Ventura Orangecello
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are so pure and forward offering bright scents of candied, sliced blood orange with accents of mandarin orange and red grapefruit. The palate is in full agreement with the nose, rich and concentrated orange flavors that focus on the juice and pulp with a vibrant dose of zest that add an edge and keep it fresh. It's a big mouthful of orange with waves of sweet juice and zesty peel. $28 – 4.5 Stars
King’s Ginger Liqueur
Brilliant pale golden color. The aromatics are simply beautiful offering much more than ginger alone with supporting notes of citrus zest and pulp, sugar cane juice, lemongrass, and galangal with hints of jasmine. The palate echoes the nose delivering a potent ginger and pepper surge presented on a viscous canvas that carries the flavors on for minutes after swallowing. A super digestif and ripe and ready for endless cocktail applications. $39.99 – 4 Stars
Grand Marnier Quintessence Liqueur
Deep copper with orange highlights. The nose is fresh, vibrant, and unmistakably Grand Marnier offering bright scents of orange and tangerine with orange zest, fully integrated wood notes, rich Cognac with hints of vanilla, allspice, and clove. The palate echoes the nose delivering sequential waves of candied orange zest with lush Cognac and exotic spices. This is a true luxury item with very limited availability. For those of us shopping in the strata below luxury be comforted by the knowledge that the classic GM Cordon Rouge is nearly as good and it does not require a layaway plan. $799.99 – 5 Stars
Arehucas Ron Miel (Rum with honey) Liqueur
Brilliant amber color. The nose is vibrant with the scents of sweet orange peel, wild flowers, rich honey, Rum, and blood orange with hints of nutmeg and vanilla. The palate echoes the nose with a lush honey filled core and just enough acidity to keep it fresh. This is not a Rum rather a Rum-based liqueur and an attractive one at that. The cocktail applications are endless as we are thinking of a twist on the classic Daiquiri using nothing but Rum, Arehucas Ron Miel, and limejuice. $20 – 4 Stars
Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
Perfectly clear with a hint of pewter. Fresh and delicate on the nose with pure, candied orange peel with delicious, concentrated orange and tangerine juice notes. The palate is incredibly viscous with a sweet, orange-centric entry that gives way to orange zest, ginger, and hints of clove. The spicy elements keep it vibrant and balanced. $36.99 – 4 Stars
Merlet Crème de Cassis
Deep, darkest ruby/garnet color with evident viscosity. The fruit purity in the aromatics is astounding with incredible concentration offering both ultra-ripe and bittersweet notes and hints of sour cherry. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush, velvet like texture of perfectly balanced black fruit concentrate with tart berry notes as the foil. Heavenly. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Merlet Crème de Mure
Deep garnet color with ripples of viscous liqueur on the glass. The nose explodes with the scents of a dense berry patch in the summer’s heat with hints of sweet cherries, wild mint and mineral. The palate is incredibly vibrant with waves of blackberry seeming nearly light, which is an amazing feat for the style. Bright, refreshing acidity runs throughout creating perfect balance and length. Superb. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Merlet Crème de Fraise
Bright garnet to burgundy with hints of orange. Rich and concentrated strawberry scents are supported by blood orange, citrus, and sweet wild flowers. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose delivering a complex fruit attack that strikes the perfect balance of tart and sweet with an ever evolving fruit core that lingers on for minutes. The descriptors could go on and on but ultimately it will never do justice to this masterpiece. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Merlet Crème de Poire
Brilliant pale straw color with evident sugars on the glass when swirled. The nose is fresh with the scents of ripe and tart pear with a serious dose of pear skin. The palate opens with a wave of delicate, sweet pear juice that soon gives way to a pear pulp concentrate and supporting citrus accents that lift the flavors to a new dimension. Perfectly balanced with long lingering bittersweet pear candy dissolving on the tongue. $24.99 – 5 Stars
Merlet Crème de Framboise
Deep ruby red with a thick coating of clear sugar on the glass. The nose is filled with the scents of raspberry concentrate as well as freshly picked berries with subtle underlying citrus note. The palate is a delicious struggle of sweet and tart berries with no clear winner beckoning you back for sip after sip in hopes of solving the puzzle. Ideally balanced and perfect in every way being nearly too good to believe. Brilliant. $24.99 – 5 Stars
