, fruitcake, and vanilla bean. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a warming fruit-driven core with loads of flanking brown spices, oak, and a sweet cola nut note rising on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with layers of fruit and spice in perfect balance. $12.99 – 4 Stars
E&J XO Extra Smooth American Brandy
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are so complex and inviting offering scents of roasted nuts, old leather, dense fruitcake, caramel, baked apple, vanilla bean, and sweet oak. The palate echoes the aromatics in every respect delivering a rich and impossibly silky fruit-driven core with supporting spice, toffee, caramel, and oak notes that mingle and evolve with each sip. Medium to full-bodied with perfect balance and proportions as each generous sip begs for the next. $15.99 – 5 Stars
E&J Apple Liqueur
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is filled with apple veering in style to a fresh apple cider with supporting notes of Brandy barrel spice. The palate agrees with the nose delivering a very juicy core that finishes with a bit of sour apple candy. Medium-bodied and quite sweet with bold apple flavors. $12.99 – 3 Stars
Pierre Croizet VS Cognac
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly floral with waves of ripe and baked orchard fruits, wild honey, pale caramel, roasted almonds, vanilla bean, and orange peel. The palate echoes the nose delivering waves of fruit beautifully intertwined with spice, caramel, and wild flowers that linger for minutes and finishes with hints of nutmeg and allspice. Medium-bodied with perfect balance flawlessly marrying mature wood-aged notes with vibrant youthful Cognac notes. $31.99 – 4 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are complex and pure with scents of toasted grain, caramel, vanilla bean, cigar box, smoky hardwood charcoal notes, nutmeg, and cigar box. The palate is full agreement with the nose offering a silky and zesty marriage of fruit, caramel, pepper, and brown baking spices with a silky blast that coats the palate and lingers for minutes. Medium-bodied and not as dense or assertive as many Bourbons, which is interesting as it's bottled over-proof without showing a hint of being hot. $54 – 4.5 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery True North Wheat Vodka
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully floral with an equal dose of sweet, toasted grains, dried berries, tarragon, and an distinct accent of wet river stones. The palate confirms the nose being rich and expansive on the palate with a silky core while maintaining its vibrancy. Layers of sweet grains are flanked by hints of citrus zest, teaberries, and mineral. Ideally balanced being both generous and sprite with a long, lingering finish that ultimately becomes dry and clean. $30 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin VSOP Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are full and rich opening with baked apples supported by loads of brown spices with hints of candied ginger, cinnamon, honey comb, cocoa nibs, dried autumn leaves, and white pepper. The palate agrees with rich and drier notes rising to meet the fruit-driven core with flanking notes of mineral, salinity, and rich wine cask accents. Medium to full-bodied offering great density – being assertive while delicate with long, trailing fruit and spice notes. $84.99 – 4.5 Stars
