Christian Drouin Pommeau de Normandie
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aroma of freshly baked apples fills the nose with supporting notes of brown butter, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg, and subtle caramel accents. The palate echoes the nose offering a very vibrant but rich, fruit-driven core with generous butter toffee and soft brown baking spice notes. Medium-bodied and very sprite with the open bottle being in grave danger of being exhausted in one sitting. $34.99 – 4.5 Stars
Clyde May's Special Reserve American Whiskey
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekRich, vibrant burgundy color. The generous aromatics are loaded with rich caramel, dried orchard fruits, toffee, butterscotch, nutmeg, cinnamon, Amaretto, and candied orange peel. The palate is harmonious and seamless being decadent with a spicy edge with loads of viscosity to give the Whiskey length and depth. It finishes with a complex brown spice accent, hints of clove, and toasted oak. Full-bodied and totally hedonistic offering rich, ripe, sweet flavors with great balance and dexterity considering the high proof. $70 – 4.5 Stars
Saint-Vivant VS Armagnac
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is very pleasing and complex with sweet, honeyed apples and pears, dried fruits (think fruitcake), allspice, mace, vanilla, and orange peel. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush but very vibrant fruit-driven core with supporting accents of oak, brown baking spices, black pepper, and dried fruit concentrate that lingers with nutmeg, clove, and brown butter. Medium to full-bodied with ideal balance and length offering the full and semi-rustic flavors that Armagnac lovers seek. $28.99 – 4 Stars
Rumson's Rum
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose offers a very distinctive blast of Caribbean Rum "hogo" that's found in old, traditional Rums of the region. Behind this comes waves of butterscotch, caramel, wild flowers, nutmeg, and allspice with hints of lime and toffee. The palate is in full agreement with the nose as the sweeter flavors converge on the core giving a silky and buttery mouthfeel with a generous dose of spice and wood to create a crisp finish. Medium to full-bodied with a rich and silky core backed by loads of spice, pepper, and citrus. $32 – 4.5 Stars
Rumson's Grand Reserve Rum
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is filled with the sweet and decadent scents of brown sugar, butterscotch, vanilla, and brown baking spices with treacle, leather, cigar box, and rustic oak notes. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and sweet core of brown sugar and treacle with waves of spice, gingerbread, and sexy oak accents. Full-bodied and certainly sweet while never finishing heavy benefiting from a generous dose of spice and just enough acidity to keep it vibrant. $45 – 4.5 Stars
Rumson's Spiced Rum
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are hauntingly similar the the Rumson's standard Rum with a greater focus on sweet vanilla, nutmeg, and golden syrup. The palate is in full agreement with the nose offering a rich baking spice driven core supported by sweet butterscotch and sugar giving it body and weight. It's a Christmas cake in a glass. Medium-bodied with waves of sweet spices and sugar notes while never becoming too sweet. $32 – 4 Stars
Rumson's Coffee Flavored Rum
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is unmistakably coffee offering scents of roasted coffee beans, as well as brewed coffee, cocoa nibs, vanilla bean, and mocha. The palate supports the nose adding a deep, roasted bean note on the sweet, coffee-centric core with accents of vanilla cream and sweet brown sugar. Medium-bodied and very well-balanced especially for the style as we are accustomed to these being cloyingly sweet while this offers a brilliant roasted bean edge. $32 – 4 Stars
Highland Park Dark Origins Single Malt Scotch Whisky
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant, crystal clear. The Sherry casks are quite evident supported by notes of dried berries, roasted hazelnut, earth, orange zest, banana bread, and charred oak. Dark fruit and cocoa nibs take the lead with pretty smoke and meaty notes, with treacle, baked apples, and stewed berries all enveloped in sweet Sherry. Bold and assertive but ideally balanced with a silky texture and peppery finish offering great length. $79.99 – 4.5 Stars
Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose offers more assertive peat, smoke, and pepper notes and fewer fruit notes as compared to the iconic Talisker 10 with hints of roasted nuts and red fruits. The palate confirms the nose as the Storm lives up to its name on the palate hitting with power bursts of pepper, smoke, and earth from the entry to the finish. Medium to full-bodied with assertive spice and smoky embers that linger for minutes. $66 – 4 Stars
Port Dundas 12 Years Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is subtle and seductive with scents of wild flowers, honey, blanched almonds, sandalwood, and a sweet Amontillado Sherry note (despite there being no Sherry casks used). The palate echoes the nose delivering a a pretty marriage of subtle orchard fruits with floral and honey notes leading to a spicy finish. Medium-bodied and ideally balanced with soft trailing finish. $49.99 – 4 Stars
