Top Ten Spirits of 2009

All of us who love Spirits live in the greatest era ever. Today we have a greater variety of quality spirits available on the shelves of our local merchants than ever before. With that said, this condition of Spirits bounty presents a unique challenge when choosing a Top Ten list.

Hundreds of Spirits samples were reviewed this year but our task required that we collect the ten greatest Spirits. Here they are, presented in alphabetical order.

Bushmills “Single Malt” 21 yr old Irish Whiskey, Ireland 40% ABV
5 Stars
Bright dark amber color. The nose reveals a clever marriage of dark, dried fruits, like red and black currants, and apricot, with toffee, vanilla, cocoa nibs, and roasted nuts. The palate echoes the nose being harmonious, rich, and ideally balanced, with alternating waves of malt, toasted grains, nuts, and more dried fruits with accents of candied ginger. A lovely and contemplative Whiskey. $109.99

Coeur de Lion (finished in Sherry cask) 1989 Calvados, Pays d’ Auge, France - 40% ABV
5 Stars
Bright copper color. The nose is complex and seductive offering waves of ripe apple with Sauternes poached apples, butter toffee, and golden raisins accented with hints of clove, allspice, and dried mango. The palate is in full agreement with the nose providing a wonderfully complex marriage of fruit, spice, confection, and wood. Hard to put down. $190

Coole Swan Dairy Cream Liqueur, Ireland 16% ABV
5 Stars
It has the pleasing and somewhat nostalgic appearance of a vanilla malt with its creamy, off-white tones. The nose is subtle and complex interplay of dark chocolate, vanilla cream, and marzipan. The palate is silky smooth and rich with subtle fruit notes. Elegant and wonderfully styled. As a topper, this unique liqueur is offered in a fresh, sleek, and modern package. $28.99

Glenmorangie “Extremely Rare” 18 yr old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Scotland - 43% ABV
5 Stars
Deep golden to amber color. The nose is wonderfully fresh, harmonious, and complex marrying malt, grain, and flora with accents of honey, orange, roasted nuts, and nutmeg. The palate fully agrees albeit on a grander scale as the attributes found on the nose are amplified given greater definition. Incredible length and beautifully rich with new wrinkles being revealed with each sip. A beauty. $145

Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 yr old Blended Scotch Whisky, Scotland - 40% ABV
5 Stars
Deep golden, copper color. The nose is luxurious offering a careful mélange of fruit, malt, grain, brown baking spices, roasted almonds, vanilla bean, and brown sugar. The palate echoes the nose being ultra silky and lush with waves of complex flavors. Ideally proportioned and seductive proving that blended Whiskies can be just as terrific and stylish as a top single malt. $89.99

Oban 18 yr old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Scotland - 43% ABV
5 Stars
Brilliant golden/amber color. The nose is simply beautiful offering scents of tea biscuits, tropical fruits, shortbread, and candied walnuts with accents of sweet smoke, and vanilla tinged oak. The palate is in full agreement being incredibly lush, opulently textured with trace notes of black pepper, sea salt, allspice, baked fennel, and toasted grains. Ideally balanced with great length and style. Perhaps 18 years is the sweet spot for Oban. $149.99

Red Breast 12 yr old Irish Whiskey, Ireland 40% ABV
5 Stars
A real gem, a reason to get up in the morning. Outrageously complex offering a tremendous melange of apple and pear flavors married perfectly with honey, toffee, and toasted grains. Super long on the finish with a trailing sweet and pepper exchange. Mood altering. $49.99

Tierras Blanco, 100% Agave Tequila, Mexico 40% ABV
5 Stars
Crystal clear. The nose leaps from the glass being bold and ultra expressive with loads of ripe tropical fruit, pineapple stands out, with accents of sea salt and citrus. The palate confirms the nose with a lush and silky texture that adds dimension to the fresh and wild fruit flavors that are kept crisp and sprite with notes of pepper and lime. This is a Tequila for lovers of Tequila’s unique and untamed flavors. Outstanding! $41.99

Van Gogh Coconut Vodka, Netherlands - 35% ABV
5 Stars
Crystal clear. Did someone smash a Mounds candy bar in my glass? The initial nosing is a dead ringer for the popular candy bar but after few minutes in the glass the aromatics tame and become altogether different offering scents of malted milk and white chocolate. The palate is lush and semi-sweet with waves of flavors promised on the nose coming to life in waves of dense flavors including sweet coconut, milk chocolate, malt balls, white chocolate, and hints of espresso that offer the perfect measure of bitterness and balance. Super! $27

Van Winkle "Special Reserve" Lot "B" 12 yr old Bourbon, USA 45.2% ABV
5 Stars
Brilliant amber color. The nose is incredibly fragrant and complex. It is wonderfully supple while dry and refined offering a complex mélange of aromatics including caramel, toasted walnuts, toffee, tropical fruits, baked peach, exotic brown spices, and vanilla. The palate is in full agreement providing super balance and great length. Deftly straddling perfection. $39.99