Spirits Reviews

Brilliant, deep copper color. The nose if filled with the scents of charred oak supported by notes of dark caramel, fruit cake, brown baking spices, and sweet vanilla. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a sweet fruit and spice-driven core with assertive accents of charred oak. Full-bodied with a dense core of fruit and an unshakable essence of charred oak. $49.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, deep gold to copper color. The nose is classically Islay with waves of sea air, peat, dense herbal notes, and wisps of smoke with honey. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a fuller, and lush version of the nose with silky honey at the core flanked by peat, sea, orange peel, and brown baking spices. Full-bodied with lush malty core that is ideally balanced by spice, peat, and smoke. $25.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant golden/amber color. The nose reveals a very decadent Whisky offering rich scents of dark chocolate, baked apples, and generous waves of brown baking spices with accents of honey and hints of lemon curd. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a dense and powerful chocolate and malt-driven core with waves of fruit cake, allspice, black pepper, and hints of briny Sichuan pepper. Full-bodied with loads of barrel-driven spice notes and an oaky finish. $139 – 4 Stars

Brilliant golden color. The nose is filled with scents of sweet malt, honeycomb, and baked apple with accents of smoke, leather, and vanilla bean. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich fruit and malt driven core with even more smoke than found on the nose with waves of peat and brown baking spices leading to a hardwood ember-like tannin on the finish. Full-bodied with generous notes of sea salt, smoke, and malt that showcases the peat element as being nearly herbal. $65 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, pale gold with a touch of amber. The nose is beautiful and delicate offering scents of honey, wild flowers, Bourbon cask, salty sea air, and sweet malt. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a creamy, sweet malt-driven core with flanking notes of sea salt and honeycomb, nutmeg, and citrus zest rising on the finish. Medium-bodied and ideally proportioned offering with perfect balance thanks to a dose of bright acidity. This version of the Old Pulteney 12 is different than in years past with a greater Bourbon impression and a lower ABV (previously bottled at 43%). $45 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, deep golden color with a hint of orange. The nose is incredibly expressive offering scents of rich maple, toffee, and butterscotch with waves of baked pear, corn pudding, and charred oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and robust fruit and caramel and maple-centric core with supporting notes of brown baking spices, roasted nuts, and black fruits. Full-bodied and intense with a sharp black pepper notes that rises on the finish. The 2019 Birthday Bourbon was born on May 15, 2008 with 120 barrels produced and rested for this bottling. $99.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, pale golden straw color. The nose is filled with the scents of bright, baked tropical fruits with flanking notes of cinnamon, citrus zest, and sweet oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush, baked pineapple driven core with generous notes of honey, caramel, and vanilla cream. Wonderfully balanced with bright acidity adding freshness with lingering pepper and spice accents. $19.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, copper color. The nose is dominated by sweet, brown baking spices (cinnamon and nutmeg), toasted oak, and roasted nuts with baked fruits in support. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a decadent spice and oak-driven core with waves of caramel, cashew butter, and vibrant black pepper notes rising on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with rich, toasted oak and spice keeping it sprite. Aged in ex-Bourbon barrels for 12 to 18 months. $22.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, deep bronze color. The nose is vibrant with generous notes of sweet grains, banana bread, butterscotch, and honey with hints of toffee, beeswax, nutmeg, and vanilla. The palate echoes the nose delivering a sweet, honeyed grain-driven core with spicy rye accents with hints of earth and toasted oak. Full-bodied with a lush, sweet core while balanced with a bright dose of acidity. Aged in new American oak for a minimum of seven years. $49.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant bronze color. The nose is wonderfully delicate while generous with scents of sweet oak, baked orchard fruits, and caramel, with hints of citrus zest, vanilla cream, and brown sugar. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush but sprite fruit driven core redolent of a richly spiced apple pie with toasted oak and sweet cinnamon rising on the finish. Medium-bodied with good length and ideal balance thanks a bright dose of acidity. After aging this Bourbon runs through a special beech and birch charcoal filter finishing process that contributes to its soft and silky texture. $21.99 – 4 Stars