Aromatic aromas of pine, cedar, birch tree, jasmine, and orange peel fill the nose. The palate is a rich and full-bodied mix of jammy berries, vanilla, and cocoa tempered by woodsy notes and rosemary with bitter wormwood, grapefruit peel, and tart rhubarb. The finish is rich and balanced, with the woody-bitter notes adding a faint accent.

Really bright, intense grapefruit nose with the rose playing a very minor role here. The floral note shows up on the finish, but the grapefruit is there to stop it from heading into potpourri territory. It has a crisp, bittersweet finish. Of course you could use this in a cocktail, but it really doesn't need much more than ice and club soda to be complete.

The overall feel of this vermouth is pleasantly earthy, with warm, savory herbal notes that lead to a harmoniously balanced finish. This style of vermouth is meant to be served neat or on the rocks, and it certainly would do the trick. However, because the herbaceousness is so elegantly dialed down, it's a perfect cocktail modifier for Martinis and other drinks that call for white vermouth.

Rich, nutty, with earthy aromatics and a hint of orange in the finish, this tawny brown vermouth drinks more like a sherry. It's intended to be consumed as an aperitif on the rocks with a twist (making it the perfect drink for Groundhog Day!) instead of mixed into cocktails. However, it does lend itself well to stirred drinks such as an aromatic style of Manhattan or a low ABV recipe like an Adonis, especially if making a lighter, more summery type recipe. This is definitely one to keep in the fridge at all times in the warmer months.

This china is pleasantly balanced and laid back. There is an evergreen earthiness to it, but it's well integrated with the rich, red fruitiness (blood orange, red berries, tart rhubarb) and dark chocolate notes. It can definitely be served neat or as a spritz, but would also play nicely as a sub for sweet vermouth, especially for those who prefer a less sugary option.

The cucumber aroma is quite intense, enough that you can detect it when you open the bottle, with thoughts turning to their skins. Mint is of moderate intensity which is a nice collaboration. The cucumber flavor, thankfully, comes down a few notches upon tasting with the refreshing mint offering a crisp finish. Of course serving with club soda on the rocks is a natural go-to, but consider adding a splash of pink lemonade or grapefruit juice to add a little sweetness (and dimension).

Heritage 176 is peppery and grain forward on the nose, but compared to the standard Belvedere, there's more of a sweetness on the nose. The spirit feels full on the palate with a moderate oiliness coupled with sweet toasted grain. The spice level is moderate and the taste is bittersweet. Again, compared to the standard version, this spirit has more of a nutty quality. However, as it's overall fairly neutral, all of the flavors mentioned are nuanced. The finish is fairly lengthy. Overall, an excellent sipper and great in a Martini.

Cherries are rightfully at the forefront on the nose, ahead of blackberries, vanilla, prunes, and mandarin. The palate is all syrupy cherry pie filling, along with a mulled wine quality featuring red fruits, orange zest, and spices such as cinnamon and clove. The finish lingers on the fruity interplay between tart, sour, and sweet.

Cinnamon Red Hots lead on the nose, along with licorice, allspice, white pepper, and rye bread. The whiskey base provides a creamy mouthfeel, with the palate revealing butterscotch, caraway, ginger peels, and both lemon peel and pith. The finish is short and clean with vanilla taffy and tannic black tea. An approachable if nontraditional aquavit.

There’s caraway, black licorice and touches of orange peel, followed by a whiff of vanilla. Overall the nose is fairly herbal. A minty arrival on the palate, combined with oak, some grassy notes and some very subtle red fruits, but also more of that black licorice. Tasty, yet a little shy at times.

La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Extra Dry has a pale golden color and is very aromatic. The aromas here lean more towards the herbal and bitter with a bit of a foresty and menthol back note. These follow through on the palate which is high in acidity. Very much not a neutral vermouth, but would work when wanting to amp up the herbal and bitter note in your cocktail.

A pleasant scent of fresh berries, pine trees and blood orange carries the nose, with more pronounced fruitiness (watermelon, strawberry, orange, lichee) on the palate. A refreshing note of mint, earthy green tea and warm spices follow through into the finish. It's a delightful, semi-sweet sipper on its own, but would be excellent to use to lighten up summer Negronis, or even a summer version of a Manhattan, not to mention an array of spritzes.