Old Forester Birthday - 2018 12 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, rich mahogany with a hint of orange. The nose is incredibly fruity ranging from baked pears and apples to black cherry with waves of honey, Earl Grey tea, charred oak, roasted nuts, and toffee. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and robust fruit and caramel-centric core with supporting notes of brown baking spices, honey, and citrus zest. Full-bodied with ideal balance and an amazing depth of flavor that keeps building towards the 30 second finish. One of our favorite Birthday releases to date. $99.99 – 5 Stars
Ransom Dry Gin
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is amazingly aromatic with the scents of juniper and fresh wild berries leaping from the glass on a sea of rich, malty spirit. Accents of citrus, hops, and coriander offer generous support. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich and dense malt spirit core with citrus and seed tannins on the mid palate giving way to lighter, more floral botanicals on the finish. Full-bodied and quite intense as the sweet aromatic nose leads to a dry and chewy core with botanicals galore. Stylistically this Gin is in a camp of its own possessing the sweet malt core of a Genever with the assertive botanicals portioned in the mold of a craft Beer IPA. $29.99 – 4 Stars
Ransom Old Tom Gin
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, pale copper color. The nose is wonderfully rich and seductive with a blast of sweet pine and juniper filling the nose supported by orange peel, angelica, cardamon, and citrus. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a rich and lush core of semisweet spirit with waves of juniper, citrus, and baking spices. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with the decadent spirit being supported by a generous dose of acidity making it a pleasure to sip while the fine balance of botanicals offer intrigue. This is a superb Old Tom style with that offers countless cocktail possibilities while being a pure joy to sip neat. $39.99 – 4.5 Stars
Griffin's Wharf 1773 Coffee Liqueur
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeep, dark mahogany color. The nose is filled with the scent of strong, dark roasted coffee with accents of molasses, brown sugar, allspice, and hints of dark chocolate. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich but vibrant roasted coffee core with flanking notes of brown spice, cocoa, and burnt sugar. Medium-bodied with layers of coffee and cocoa with a bright dose of acidity giving perfect balance and making this Coffee Liqueur a pleasure to sip neat. Extremely versatile with countless hot and cold cocktail options. $24.99 – 4.5 Stars
Crop Organic Meyer Lemon Flavored Vodka
Crystal clear with evident legs of glycerin streaming down the walls of the glass. The nose is vibrant with sweet with waves of Meyer lemon fruit and subtle hints of grain spirit. The palate echoes the nose delivering a blast of sweet lemon with a soft, lush palate entry that evolves to a zesty finish. A fresh cocktail addition with applications ranging from the bloody mary to the cosmo. $25.99 – 3 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery Barrel Finished Peninsula Gin
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant very pale straw/copper color. The nose is vibrant with the scents of citrus peel, grains of paradise, juniper, and brown baking spices accentuated by the subtle barrel accents. The palate echoes the nose delivering a spicy core with waves of citrus, cooking spices, and baking spices as well as they are fortified by the barrel. Secondary herbal and minty flavors are also present and likely created by the marriage of seasoned barrels and bold botanicals. Full-bodied with bold flavors and ideally balanced with a fresh dose of acidity. Too many barrel aged Gins suffer from subtractions in flavor and complexity due to the addition of wood. This lovely example ideally balances barrel and botanicals to create a very unique spirit. $42 – 4 Stars
King of Kentucky 14 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brilliant deep cherry wood color. The nose is amazingly harmonious and complex even before a water addition. (It's better after a splash of water.) The nose is filled with scents of charred oak, baked apples and pears, caramel, brown baking spices, and leather. The palate echoes the nose delivering a dense fruit and chocolate focused core with generous waves of brown baking spices and oak with subtle hints of mint, pineapple, and pepper. Full-bodied with a complex and dense palate that greatly evolves with water and aeration. Sip slowly as it's not cheap and there are just about 1,000 bottles available. $199 – 4.5 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery True North Rye Vodka
Brilliant, crystal clear. Beautiful aromatics offering scents of lemon curd, dried black fruits, dried flowers, spicy rye bread, and subtle mineral notes. The palate echoes the nose delivering the complex set of flavors set on a silky, viscous texture that carries the vibrant and rich flavors like a fluffy cloud. Medium-bodied and sure to destroy any ideas you may have about Vodka being a tasteless and neutral spirit. $29.99 – 5 Stars
Oma's Natural Cherry Flavored Vodka
Brilliant ruby to crimson red. The nose is filled with the scents of ripe sweet and tart red cherries supported by accents of cherry pit, vanilla, and subtle allspice notes. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, cherry infused core with a pleasing dose of vibrant acidity providing perfect balance and making this lush flavored Vodka nimble and refreshing. Medium-bodied with an intense cherry core while being perfectly balanced offering just enough sweetness to carry the flavors on the palate. $35 – 4.5 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery Ole George Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear with a bright amber/gold color. The aromatics are complex with scents of ripe orchard fruits and toasted grain with supporting notes of black pepper, toasted oak, dried black fruits, caramel, vanilla, allspice, and pralines. The palate is full agreement with the nose offering a lush fruit-driven core with caramel, pepper, and brown baking spices that linger on the palate for minutes. This full-bodied Michigan Rye is for the hardcore Rye Whiskey lover as it delivers classic and bold rye flavors. $53.99 – 5 Stars
