Spirits Reviews

Brilliant, deep mahogany color. The nose is generous with rich, dried fruits, caramel, and honey with subtle accents of toasted coconut and vanilla bean with oak. The palate confirms the nose with dense flavors of molasses and brown sugar with hints of marzipan, and tannic oak, and brown spice notes. Medium to full-bodied and well-balanced with lingering sugar and spice. $29.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, crystal clear. The eyes deceive the nose as you expect a burst of fruit at first nosing but get a complex oak-driven nose with waves of honey, caramel, ripe red apples, and subtle brown spices. The palate is more explosive than the nose delivering a rich and silky oak and baked agave dominant core with anise, allspice, tarragon, and vanilla bean in support. Ideally balanced with a generous dose of citrus on the finish that keeps it vibrant and crisp. Lunazul Primero is aged for 18 months in American oak and then filtered to strip all color. $29.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant ruby color. The aromatics are complex and alluring offering scents of ripe red fruits supported by notes of rhubarb, dried herbs and bark, and chamomile tea. The palate echoes the nose delivering a bright, fruity core with waves of botanicals that extend the palate and become tart and slightly bitter on the finish. Medium-bodied and ideally balanced with complex fruit and botanicals and a bright dose of acidity that keeps it refreshing. This "Riserva" level M&R Sweet Vermouth is a very different animal than their classic Sweet Vermouth that we all know being a big step up in complexity. It's made with Nebbiolo wines from the Langhe (Piedmont) DOC. $14.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, copper/orange color. The nose leaps from the glass with fresh scents of wild flowers, herbs, bitter fruit, and citrus zest with hints of earth and pepper. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a semisweet herbal blast with generous flavors of grapefruit, dried flowers, and forest floor. Medium-bodied with great complexity, length, and balance. $27.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, ruby with hints of burnt orange. The nose is unmistakably jasmine with supporting notes of tea, citrus, and wild flowers (both fresh and dried). The palate echoes the nose delivering a sweet black tea-forward core with flanking notes of flowers, herbs, and candied lemon zest. Medium-bodied and sweet with subtle and delicate flavors that linger for minutes. $32.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, pale gold color. The nose is very attractive with scents of dried fruit, citrus zest, and apricot with hints of sea salt (although not a coastal malt), orange peel, and caramel. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a richer, sweeter malt impression with flavors of toffee, chocolate, and baking spices with a hint of anise on the finish. Medium-bodied and ideally balanced with bright citrus accents taming the sweet caramel malt core. A great value. $35 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, pale golden color. The nose is quite peppery with baked agave notes, oak, caramel, and citrus with hints of clove and campfire. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a dense, baked agave core with flanking spices, oak, and sweet caramel. Medium-bodied with bright acidity adding freshness with lingering pepper and spice accents. $39.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, golden color. The nose is sweet and decadent with scents of butterscotch in the lead supported by baked apple, chocolate, vanilla, and caramel. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering an ultra sweet agave core with generous waves of caramel, cotton candy, sweet herbs, and vanilla-soaked oak. Medium-bodied and absolutely decadent finishing with drier and mildly tannic wood accents. $49.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully aromatic with waves of bright juniper supported by fresh citrus, green tea, and spring flowers with just a hint of pepper. The palate echoes the nose delivering a generous but sprite citrus-driven core with sweet orange in the lead with accents of lemongrass, anise, lemon, and earth. Full-bodied with a silky entry that is soon met with a balancing citrus attack that leads to a long, lingering finish that begs another sip. Made with a grain spirit and 11 botanicals. $49.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose reveals a grain focused Whiskey with hints of clover honey, orange zest, and black pepper, with hints of clove, and a green grassy accent. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose. It's very malty with a generous dose of honey and soft brown baking spice notes. Medium-bodied with a silky, lush core with semisweet malt notes. $23.99 – 4 Stars