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Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth
Distiller Score 92
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.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit & Rose
Distiller Score 94
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.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Ketel One Botanical Peach & Orange Blossom
Distiller Score 85
Peach is the primary aroma here along with a slight green aromatic quality. Difficult to ascertain the orange blossom since the peach is so intense. It is somewhat one dimensional, but enjoyable nonetheless. Mix as you see fit.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Luxardo Antico
Distiller Score 93
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.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Grey Goose Essences White Peach & Rosemary
Distiller Score 89
The white peach and rosemary come through nicely on the aroma with an inviting presence. As you taste the flavor of peach stays with you and the rosemary has a nice dimension to it. There's just a hint of sweetness here which adds a welcome addition to the drink. Having it with the recommended soda, the fragrance of the peach stays with you. It's a very pleasant drink and flavorful enough that you don't need to add any sugar to enjoy. Perhaps a squeeze of lemon or orange, but it's good to go.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Grey Goose Essences Strawberry & Lemongrass
Distiller Score 83
The aroma of the strawberries are very inviting from the moment you pour in your glass, but the lemongrass is tough to find. Also as you taste it, the flavors are bitter and tart without much sweetness from the grain spirit. When you serve this as brand suggests with just soda water, the drink is a little better, but the strawberries don't have enough sweetness to make this enjoyable this way. Would need to add sweetener to your drink, perhaps with tonic or lemonade or even Prosecco.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Ketel One Botanical Cucumber & Mint
Distiller Score 91
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).
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Wine Collective Vermu Rosé
Distiller Score 92
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.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Linie Aquavit Original
Distiller Score 85
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.
Reviewed by Thijs Klaverstijn
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Seedlip Notas de Agave
Distiller Score 79
The aroma of the white fleshed fruit (pear/peach) comes through pretty clear on the nose. Not a whole lot else going on there. As you taste, the spirit has a watery mouth feel with a faint pear and prickly peppercorn bite at the tip of the tongue. A light bitter lime taste comes through at the finish. It's lean and doesn't remotely remind one of an agave spirit. However, it would be a pleasant serve for those that enjoy flavored sparkling waters.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Glendalough Sherry Cask Finish Poitín
Distiller Score 82
One of these things is not like the other... the sherry adds an elegant cashew nut and raisin dimension to the Poitin's signature vegetal, berry and smoky barley notes. This version feels a little more weighty too. Not quite like drinking a fully aged Irish whiskey, but it's something people who haven't yet liked a white whiskey might make peace with.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Rouge
Distiller Score 85
Beginning with a very dark amber color, the vermouth has a caramelized aroma with ginger, mint, orange hard candies, and other green herbs going on. It is moderately full with a bittersweet profile. Again the caramel notes dominate here and tames all that was going on in the nose. The finish is a bit flat and cola like with bitter, earthy notes and ginger prevailing in the end.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno