Tap Rye Sherry Finished 8 Years Old Canadian Rye Whisky
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are very grain focused with toasted grains and nuts with supporting notes of clove, allspice, cinnamon bark, rancio, vanilla bean, and black pepper. The palate echoes the nose perfectly with a lush, caramel accented sweet grain core with loads of spice, dried fruit, and pepper. Wonderfully intense without being over-the-top showing great balance with a generous dose of acidity that keeps it vibrant. $39.99 – 4 Stars
La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Extra Dry Vermouth
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly floral with loads of spice, bark, on a backdrop of red grapefruit and melon pear with hints of quinine and nutmeg. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a vibrant, tart tropical fruit core with accents of wild flowers and citrus. Beautifully intense and complex with a crisp dry edge. $21.99 – 4.5 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery Silver Reserve Rum
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is quite intriguing as the material (molasses) is quite familiar while the distillation in a hybrid pot still gives the rich, densely fruity qualities of a Caribbean pot still while being as clean and floral as a column still Rum. The palate confirms the nose delivering a dry, fruit-forward core with a silky texture. The over-proof finish gives the clove and pepper spice accents more lift as well as the charred sugar flavors that emerge on the finish. A full-bodied white Rum with lots of gusto and personality that will hold its own in cocktails. $31 – 4 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery Double Barreled Ole George Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is assertively spicy with toasted grain and black pepper in the lead. After a small water addition this Whiskey really shows its stuff offering black fruits, rye bread, black pepper, toffee, and vanilla. The palate is full accord with the nose delivering a beautiful mix of fruit and grain with hints of black cherry with loads of spicy rye and sweet caramel. This is a very intense rye that requires a water addition in my view to best expand the flavors and tame the heat. $47 – 4.5 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery 116 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. Intensely spiced with loads of brown baking spices and a rich, fruity core with hints of cocoa, French roast coffee, and charred oak. The palate is equal to the nose with a rich, caramel drenched fruit core flanked by spicy rye, black pepper, allspice and dense caramel with hints of sweet vanilla. Super intense with rich bold fruit, caramel, spicy rye, and oak to spare. $47 – 4 Stars
Suerte Extra Añejo, 100% Agave Tequila
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is really quite beautiful as so many extra añejo are simply redolent of Bourbon. Suerte Extra Añejo offers scents of baked apple, honey, vanilla bean, and ripe red berries with notes of charred oak. The palate continues in the same vein as the aromatics with the oak component taking center stage and muting the fruit a bit. It's a bold, heavily wood-influenced style that still manages to feature the fresh, balancing acidity found in their blanco. $110 – 4 Stars
Lejay Crème de Cassis
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are wonderfully rich with scents of ripe blackcurrants, red plum, and dried blueberry. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering lush and silky ripe fruit flavors with loads of blackberry jam foiled by subtle citrus, and tart cherry notes. This is an incredibly intense Liqueur with impossibly rich fruit notes balanced by soft citrus notes and a dose of bright acidity on the finish. $29.99 – 4.5 Stars
VOV Zabajone Cream Liqueur
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is rich with the scents of sweet Marsala with rich, baked and concentrated fruit with brown baking spices, vanilla, and a blast of lemon curd. The palate matches the nose perfectly while being more expressive with the rich and sweet Marsala being delivered on a thick, creamy blanket of cream, fruit, and vanilla. This may be the most sophisticated eggnog you will find. This is a rich and mouth filling Liqueur with bold flavors that flow over the palate. $27.99 – 4 Stars
G'Vine Nouaison Gin
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is quite unique and complex with scents of forest floor inclusive of dry pine needles in the lead with cinnamon and allspice in support by semisweet lime notes, nutmeg, and a juniper flourish. The palate is in full agreement as this rogue Gin delivers a rich and chewy juniper center flanked by a generous dose of sharp citrus zest with forest floor and citrus pulp. This is a powerful Gin with a lush fruity and spicy core. $35.99 – 4 Stars
Calvados Boulard VSOP Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. Wonderfully aromatic, filling the nose with the scents of baked and fresh apples with supporting notes of nutmeg, toasted walnuts, charred oak, brown butter, and a hint of clove. The palate confirms the nose with more vibrant, fresh apple notes emerging with a soft vanilla bean note flanking the rich fruit. Subtle and complex while offering a rich, and generous fruit-driven core with perfect balance as bright acidity is present from entry to finish. $$45 – 4 Stars
