Old Forester Birthday - 2011 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant amber color with an orange tint. The aromatics rise from the glass as it's being poured. Nosing can be accomplished from 18 inches away. The nose is incredibly fragrant and complex offering up the essence of Bourbon with dried fruits, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, orange zest, and brown baking spices. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich but vibrant mouthfeel with waves of silky baked fruit, caramel, clove, allspice, and black pepper. A splash of water brings all the flavors into harmony. Super! $49.99 – 4 Stars
King’s Ginger Liqueur
Brilliant pale golden color. The aromatics are simply beautiful offering much more than ginger alone with supporting notes of citrus zest and pulp, sugar cane juice, lemongrass, and galangal with hints of jasmine. The palate echoes the nose delivering a potent ginger and pepper surge presented on a viscous canvas that carries the flavors on for minutes after swallowing. A super digestif and ripe and ready for endless cocktail applications. $39.99 – 4 Stars
Glenfarclas Family Cask #2639 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Deep, dark mahogany with perfect clarity catching the light with copper edges. The nose is simply incredible offering generous Sherry and caramel notes with loads of dried fruits including dates, peach, apple, and candied orange peel with accents of leather, roasted walnuts, and brown baking spices. The palate is perfectly true to the aromatics expressing its full treasure with a modest splash of water. It's a real charmer whose only imperfection is the firm wood notes on the finish. The ideal gift for a special friend turning 50 this year. $949.99 – 4 Stars
Arehucas Ron Miel (Rum with honey) Liqueur
Brilliant amber color. The nose is vibrant with the scents of sweet orange peel, wild flowers, rich honey, Rum, and blood orange with hints of nutmeg and vanilla. The palate echoes the nose with a lush honey filled core and just enough acidity to keep it fresh. This is not a Rum rather a Rum-based liqueur and an attractive one at that. The cocktail applications are endless as we are thinking of a twist on the classic Daiquiri using nothing but Rum, Arehucas Ron Miel, and limejuice. $20 – 4 Stars
Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
Perfectly clear with a hint of pewter. Fresh and delicate on the nose with pure, candied orange peel with delicious, concentrated orange and tangerine juice notes. The palate is incredibly viscous with a sweet, orange-centric entry that gives way to orange zest, ginger, and hints of clove. The spicy elements keep it vibrant and balanced. $36.99 – 4 Stars
Bushmills Irish Honey Flavored Irish Whiskey
Brilliant golden color with perfect clarity. The nose is a true force of nature ideally marrying scents of ripe orchard fruits, sweet grain, coconut, candied orange peel, roasted cashews, and pure wild flower honey. The palate echoes the nose delivering waves of classic Irish Whiskey infused with honey, citrus, and toasted nuts. Perfectly balanced offering just enough sweetness to give weight to the rich honey notes while being nearly as dry as a Whiskey. This great flavored spirit has whiskey at its heart. The best of the honeyed spirits we have sampled. $24.99 – 4 Stars
Clase Azul Reposado, 100% Agave Tequila
Brilliant golden color being darker than many reposado Tequilas. The aromatics are rich with ripe, and sweet baked agave scents in the lead supported by notes of baked apple, cinnamon, allspice, sweet pickling spices, caramel, and hints of candied ginger. The palate confirms the nose with waves of rich, silky baked fruit flanked by accents of caramel, clove, black pepper, and citrus. A massively proportioned Tequila with layers of fruit and spice. $89.99 – 4 Stars
Tap 357 Maple Rye Whisky Canadian Blended Whisky
Brilliant pale bronze color. The aromatics are rich and seductive with layers of sweet maple, vanilla fudge, caramel, and honey on a bed of spicy rye. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering waves of sweet maple and brown sugar with peppery rye notes offering balance and length. Wonderfully spicy and ideally balanced with a silky, viscous core. Try with a few cubes of ice or marry with ginger, lime, or Fino Sherry to create your own unique cocktail. $29.99 – 4 Stars
Lunazul Blanco, 100% Agave Tequila
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is fruity exhibiting tropical and apple notes with a healthy dose of salt and citrus, which is to say – it has the aromatics of fresh agave. The palate is semi-viscous and refreshing with ripe fruit tones giving way to crisp citrus notes mingling with agave and ripe peach. Wonderfully balanced with clean flavors and a long, lingering, spicy finish. $19.99 – 4.5 Stars
Blade and Bow Limited Release 22 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully rich and complex offering waves of decadent caramel, roasted nuts and toffee, dried fruits, brown baking spices, vanilla, and loads of charred oak. The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush caramel and fruit focused core with a wave of dry, peppery spice quickly leading to a long finish featuring brown butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This is a big and bold Bourbon showing its 22 years in oak on both the nose and the palate (while not as much to the eye) with flavors that build as sipped. $149.99 – 4 Stars
