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Highlights
Recently Reviewed
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Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye (2019 Release)
Distiller Score 94
Chocolate opens up the nose—the coveted, crispy and burnt corners of brownies, along with cinnamon, cloves, and sour cherries, as well as oak and cedar. The palate showcases vanilla taffy and salted caramel moving towards the back end, with tannic, slightly green oak. The finish is a smooth drive into a vanilla extract, chocolate syrup, and rye spice sunset. (Barrel #19F965).
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Tequila El Mayor Single Estate Los Lobos Plantation Blanco
Distiller Score 94
Aromas of jalapeño skin, cinnamon stick, aloe, and white chocolate combine for a beguiling nose on this luxury tequila. In the mouth the spirit explodes with a salty mineral tang before showing its powerful baked agave stone fruit. A gently spicy finish rounds out the experience and lingers after tasting.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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The Real McCoy 12 Year Rum
Distiller Score 87
In the bottle, this is rum is a bit darker than you’d expect for a twelve-year rum. The aroma is of oak, light fruit, and non-objectionable feints of nail polish remover, a result of wood aging and especially common in Barbados rum. The initial taste is sweet fruit, although it’s a dry rum with no sugar added. In the mid palate, vanilla and oak take shape. It finishes with a slight bit of pepper and tad more burn than you’d expect from an expertly aged twelve year rum.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
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Belvedere Single Estate Rye: Smogóry Forest
Distiller Score 92
On the nose, this rye-based vodka exhibits a hint of pepper, but is otherwise fairly neutral in aroma. It flavor, however, leans into that peppery spice and a bit of salinity. The flavor is full up front, but then fades out nicely, with a slight lasting tingle on the palate. Though it has a bit of spice to it, this vodka would make a lovely spirit forward cocktail like a Martini or Vesper, and would also be a option to drink neat or on the rocks for die-hard vodka fans.
Reviewed by Anna Archibald
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Brenne Ten Single Malt (2008 Vintage)
Distiller Score 90
Brenne's 2008 offering is gentle and well balanced. Butterscotch and rose petal mingle well on the nose for an amiable sweetness. The spirit eases onto the palate with a nice oiliness that is marked by lemon and biscuit flavors. The finish even gives a little chili spice kick to balance the sweeter notes.
Reviewed by Colin Howard
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Bluecoat Elderflower Gin
Distiller Score 87
Rose petals and elderflower kick off the fragrant nose, with plenty of lemon peel and pith. The palate remains floral, with more of that rose-elderflower tandem, while also showcasing an herbaceous side backed by bitter angelica, lychee, and peppermint. A floral finish showcases orange peel and pink peppercorns. Light on the juniper, this is almost more akin to a high ABV liqueur than a flavored gin, though in either case it's a fun choice for cocktail experimentation.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Clynelish 20 Year 200th Anniversary
Distiller Score 93
Clynelish and sherry maturation doesn't always work, unless the integration of cask and spirit is top notch, which is the case here. Thick notes of beeswax with soft notes of red fruits in the background, there plenty of room for the classic Clynelish profile to shine. The palate is earthy, sherried and waxy with a good amount of farminess. Worthy of celebrating such an iconic distillery!
Reviewed by Thijs Klaverstijn
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Autry Cellars Apple Brandy
Distiller Score 87
This lightly-aged apple brandy strikes a good balance between imparting flavors from the oak and preserving the fruit notes of the spirit. Apple and vanilla are the primary notes on the palate, backed by subtle hints of jasmine, pecan, and cinnamon. It's a warming spirit, ideal for sipping on autumn days or adding a fruit-forward note to cocktails.
Reviewed by Jacob Grier
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Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon 100 Proof
Distiller Score 86
Noticeably spicy and dark for a wheated bourbon. Upfront, there are notes of pipe ash and cinnamon that are buoyed by spiced honey characters. Across the palate, sweeter bread crust and vanilla flavors are offered up within pleasantly smooth sip from front to back.
Reviewed by Colin Howard
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