Spirits Reviews

Deep bronze color. A soft, rich, and sweet nose with scents of vanilla, cola, tropical fruits and coconut. The palate offers a soft and silky mouthfeel with flavors of cola, vanilla, and fruit. Ideal for beach and poolside cocktails. Not terribly complex but well delivered, pleasurable, and a good value. $14.99 – 3 Stars

Brilliant amber to mahogany in color. The nose is like nirvana to those of us who appreciate the complex and beautiful aromas of aged Rum. Scents of roasted tropical fruits, roasted almonds, treacle, brown butter, allspice, clove, cocoa, and vanilla fill the nose. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and silky core with generous spice notes to add intrigue and shape. A wonderful and complex Rum from Brugal. $49.99 – 4.5 Stars

Pale copper color. The nose showcases mineral, orange marmalade, and almonds with hints of smoke. Altogether lean. The palate is far more generous, offering flavors of biscuit, caramel, toffee, dried fruits, and marzipan. Dry and a bit austere with greatly defined note of grain and a clever, subtle use of wood. An aperitif Whiskey. $39.99 – 4 Stars

Deep copper to amber color. The nose is generous and quite herbal with lush with honey and caramel. Scents of eucalyptus, mint, and pine needles, mingle with sweet malt, caramel, candied cashews, and dark chocolate. The palate echoes the nose being lush while lively with accents of dry citrus zest and earth oak tones. Ideally balanced and full of intrigue. $79.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant amber color. At the first nosing you are aware that this is a beauty, a special whiskey worthy of a special anniversary from a top distiller. Complex aromas of barley honey, with sweet caramel malt, toffee, figs, brown butter, and hints of the tropics fill the nose. The palate echoes the mélange of scents delivered on a full-bodied palate that generously provides endless waves of flavor. The finest Bushmills Whiskey that I have ever had. $89.99 – 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 – 5 Stars

Deep gold to copper color. The nose explodes with scents of dried apricots, prunes, dates, sweet sherry, roasted nuts, almond brittle, mango, and a mélange of tropical notes. A rich, semi-viscous mid-palate that expands with notes of dark chocolate, treacle, and decadent fig preserves, in full agreement with the nose. A classy Whiskey that is showing better than ever. $34.99 – 4 Stars

A very fragrant Whiskey with scents of fresh grass and spring flowers with touches of candied almonds, mango, and a faint coconut impression. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose being youthful while lush and generous with flavors of baked orchard fruits that become quite dry and a bit green on the finish. A very good value. $19.99 – 3 Stars

Copper color. A delicate but expressive nose with notes of caramel cream with sweet grain. A soft palate entry baked with firm toasted grain and oak notes complimented by hints of honey and vanilla. A wonderfully harmonious session dram. $18.99 – 3 Stars

Pale gold color. A beautiful nose filled with notes of toasted malt accented by wild herbs and cardamom. Rich and pleasingly rustic on the palate with a mélange of toasted grains accented by notes of pepper, oak, roasted nuts and caramel. Complex while undemanding, encouraging sip after sip. A staple of my drinks cabinet. $29.99 – 4 Stars
