Spirits
Reviews
Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey ($79)
No need to approach carefully here – this is a dark side beast built to satisfy the public craving for high proof whiskeys that aren’t just about flamethrowing heat. Mellow and rich aromas of caramel, fall spice and a dash of orange zest attract, and the palate says...
Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition ($149)
This “Edition” – Blend No. 032 in the Master Blend line – is more spice focused than previous batches that I’ve tasted. That’s not good, bad or indifferent, it’s just different, and the blender here wisely decided that this had enough unique character to merit its own...
Larado Small Batch Rye 8 Year ($80)
This is so compelling on the nose that you may find yourself spending and extended amount of time parking it above your lip rather than diving right in for a sip. Solid rye character shines through the complementary barrel tones of toffee, maple and spice in layered...
Alto Canto Tequila Blanco High Proof ($90)
There aren’t too many high proof designated tequilas out there, and while this example doesn’t reach what the Gin world calls “Navy Strength” levels, it certainly packs more punch than the average blanco. That said, it’s beautifully balanced on the nose, with pure...
Vodka 57 Pure Glacier Vodka ($60)
If you’re a Vodka drinker that prizes the inherently Swiss concept of neutrality in your spirit of choice, then this is definitely a great choice for you. Distilled from French winter wheat five times and filtered seven times, this is about as neutral as they come....
Tashi Baijiu ($65)
Baijiu is the world’s best-selling spirit, but you likely have little to no experience with it if you live outside of China. Typically distilled from sorghum, it can be quite nondescript in character, but this particular offering kicks things up several notches....
El Mar Margarita Autentica RTD ($32)
Wow – this is as solid an RTD cocktail as I’ve had to date. It completely avoids the two main problems in the category – being too sweet and/or not having the right ABV balance to make the drink a proper cocktail. This carries clear agave and citrus notes, and pouring...
Garrison Brothers “Guadalupe” Port Cask Finished Bourbon ($130)
An earlier iteration of this bottling took a Platinum Award at the 2023 San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge, and this 2024 release took a step up to become the 2025 event’s Brown Spirit of the Year. It again testifies to the validity of the current...
Redwood Empire Pipe Dream 101 Bourbon ($55)
The nose on Pipe Dream 101 is classic Bourbon - vanilla, butterscotch, and light char. It packs a punch right out of the gate – as it should given its 101 proof status. But what first seems like it might be sweet and typical changes direction on the palate. There is...
Minden Mill Rye Whiskey ($45)
A deep golden hue telegraphs what’s in store here – a deeper, richer sort of expression of rye. As a straight rye, the spicy rye, cracked pepper notes are at the center of this, as they should be. Following up are notes of burnt caramel, dried apricot, orange zest, a...
Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey ($60)
Within the whiskey industry the wine category has influenced whiskey-making, most notably through use of various casks to secondarily age whiskey and enhance its flavor profile. Redemption’s Sur Lee is a first of its kind rye whiskey inspired by the French winemaking...
Amador Whiskey Double Barrel Bourbon, Cabernet Barrel Finish ($50)
This bourbon begins its journey, not as an aggressive no-holds-barred bourbon, but on the softer, quieter side. With a mash bill of 70% corn, 15% barley, and 13% rye, you might expect to find a potent level of sweetness, but It’s actually rather muted. There are...
Courvoisier Cognac XO ($200)
This bottling keeps crossing my desk as a top competition performer, taking a Platinum Award with a score of 94 at the 2025 San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge after scoring big at the 2024 event as well. I reviewed it back in July of 2021, and on...
Young & Yonder Port Cask Bourbon ($95)
Young & Yonder is under new ownership since my last visit, and the new team has a serious eye on quality and experimentation. This California Straight Bourbon (yes, actually made in California, not just elaborated) is finished in port wine casks from Sonoma Port...
Fever Tree Margarita Mix ($7)
There are an awful lot of Margarita mixes out there, and when it comes to recommending them, my usual answer is to skip the mixes and go “natural” with real limes and some agave syrup to sweeten to taste. I’m happy to make an exception in the case of this mix, made by...
Casamigos Tequila Blanco ($60)
You may know the story: Friends Gerber and Clooney started Casamigos intending to make tequila according to their personal tastes and for their personal use, with no intent of taking the company public. But, when big money calls… Fast-forward and the once very...
Casa Noble Reposado Tequila ($55)
When Casa Noble launched in 1997, it was with the goal of making great Tequila. That probably sounds obvious, however there is one particular element that separates good spirits from great spirits: water. The water source used in making any spirit is crucial. And Casa...
Batch & Bottle Glenfiddich Scotch Manhattan ($16)
The Manhattan cocktail calls for whiskey as its base, but why not Scotch? Yes, whiskey and Scotch have similarities, but I was curious if a Scotch could hold its own in a Manhattan. The nose doesn’t leap out so at first glance you think this might not be going places....
Freeland Spirits Forest Gin ($40)
There’s something life affirming about the forest – a walk out amongst the pines, particularly in the Pacific northwest, puts things in perspective and awakens the senses. This new gin, the latest in Freeland’s line of great gins, accomplishes a similar task. It’s...
Tanqueray Negroni ($12)
The Negroni – a true classic cocktail that should be a no-brainer for RTD producers – gets a true rendering in the offering from Tanqueray. You’d think there would be more good ones out there with the simple 1-1-1 recipe of gin, bitter liqueur and sweet vermouth, but...
On The Rocks Aviation RTD ($12)
Just because a product says that it is "ready to drink" doesn't mean that you should. I "get" to taste a lot of these sorts of things, and the ones that I can recommend seem to be few and far between. This is my first experience with the On The Rocks brand, and if its...
Arrogant Bastard Whiskey ($65)
Stone Brewing, a perennial beer fan favorite, partnered with Foundry Distilling to release the new Arrogant Bastard Whiskey. Its appearance is deep amber. The nose offers aromas of malty sweetness, caramel, toasted oak, and hints of hops and roasted coffee This...
High West Bourbon ($35)
The nose is classic bourbon -- sweet caramel, butterscotch, light resin and citrus. The entry is straightforward and carries all you get on the nose into the palate. There are back notes of cinnamon, apricot and a light wisp of campfire and charred wood. The finish...
High West Double Rye ($38)
Slightly sweeter than most ryes, this nonetheless promotes solid rye character. The spiciness of the rye is evident, as are some light butterscotch and muted vanilla notes. Billed as a double rye, it does not contain aggressive, spicy notes as you might expect from a...