Speyburn Arranta Casks Single Malt Scotch Whisky
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, deep golden color. The aromatics are absolutely gorgeous with gobs of butter toffee, toasted coconut, wild honey, brown baking spices featuring nutmeg, with accents of butterscotch, roasted nuts, and vanilla bean. The palate fully concurs with the nose delivering a lush but spicy malt and caramel-driven core with flanking notes of baking spice, oak, brown butter, and bright citrus accents on the finish. Full-bodied with generous malt and spice notes while maintaining a perfect balance with bright acidity and the perfect dose of oak. $40 – 5 Stars
Ron Abuelo 7 Years Old Rum
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, deep bronze color. The aromatics are wonderfully complex and vibrant with alternating aromatics of dried tropical fruits, toffee, toasted coconut, darjeeling tea leaves, brown baking spices, treacle, vanilla, and sweet oak. The palate is simpatico with the nose delivering incredibly lush and silky layers of fruit with supporting notes of pralines, butterscotch, allspice, nutmeg, and toasted oak. Medium-bodied and luxurious with velvet-like fruit and ideal balance thanks to the generous spice notes and bright acidity. $23.99 – 5 Stars
Ron Abuelo 12 Years Old Rum
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeep, brilliant amber color. The aromatics are are incredibly decadent and complex with scents of Rum infused fruit cake, macaroons, allspice, nutmeg, vanilla, buckwheat honey, caramel, cinnamon, and roasted nuts. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering layers of baked fruits, caramel, brown baking spices, and oak with dry and sweet spice notes mingling on the finish for minutes. Full-bodied and incredibly decadent with layers of fruit and spice presented in perfect proportions with an endless finish. $34.99 – 5 Stars
Booker's Batch 2016-03 6 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly complex and subtle in some respects with rich vanilla and brown baking spices supported by waves of fruit, toasted oak, and brown butter with caramel. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush and silky vanilla-driven core with generous fruit, brown baking spices, and rich caramel notes that linger for minutes. Full-bodied and so incredibly silky and lush while also showing balance and restraint. $59.99 – 5 Stars
Rutte Dry Gin
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is quite expressive being led by citrus with fresh, green herbs and juniper not far behind. Exotic brown spices emerge after several nosings providing a warming sense. The palate echoes the nose while being more vibrant and spicy with the secondary brown spices taking the lead now being followed by citrus and juniper with hints of sandalwood and black pepper. Medium to full-bodied with an assertive and complex melange of botanicals that present themselves one after another from the front palate to the very, very long finish. $37.99 – 5 Stars
Rutte Old Simon Genever
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is very unctuous and malty with scents of grains in the lead supported by hints of roasted nuts and spices (coriander and subtle caraway notes) with soft citrus and juniper accents. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and silky texture that gives life to the toasted spice core with the caraway really accentuated. Full-bodied with a rich, nearly chewy, malty, and grain core supported by bright juniper, spice, and notes of hazelnut. $37.99 – 5 Stars
Fords London Dry Gin
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The juniper steps up and takes center stage followed by a toasted coriander note supported by the angelica with citrus, floral jasmine, and lavender. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a lush and oily center palate with juniper and citrus in the lead creating a slightly sweet core that becomes quite dry on the finish. Medium-bodied with ideal balance and a texture that far surpasses most in its class. $25 – 5 Stars
Booker's Big Time Batch Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nosing at full strength shows dense fruit and spice notes with sweet caramel but a big blast of alcohol as well. With the addition of water it really blossoms revealing nuanced scents of banana bread, rich caramel with allspice, black pepper, cloves, ginger, orange peel, vanilla bean, and star anise. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich and powerful core of fruit and spice with countess barrel notes and a long, trailing finish that becomes drier as it fades. Full-bodied and quite aggressive with its nearly 70% abv but it does become a more gentle giant with the addition of water. $299.99 – 5 Stars
Linie Aquavit
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is filled with the scents of caraway and anise with supporting notes of dill seed, orange peel, clove, dried figs, and vanilla. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich spice and fruit core as the Sherry cask flavors come alive with accents of citrus and peppermint. Medium-bodied with too many layers of fruit and spice to dissect with bright acidity aiding in the perfect balance. $29.99 – 5 Stars
Casa D'Aristi Kalani Liqueur
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is unmistakably raw and baked, sweet coconut with accents of coconut cream, cocoa, and hints of caramel. The palate confirms the nose delivering an incredibly rich coconut-driven core with waves of cream, cocoa, and baked coconut with hints of citrus on the finish keeping it fresh and vibrant. Medium-bodied and sweet while never being cloying giving waves of complex coconut flavors. $32.95 – 5 Stars
