E&J VS American Brandy
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics reveal a very fruity, vinous Brandy with loads of brown baking spices with vanilla and cinnamon in the lead followed by dried red and black fruits and sweet toffee. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush but vibrant marriage of fruit, spice, and sweet oak. Medium-bodied with ideal balance and long, lingering flavors of spice and dried fruits. $10.99 – 3.5 Stars
E&J VSOP Superior Reserve American Brandy
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly fragrant with the scents of baked apples and dried red cherries supported by a generous dose of brown baking spices, oak, fruitcake, and vanilla bean. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a warming fruit-driven core with loads of flanking brown spices, oak, and a sweet cola nut note rising on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with layers of fruit and spice in perfect balance. $12.99 – 4 Stars
E&J XO Extra Smooth American Brandy
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are so complex and inviting offering scents of roasted nuts, old leather, dense fruitcake, caramel, baked apple, vanilla bean, and sweet oak. The palate echoes the aromatics in every respect delivering a rich and impossibly silky fruit-driven core with supporting spice, toffee, caramel, and oak notes that mingle and evolve with each sip. Medium to full-bodied with perfect balance and proportions as each generous sip begs for the next. $15.99 – 5 Stars
E&J Apple Liqueur
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is filled with apple veering in style to a fresh apple cider with supporting notes of Brandy barrel spice. The palate agrees with the nose delivering a very juicy core that finishes with a bit of sour apple candy. Medium-bodied and quite sweet with bold apple flavors. $12.99 – 3 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are complex and pure with scents of toasted grain, caramel, vanilla bean, cigar box, smoky hardwood charcoal notes, nutmeg, and cigar box. The palate is full agreement with the nose offering a silky and zesty marriage of fruit, caramel, pepper, and brown baking spices with a silky blast that coats the palate and lingers for minutes. Medium-bodied and not as dense or assertive as many Bourbons, which is interesting as it's bottled over-proof without showing a hint of being hot. $54 – 4.5 Stars
Grand Traverse Distillery True North Wheat Vodka
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully floral with an equal dose of sweet, toasted grains, dried berries, tarragon, and an distinct accent of wet river stones. The palate confirms the nose being rich and expansive on the palate with a silky core while maintaining its vibrancy. Layers of sweet grains are flanked by hints of citrus zest, teaberries, and mineral. Ideally balanced being both generous and sprite with a long, lingering finish that ultimately becomes dry and clean. $30 – 5 Stars
Clyde May's Special Reserve American Whiskey
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekRich, vibrant burgundy color. The generous aromatics are loaded with rich caramel, dried orchard fruits, toffee, butterscotch, nutmeg, cinnamon, Amaretto, and candied orange peel. The palate is harmonious and seamless being decadent with a spicy edge with loads of viscosity to give the Whiskey length and depth. It finishes with a complex brown spice accent, hints of clove, and toasted oak. Full-bodied and totally hedonistic offering rich, ripe, sweet flavors with great balance and dexterity considering the high proof. $70 – 4.5 Stars
Rumson's Rum
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose offers a very distinctive blast of Caribbean Rum "hogo" that's found in old, traditional Rums of the region. Behind this comes waves of butterscotch, caramel, wild flowers, nutmeg, and allspice with hints of lime and toffee. The palate is in full agreement with the nose as the sweeter flavors converge on the core giving a silky and buttery mouthfeel with a generous dose of spice and wood to create a crisp finish. Medium to full-bodied with a rich and silky core backed by loads of spice, pepper, and citrus. $32 – 4.5 Stars
Rumson's Grand Reserve Rum
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is filled with the sweet and decadent scents of brown sugar, butterscotch, vanilla, and brown baking spices with treacle, leather, cigar box, and rustic oak notes. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and sweet core of brown sugar and treacle with waves of spice, gingerbread, and sexy oak accents. Full-bodied and certainly sweet while never finishing heavy benefiting from a generous dose of spice and just enough acidity to keep it vibrant. $45 – 4.5 Stars
Rumson's Spiced Rum
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are hauntingly similar the the Rumson's standard Rum with a greater focus on sweet vanilla, nutmeg, and golden syrup. The palate is in full agreement with the nose offering a rich baking spice driven core supported by sweet butterscotch and sugar giving it body and weight. It's a Christmas cake in a glass. Medium-bodied with waves of sweet spices and sugar notes while never becoming too sweet. $32 – 4 Stars
