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 aromatics are wonderfully complex and alluring, focused on sweet smoke with supporting notes of baked, caramelized pineapple, fresh herbs, wild flowers, and citrus with hints of eucalyptus and vanilla bean. The palate confirms the nose delivering a decadent baked agave core with prominent waves of smoke, orange peel, and vanilla with accents of black pepper and sandalwood on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with a silky texture with ideal balance thanks to bright citrus and subtle spice notes. Made with Espadin and Barril agave grown in the fertile soils of Oaxaca. $64.99 – 4.5 Stars

Brilliant, crystal clear with a deep mahogany color. The aromatics are wonderfully hedonistic and complex, offering scents of sweet vanilla fudge, rich caramel, and brown baking spices supported by baked apples, charred oak, and brown sugar. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and silky dense caramel and oak-driven core with generous baked fruit and assertive brown spice notes that rise on the finish. Full-bodied and so incredibly silky and lush while also showing balance and restraint. Aged six years and five months — bottled uncut and unfiltered. $89.99 – 5 Stars

Brilliant copper/orange color. The nose is greeted with a medicinal cherry scent accented by notes of brown sugar, orange peel, and almonds. The palate echoes the nose delivering a sweet cherry-driven core with flanking notes of burnt orange, marzipan, dried herbs, and hints of vanilla. Medium-bodied with sweet fruits throughout — it's more sweet than bitter and the medicinal flavor lingers. This version of an Italian Amaro seems to be more about the package than the liquid. $35 – 3 Stars

Brilliant amber color. The nose is beautiful offering waves of ripe pear and aromatic grapes with supporting notes of sweet oak, honey, pink peppercorns, and vanilla beans. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering an orchard fruit-focused core with waves of buttery toffee, caramel, and hints of ginger biscuits. Ideally balanced with fruit and spice in perfect proportions and a generous dose of bright acidity. $32.99 – 4.5 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

Deep copper/amber color. The nose is quite assertive with scents of black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon with hints of caramel, sawdust, citrus, and oak. The palate agrees with the nose delivering a peppery entry followed by sweet brown spices, caramel, vanilla, and oak. Full-bodied with a take-no-prisoner approach flashing firm, charred oak notes with spicy and assertive alcohol notes. Made with a blend of aged Bourbon (40%) and Rye ((60%). $45 – 3.5 Stars

Deep copper color. The aromatics are lush and luxurious filling the nose with scents of vanilla, caramel, honey, and candied nuts with hints of baked apple, maple candy, and nutmeg. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich and silky honey and brown spice-focused core with flanking notes of black pepper, charred oak, and hints of cinnamon. Full-bodied with a lush, sweet core punctuated by spice and oak. Made with a blend of corn-dominated Bourbon aged four to twelve years. $45 – 4.5 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