Hankey Bannister Original Blended Scotch Whisky
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant, crystal clear. Scents of toffee, toasted grain, honey, and citrus dominate with supporting brown spice accents. The palate echoes the nose with a spicy grain-driven core that shows more peppery spice than shown on the nose. Medium-bodied with bright citrus and spice to keep it fresh and clean. $19.99 – 3 Stars
Balblair Vintage 2003 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is very seductive and complex offering scents of honey, white peach, apricot, toasted grain, butterscotch, citrus zest, lavender, and nutmeg. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a lush, fruity core with waves of fresh herbs, honeycomb, and orange with subtle cask notes on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with a rich, silky palate that while generous with fruit and grain never seems heavy as it's ideally balanced with bright, clean acidity. $55 – 5 Stars
Collingwood Toasted Stave Finished Canadian Blended Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is vibrant and rich with an essence of spicy grain Whisky with accents of caramel, vanilla, maple, and cinnamon biscuits. The palate echoes the nose delivering a spicy grain core with soft, delicate flavors of butterscotch, toasted almonds, candied ginger, treacle, and maple fudge. Ideally balanced with soft, trailing flavors that finish with a touch of spice and sweet wood. $28.99 – 4 Stars
Herradura Colección de la Casa Reserva 2015, Directo de Alambique Silver, 100% Agave Tequila
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully expressive and complex offering scents of sweet baked agave, tart lemon candy, lime zest, sautéed nopales, and poblano pepper with hints of black peppercorns and coriander. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush and beautiful agave-filled core with flanking notes of spice, citrus, and hints of sea salt. This is a full-bodied plus Tequila bottled over-proof while still being perfectly balanced, tantalizingly viscous, and dare I say delicate. $89.99 – 5 Stars
Elijah Craig 21 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Deep, brilliant amber color with hints of copper and mahogany. This incredible Bourbon provides great joy straight from the bottle. After a few minutes of aeration this beauty really comes to life offering complex scents of dried fruit, rich honey, caramel, spicy rye, walnuts, toasted coconuts, and brown baking spice. This is instantly among my all-time favorite Bourbon aromas. The palate is equally robust and rustic with black pepper on the front-end that reluctantly gives way to brown baking spices and then brown butter and honey. This is an assertive rye-heavy style but it is remarkably gentle and semisweet at times as well changing constantly in the glass. A true legend. $140 – 5 Stars
Buchanan's Special Reserve 18 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is simply beautiful, perfectly weaving scents of peach and plum with wild flowers, honey, toffee, orange peel, and Sherry with hints of cocoa nibs, smoke, and tropical fruits. The palate is in full support of the nose offering further dimension and texture to the rich and decadent fruit and spice flavors with a long, trailing finish that is dominated by caramel and brown baking spices with a touch of pepper. Full-bodied with incredible length and complexity, perfectly marrying sweet and savory flavors. $75 – 5 Stars
Buchanan's De Luxe 12 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is bright and wonderfully complex with honey-anointed ripe apples and peach with accents of orange peel, candied ginger, and nutmeg with hints of sweet smoke and saddle leather. Rich and creamy with the honey theme continuing being foiled by vibrant notes of spice and citrus zest taking the silky core to a zesty finish. Medium-bodied with generous fruit and honey notes that never get too sweet with a bright blast of spice to add refreshment. $31 – 4 Stars
Buchanan's Master Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is rich while being sweet and spicy as well. Notes of caramel-soaked toasted grains leap from the glass supported by dark chocolate, orange peel, lavender, and baked apple with hints of pine cone. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering lush and round core that ideally marries fruit, honey, spice, and oak with accents of cocoa nibs. Medium to full-bodied having more weight than the De Luxe while still maintaining a clever balance. $50 – 4.5 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 on a silky, viscous palate 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 neutral spirit. $30 – 5 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery Ole George Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are complex and pure with scents of toasted grain, black pepper, sourdough rye bread, dried black fruits, caramel, vanilla, allspice, and pralines. 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. This is a wonderfully intense Rye that also offers incredible balance and style. A must have for "Rye Heads" as this is pure, unadulterated Rye Whiskey. $54 – 5 Stars
