Grand Traverse Distillery Small Batch Botanical Gin
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are bold and clear rising from the glass well before it's lifted. Scents of juniper with vibrant citrus notes take the lead with accents of angelica and cilantro. The palate echoes the nose while being somehow even more intense with the botanicals becoming nearly chewy. The juniper and citrus have become fruity being framed by vibrant citrus zest and peppery spice notes. This is a bold and intense Gin with generous botanicals delivered on a silky, creamy bed of a beautiful wheat-based spirit. $35 – 5 Stars
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. Then nose is wonderfully fruity with baked apples in the lead supported by rich caramel, wild mint, lemon zest, vanilla, sweet red cherry, pralines, and honey. The palate echoes the nose delivering a decadent fruit and grain driven core with loads of brown baking spices, spicy rye, and generous oak notes. Bold flavors without being extreme featuring mature Bourbon while flashing a vibrant and youthful exuberance; it's perfectly balanced. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. Then nose is wonderfully fruity with baked apples in the lead supported by rich caramel, wild mint, lemon zest, vanilla, sweet red cherry, pralines, and honey. The palate echoes the nose delivering a decadent fruit and grain driven core with loads of brown baking spices, spicy rye, and generous oak notes. Bold flavors without being extreme featuring mature Bourbon while flashing a vibrant and youthful exuberance; it's perfectly balanced. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Suerte Blanco, 100% Agave Tequila
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully rich and complex offering sweet agave notes with loads of citrus ranging from lime and lemon juice to zest with hints of salt and sweet herbs. The palate echoes the nose offering a generous agave fruit core with vibrant citrus accents and hints of mineral and a soft salinity. Full bodied and rich without being cloying in the slightest offering a bright dose of balancing acidity. $29.99 – 5 Stars
Alberta Rye Dark Batch Canadian Rye Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are bold and assertive with sweet and spicy rye evident but what is very surprising is that the 1% of Sherry in the blend is so prominent in the nose. The palate echoes the nose with rich, sweet, lush flavors of spicy rye with loads of honey, vanilla, Sherry, and toasted oak casks in support. This is a big and bold Whisky that is not for the timid but with its lush and sweet nature it is a Whisky that is approachable to most spirits drinkers. $29.99 – 5 Stars
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is big and complex with rich caramel and baked grain notes supported by a collection of brown baking spices that include clove, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg with dried black fruit, ginger biscuits, vanilla, and toasted oak. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a silky and spicy, grain driven core with sweet honey notes and drier spices like black pepper emerging on the finish. This is a hearty Whiskey with many layers that become more defined and enjoyable with the addition of water. This is one of the most ideally balanced Rye Whiskies you will encounter. $37.99 – 5 Stars
Don Q 151 Rum
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. Wow! This is simply amazing and complex offering scents of dried and baked fruits, cigar box, caramel, toffee, vanilla, brown butter, cocoa, fudge, cola nut, and brown baking spices. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose being impossibly rich and creamy despite its obvious strength finishing with notes of black pepper and blast of alcohol. It's as intense as it gets while being surprisingly silky and gentle with a rich and chewy mouthfeel. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Limoncello di Capri Limoncello
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is alive with the scents of lemon zest and sweetened lemon juice. The palate mirrors the nose while being far more intense delivering a vibrant and generous lemon-focused core with the sugar being balanced by a peppery note in the form of the fresh essential oils. Wonderfully intense and refreshing with fresh, sweet lemon notes bursting on the palate. $25.99 – 5 Stars
Partida Blanco, 100% Agave Tequila
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is amazingly complex offering rustic notes of baked agave with loads of salty aromatics ranging from green olives to pickles and capers with hints of earth and pineapple skins. The palate delivers a silky entry with dry tropical fruit on the mid-palate with loads of black and white pepper, lime zest, and sea salt. The second sip is far more rich and elegant with flanking notes of spice, honey, and dried herbs. This blanco is wonderfully intense while vibrant and refreshing as well. It walks the line between delicate and rustic in the best possible way. $45 – 5 Stars
Molinari Extra Sambuca
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. Pure, fresh anise seeds dominate the aromatics but there are many, subtle underlying notes that emerge such as kaffir lime leaf, fenugreek, and green peppercorns. The palate confirms the nose delivering a pure and potent anise focused blast of flavor with just enough sugar to tame the fiery spice notes. While this great liqueur is slightly over-proof you never feel any of the alcohol heat. It's beautifully intense in the nose and on the palate as it somehow manages to be refreshing and vibrant despite its richness. $25.99 – 5 Stars
