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Amaro Montenegro
Distiller Score 96
Deep amber color. The aroma has bright citrus notes with underlying spices of cinnamon and cardamom which is very inviting. The palate is medium rich and medium sweet. There's a slight floral backnote to the spirit. The bitter intensity is on the low side making this an exceedingly approachable amaro to start with. But there's a complexity to the spirit as well making it a dynamic modifier for cocktails as well. Every home bar should have a bottle of Monte.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Mr Black Single Origin Colombia
Distiller Score 96
This coffee liqueur has a rich, opaque appearance very similar to a classic cup of joe. Look for milk chocolate, dark berry and vanilla aromas on the nose. On the palate, it has a creamy texture, with notes of dark chocolate and slight nuttiness. There's a hint of sweetness, but it's in balance with the mildly bitter notes you expect from coffee. Chill for a wonderfully simple after dinner sip.
Reviewed by Anna Archibald
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Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao
Distiller Score 96
A citrus smorgasbord with clementines, orange peel and pith, and grapefruit zest, as well as toffee, and grape jelly. The palate showcases zesty oranges with vanilla bean, along with touches of herbaceousness and spice. The finish is warming with bitter orange, tingly black pepper, and tannic black tea. A triple sec that's close to perfection.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Casa d'Aristi Xtabentun Honey Liqueur
Distiller Score 95
Right off the bat, this liqueur exhibits a strong—but vaguely sweet—anise aroma, not unlike arak or pastis. On the palate, however, honey takes center stage. The liqueur manages to avoid becoming excessively sweet and instead is a lovely, viscous amalgam of herbaceous, floral honey. This would make a great amendment to cocktails in small quantities, but will really shine on its own, over ice.
Reviewed by Anna Archibald
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Fernet-Branca
Distiller Score 95
Fernet-Branca has a coffee colored tint and intensely spiced aroma. Going back to it you'll find notes which stand out, particularly menthol which is present throughout but especially on the finish. Orange peel and camomille are other aromas. Although there are some fruit notes on the taste, the overwhelming notes are barks and spices. The fernet has a medium-plus fullness, a moderate sweetness and bitter finish, although there are more bitter amari and fernets out there. To many, there is no other brand of Fernet so this serves as a sort of benchmark for the category.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Drambuie
Distiller Score 95
Look for a pale yellow color, and a light orange blossom honey aroma. Herbal flavors are much more prominent upon tasting the liqueur, and are quickly mellowed by a creamy texture, juicy orange notes, and a prominent honeyed sweetness. Mix in cocktails or drink over ice.
Reviewed by Anna Archibald
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St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
Distiller Score 94
Aggressively elderflower and floral on the nose, with grapefruit, grape spirit, and in the background, a surprising touch of coffee grounds. The palate showcases grape jelly, rose water, lychee, apricots, honey, and key lime pie. A short finish breezes past with dreams of fragrant dewy mornings.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Ferrand Dry Curaçao Yuzu Late Harvest
Distiller Score 94
The nose and palate are a balanced mix of citrus peel—a mix of grapefruit, lemon, lime, and tangerine—along with lemongrass and vanilla/white chocolate sweetness. A perfumed note of a orange blossom gives it a Ramos Gin Fizz-like flavor, which tricks the palate into a sort of implied creaminess, though it has the consistency of liqueur with no cream added. This is one of those cordials that works as both a cocktail modifier and a neat sipper (though it would be best on the rocks or with a splash of soda).
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Hayman's Sloe Gin
Distiller Score 94
There's a bright plummy aroma on the nose; the botanicals present give the sloe gin depth, but don't themselves stand out. This is a really balanced sloe gin and as such, isn't sticky sweet or one dimensional. When adding to cocktails, keep this in mind. It is lovely, fruity, and just the right amount of tart. A Sloe Gin Fizz is an obvious choice, but this can be used by adding to some lemonade or, even better, in some Champagne.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Fernet Leopold Highland Amaro
Distiller Score 93
On first nosing, mint and floral notes are first to the party with star anise and cinnamon showing up in subsequent visits. In fact, each trip to the glass brings something new. Elderflower. Cherry fruit. Ginger. The fernet has a medium plus viscosity and is sweet on the tongue providing just enough sweet to balance the bitter. Although mint is the star here, it isn't a diva and allows other supporting botanical castmates to shine at different moments. A thoughtful expression to the category.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
Distiller Score 93
The aroma of this liqueur is remarkably similar to pot of coffee brewed with fresh coffee beans. The hint of dark chocolate and cherry on the nose translates to a rich, vanilla-flecked espresso flavor on the palate and a silky texture. It's bittersweet, but not overwhelmed by a heavy sugar flavor like other liqueurs of the genre. This is a great option for coffee devotees and is just as good neat and over ice as is is in a cocktail.
Reviewed by Anna Archibald
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Ancho Reyes Ancho Chile Liqueur
Distiller Score 93
On the nose, this liqueur hints at caramelized peppers and dried stone fruit alongside a biting, almost minty zest. Its flavor is warm, deep and spicy, but the biting freshness is still there, now discernible as hot seeded pepper, underlined with sweeter notes of tamarind candies. It bites, but is not overwhelming. You’re left feeling like you’ve been snacking on pepper seeds dipped in honey. This liqueur would be a great option for adding depth and heat to a cocktail, and it’s unlikely anyone would complain if you go a bit heavy handed.
Reviewed by Anna Archibald