Old Elk Cognac Cask Finish Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brilliant, bronze to amber color. The nose is filled with the scents of toasted and steeped cereal grains supported by honey, nutmeg, and French Cognac casks. The palate is in agreement with the nose delivering perhaps a richer, and sweeter malt and grain-driven core with waves of caramel, Brandy, and charred oak. Full-bodied with ideal balance and respectable length on the palate as spicy and peppery accents rise on the finish. Made with a mashbill of 51% corn, 34% malted barley, and 15% rye, finished in Cognac casks for 10 months. $109.99 – 4 Stars
Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey
Brilliant, bronze to amber color. The aromatics are very engaging with scents of sweet grains, honey, caramel, and vanilla bean with accents of dried fruits and toasted oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, baked fruit-driven core with waves of baking spices, toffee, and vanilla with hints of oak and black pepper. Full-bodied with ideal balance and great length on the palate — its carries its strength with style and grace. $65 – 4.5 Stars
Kentucky Owl Confiscated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, deep amber color. The nose is filled with the scents of toasted oak, caramel, brown baking spices, and saddle leather with hints of spring flowers and dried herbs. The palate echoes the nose delivering an orchard fruit and toffee-driven core with supporting notes of brown baking spice, graham crackers, cigar box, toasted oak, and toffee. Full-bodied and nicely balanced offering a rich core with very vibrant flavors, which is admirable considering the strength. The Whiskey's source(s) and mashbill are unknown. $124.99 – 4 Stars
Kentucky Owl Wiseman Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant. deep amber color. The nose is filled with the scents of spicy rye enveloped in caramel fudge, cinnamon, oak, and toasted walnuts with a hint of citrus. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a silky and spicy, rye-driven core with sweet honey and caramel notes foiled by drier oak and black pepper flavors. Full-bodied and ideally balanced as this overproof Rye Whiskey wears it's strength with finesse. Made with a mashbill of 95% rye. $60 – 4.5 Stars
Mr. Pickles Pacific Northwest Gin
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully aromatic with the fresh scents of juniper in the lead with supporting accents of green tea, peppercorns, and hints of pine forest floor. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a rich and lush core of semisweet spirit with waves of juniper, citrus, and pickling spices with fresh herbs. Full-bodied and ideally balanced with the silky spirit being supported by a generous dose of acidity making it a pleasure to sip. $34.99 – 4.5 Stars
Eight Settlers Green Ditch Gin
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose reveals a robust, classic Gin with waves of juniper in the lead supported by scents of citrus zest, sweet anise, and dried seeds. The palate echoes the nose delivering a pleasingly juniper forward core with waves of lemon and lime zest with licorice, and hints of coriander and pepper. Full-bodied with a silky spirit and generous botanicals balanced ideally with citrus and spice. $42 – 4 Stars
Santo Añejo, 100% Agave Tequila
Brilliant, pale, golden color. The nose is bold, offering scents of brown baking spices, oak, citrus zest, and tropical fruits with hints of cigar box, vanilla bean, and cremé brulee. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich fruit-driven core with waves of vanilla cream, toffee, desert brush, black pepper, and hints of clove and nutmeg. Ideally balanced with superb length and the proper complexity for after dinner sipping. $75 – 4 Stars
King Robert II 12 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, medium bronze to amber color. The nose is filled with the scents of dried dates and figs with supporting notes of baked apple, roasted nuts, and vanilla custard with hints of orange zest and oak. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a dried fruits-driven core with waves of allspice, nutmeg, oak, and hints of clove. Medium-bodied with a pleasing fruit and spice core framed by oak and a bright dose of acidity. A superb value. $21.99 – 4 Stars
King Robert II 15 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, medium bronze to amber color. The aromatics are quite intriguing, offering scents of chocolate biscuits, black currants, and baked apple with accents of caramel, vanilla fudge, and cinnamon. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, fruit and butterscotch-driven core with supporting notes of brown baking spices, oak, and hints of earth. Medium-bodied with great length and ideal balance thanks to a bright dose of acidity and framing oak notes. $28.99 – 4.5 Stars
Renegade Single Farm Origin: Lower Crater Lake South (Pre-Cask) Rum
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose reveals the unmistakable scents of pot-still, cane juice Rum with waves of sandalwood, jackfruit, dried flowers, wet clay, mineral, and banana skins. The palate echoes the nose delivering sweet and ultra-funky tropical flavors with accents of dried herbs, mineral, citrus, and bamboo shoots with hints of pepper. Full-bodied and ideally balanced with a great length while deftly managing it's over-proof strength. This may not be everyone's cup of tea but if you carve funky and complex sugar cane spirits this is worth seeking out. $68.99 – 4 Stars
