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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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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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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 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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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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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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F. Meyer Framboise Eau-de-Vie
Distiller Score 94
The aroma of this Framboise is spectacularly vibrant with unmistakable notes of fresh raspberries. It's bright, lively, and fruit-forward on the palate, with a green, leafy undertone. A truly lovely eau-de-vie.
Reviewed by Jacob Grier
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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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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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Peach Street Pear Brandy
Distiller Score 90
Bright gold in color the brandy features a nose full of underripe plum, canned pears, and candied apple. Soft and sweet initially before the mid-palate emerges full of spiced apple, caramel, and honey. The brandy finishes smoothly on a gentle pear note. Balanced and sippable.
Reviewed by Katrina Niemisto
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F. Meyer Quetsch Eau-de-Vie
Distiller Score 94
This is another fantastically fragrant eau de vie from F. Meyer, with an aroma that reminds one immediately of breaking into the skin of a ripe plum. It boasts a full palate of fruit, braced by brightness and a touch of heat, and a long, lingering finish that makes refilling one's glass hard to resist.
Reviewed by Jacob Grier
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Osocalis Apple Brandy
Distiller Score 93
The apple aromas in Osocalis Apple Brandy are a nice mix of high and low notes and aren't static-- there's complexity and liveliness there. Walnuts, brown butter, and a sweet smoky quality are intertwined with the apple scents which are a mix of sweet and tart. On the palate, the brandy is soft and soothing. Brown sugar and vanilla come in to focus with wood spices helping to bring a close to the finish.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno