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Harvest Spirits Pear Brandy
Distiller Score 93
This is a surprisingly aromatic spirit with a soaring bouquet of freshly-sliced Bartlett pears and summer grass. The palate is pleasantly juicy and round with rich orchard fruit and a touch of earthy pear skin. There is very little perceptible heat from alcohol making for a decadent after-dinner drink with a long, sweet fruit-driven finish.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Copper & Kings Blue Sky Mining Brandy
Distiller Score 90
Tropical fruits lead on the nose with melons and papaya. There's also grape jelly, rose water, raspberries and blackberries, and blooming flowers. The palate is rich and fruity, with more of those wine and jammy notes, and the oak making its presence felt with a drier, spicier background. A long, smooth finish shows some heat, with notes of bubblegum, more tropical fruit, and bits of pepper, spice, and oak.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Agnesi 1799 Brandy
Distiller Score 89
The nose offers a walk through a dewy, grassy meadow, with honey, sugar-coated grapes, and dried fruits. The palate shows more honey along with floral notes and a basket of fruits inducing plums, redcurrants, and lingonberries, as well as leather and dark chocolate. A flowery finish offers sweet agave syrup and oak.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Harvest Spirits Cornelius Cherry Brandy
Distiller Score 86
The Bing cherry influence can not be overemphasized, and the spirit shows a spectrum of the fruit’s flavors from the acidic crunch of the skins to the earthy, hazelnut and dark chocolate character of the pits. Unfortunately the cherry’s intensity hijacks some of the apple base that Harvest Spirits does so well. By all means, cherry lovers should rejoice and one would be hard pressed to find a more intense cherry experience.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Bonollo Grappa OF Amarone Barrique
Distiller Score 88
The dense, golden color of this grappa is a good hint to its rich and decadent character. Some of the spirit’s initial earthy flavors are there, but more present is the plush influence of oak which shows as vanilla and toasted saw dust. The time in wood has also unlocked more rich fruit flavors such as roasted fig, golden raisins, and apple crumb cake. Perhaps a bit heavy on the barrel flavors for people looking for an invigorating end to a meal, but for those who want something with a bit more pizzaz, this is a knockout.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Lepanto PX Gran Reserva
Distiller Score 90
Espresso, pipe tobacco and dried fruit greet the nose as figs, raisins, prunes, dates and walnuts enter the palate. The dried fruits hold a fair amount of acidity, which keeps the sticky toffee pudding flavors in check. The milk chocolate finish is almost like Nutella, but with just a slight spark of heat.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Clear Creek Eau-de-Vie of Mirabelle Plum
Distiller Score 92
This lively spirit shimmers and has an aroma and taste of yellow plums and unripe peach. The eau-de-vie is pure and transparent with the ripe fruit and ends with a slight bitter orange taste. The length on the finish is solid and clean.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Clear Creek Marc de Gewürtztraminer
Distiller Score 90
If you've not tasted gewürtztraminer wine before, the aroma on this marc is exactly what you should expect. It is a very floral and fruity aromatic grape. Lychee fruit and green grapes come to mind. The body of the marc is somewhat soft and certainly not as sweet as the aroma leads you to believe it will be. As always, this is clean and clear; a true expression of the style.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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A & G Apple Brandy Reserve
Distiller Score 75
The aromatics of this brandy have a strong apple character (good) but a bit too much wood char (bad). The barrel flavors are further apparent with a fairly chewy palate that maintains some fresh orchard fruit but suffers from a hint of astringency. The finish takes a bizarre turn with a sweet, baked grape character that must be the result of the Cream Sherry influence and unfortunately lingers far longer than any hint of apple. There are many interesting things going on here, but unfortunately the flavors compete rather than reach a coherent whole.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Peach Street Peach Brandy
Distiller Score 82
The brandy has a nose of honey, lemongrass, and stewed stone fruit. Initially, the flavors are honey-sweet before it evolves into a nutmeg-cooked peach flavor. With a dash of water, the nose opens up into a more floral tone with the palate expanding to honeysuckle, clove, and butterscotch. Smooth and lingering finish.
Reviewed by Katrina Niemisto
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Dutch's Spirits Peach Brandy
Distiller Score 85
This traditional peach brandy will not easily be confused with the more common peach flavored brandy. Aromas of almonds, dried peaches, peach pits and raisins are wrapped in a delicate layer of vanilla, cedar and a hint of nutmeg. On the palate, the flavors are true to the nose with a pleasant heat and the addition of honey, roasted peaches and baking spices. Finishes long and warm with notes of peach and vanilla that linger to the end. Restrained barrel aging allows the base spirit to shine through resulting in a balanced spirit worthy of drinking neat or in a well-crafted cocktail.
Reviewed by Kelley Slagle
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Germain-Robin Brandy
Distiller Score 84
The nose offers violets and roses leading to a tropical fruit bowl with juicy ripe mango, papaya, and lychee. There's also a distinct buttery, creaminess. The palate is soft and delicate with grapes, berries, and dark chocolate all in front of a floral bouquet. The finish is short and perfumed, with oak, honey, ginger, and hay.
Reviewed by Jake Emen