Spirits
Reviews
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...
Cazadores Reposado Tequila ($32)
For a reposado, this is very light in color. At first this might be of concern, however this keeps the usual earthy, spice notes of the agave, and adds just a slight amount of sweetness, noticeable from the brief aging in barrel. The Tequila rests for over two months...
6 O’Clock Damson Gin ($40)
As gins go, this Damson deviates quite a bit from traditional gin, as all Damson gins do. Damson gin is more of a liqueur made from damson plums macerated in a sugar and gin syrup for eight weeks or more. The plum notes are quite evident, but it lacks any specific gin...
Cazadores Paloma ($14.99/4pak)
A standard simple cocktail, the Paloma has unclear origins (typical of many cocktails), but many experts believe it was created in Mexico City in the 1950s or earlier. The Paloma is comprised of Tequila, lime juice and grapefruit soda, and though uncomplicated, it is...
Koval Bourbon Whiskey ($21)
This single barrel, distilled in Chicago, offers a surprising mash bill: 51% corn and 49% millet. The corn isn’t unusual — all bourbon has to be made from 51% corn by law — so the millet is the wild card here. This is less sweet than most bourbons on the market and...
Baby Jane Bourbon ($50)
Whatever happened to Baby Jane? She became bourbon. Widow Jane Distillery out of Brooklyn offers this blended bourbon whiskey, light amber in color with golden hues. The nose is immediate butterscotch, cinnamon and caramel. The background is light cinnamon and nutmeg,...
Templeton Rye ($35)
Templeton offers a definitive note of rye, which should be expected. The spiciness is not strong, however, and is well integrated into the bourbon as a whole. There are light notes of resin, butterscotch and sugared almond along with bright but subtle citrus notes....
Redwood Empire “Emerald Giant” Rye Whiskey ($37)
Typically rye whiskey is either a potent pedal to the metal spicy rye, or a calm and tranquil version. You don’t get much in between. The point of the rye as a base is obviously the spicy notes it brings. There is a very nice viscosity to this, but it’s a little...
Duke & Dame Salted Caramel Whiskey ($32)
Flavored brown spirits are nothing new, yet the novelty can come across as a one trick pony. I’d heard of Duke & Dame Salted Caramel Whiskey for well over a year and, frankly, though salted caramel is wonderful, I wondered whether it could work as a flavored...
Redwood Empire “Pipe Dream” Bourbon Whiskey ($37)
This is less sweet than most bourbons, which is a nice change of pace, but it does offer noticeable, resin, caramel, and butterscotch, apricot and citrus zest, browned butter and pepper spice. It has a soft entry with a little bite in the back pallet. There is also an...
Reserva Don Armando Tequila Añejo Cristalino ($55)
Añejo Tequila is aged in wood, and that process adds an amber shade and some vanilla flavor to the finished product. A “Cristalino” goes through a process to remove the color while maintaining that vanilla note. This helps when making fancy cocktails where keeping...
Cierto Tequila Blanco, Private Collection ($79)
Blanco Tequila has quite a range of style and flavor profile possibilities as more and more folks get into the game. This version is right down the middle, focusing on pure agave character with a slightly reined in rusticity, letting notes of earth and pepper come...
Pennsylvania Dutch American Bourbon Cream Liqueur ($17)
“The cream of the crop” is quite the old saw, used to describe the best of the best, regardless of category. This product fits the bill in multiple ways, taking not only best Cream Liqueur honors at the Sommelier Challenge, but also grabbing the Spirit of the Year...
Besos de Angelica Mezcal Artesanal ($50)
There’s a lot to geek out on with this beautiful Mezcal, so I’ll toss out some terms that will get you in the mood for researching while sipping: Maguey. Agave Karwinskii. Cuishe. First Run. Joven. If you aren’t in the mood for research, just think “young, very...