By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 1/2/2023 | Send Email

This champagne is always a favorite of mine. It is lively, fresh, dry and full bodied. It is complex and has an inviting light golden hue in the glass.

By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 12/29/2022 | Send Email

Incredible with food, this Pierre Mineral rosé is a workhorse, pairing well with anything from fried chicken to caviar, potato chips to canapés. I even served it with great success to a Super Bowl crowd, though it’s elegant enough for a romantic Valentine’s dinner. Vivid and chalky with a beautiful delicate pink color, this special Direct Import sparkler is a bright, linear brut style made from all estate-grown fruit from some of the most coveted crus of Champagne, here just in time to celebrate.

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 12/28/2022 | Send Email

This is my very favorite Blanco tequila. It is refreshing and perfect for a nice slow sip and enjoy. Pure and clean, with super generous minerals and light white pepper. It also has a nice viscosity and smoothness with flavors of cream, cooked agave, cinnamon and stone fruits. A real pleasure to drink!

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/20/2022 | Send Email

While we're committed to offering rare bourbon at standard mark up, we're also not blind to the fact that the market is on fire for these special products. While our competitors charge north of $150 for the standard expression of Blanton's, we're still only asking $55. That's while it can feel so hard to get some of these rare bourbons at K&L. So when the opportunity came up to purchase these re-imported stocks, I insisted that we do so in a fair an equitable way. Of course we could charge $400 a bottle for this special bourbon and likely still sell most of it, but it just goes against my ethos of what a great wine and spirits store should be for their customers. So while these stocks are above standard price for this US version of this product, they're being offered at our standard mark up, well below market price. It's a small price to pay for access to these special stocks, especially when considering what the market seems to be comfortable charging for the standard release. In any case, this is dang good bourbon and never disappoints. Like all Blanton's it's aged in the famous warehouse H and is the high rye mashbill. This bottle is drawn from barrel No. 397, which was dumped on February 7th of 2022 and bottled at 63.05%. Your bottle will almost certainly be different, so please be aware of the unique character of each barrel. The nose is absolutely explosive with rich aromas of caramel sauce, orange peel, Tahitian vanilla, cherry compote and vibrant woody spice. The palate starts extremely sweet and creamy before the rye and barrel spice begin to wallop the mid-palate. The intense spice and old school woody character balances the heavy woody sugars perfectly and while exhibiting plenty of the Kentucky Hug that bourbon lovers enjoy, it doesn't feel burn-y or ethanol like at all. The long chewy palate gives way to a rich oxidative finish full of nutty sweet chocolate and dried red fruits. A few drops of water add more fruit and tame the spice a bit, but I like this best right out of the bottle. There's no question that the price of entry on this one is high, but if you're prepared to spend this kind of dough on any other modern bourbon this should be a contender for top dog!

By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 12/14/2022 | Send Email

Absolutely stunning wine. Deep color. Sweet red licorice and cranberry nose. Very, very elegant. A lot of Merlot. More feminine style. Tasted four times with consistent notes

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 12/11/2022 | Send Email

Made by Kaetsu, which was founded in 1880, this immensely satisfying saké comes to us from the Chūbu region of Niigata and is made from Gohyakumangoku with a 50% polishing rate. SMV +3, TA 1.6 = on the edge of dry and rich. Kaetsu's Toji, Yamaga Kenichiro, has been making saké for more than 50 years. Kanbara Bride of the Fox is muroka, which means non-charcoal filtered. Muroka saké presents as bolder in both mouthfeel and complexity of character. On the nose there's subtle porcini mushroom and a complex botanical melange with fresh coastal sage as a primary note, bees wax, and sticky rice. The mouthfeel is dense, medium-plus body with flavors of porcini mushroom, coriander seed, steamed rice, and honeycomb wax. This will appeal to those who appreciate bolder full-bodied wines and sakés. Pairs beautifully with red meat and grilled vegetables, or nothing at all.

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 12/6/2022 | Send Email

What used to be a staple on our shelf has moved into the unobtainable realm since McKenna 10 year won Best in Show at the SF spirits comp in 2019. Beating out every other whisky of any type this under the radar stalwart shot into the stratosphere of Bourbon circles everywhere. Tack the pandemic on top of that destroying supply chains (and the fact that it's a 10 year old BIB single barrel product) and you've got a recipe for infrequent stock drops and limited availability. Fortunately for K&L fans our excellent relationship with Heaven Hill has afforded a sizable allocation this holiday season and we've got it on an email offer for the first time in many many years. But accolades aren't as important as how it tastes - so let's taste. Deep chocolate in color the intensity of 10 years in new American oak stands out even before you pull the stopper. The nose is overtly sweet - vanilla, butterscotch, caramels, milk chocolate, and brown sugar. It's a rich and heady mix. The alcohol feels just right - at the 100 proof required to be bottled in bond it is robust, but not over the top. The palate shows more of the same big sweet flavors but adds in toasty oak spices and a very pleasant minty herbal note that offers balance. The finish is long and sweet without being cloying. It's a pleasure to have this back on the shelf for once. While the days of us buying this whisky a pallet at a time are long gone, this deal offers a glimmer of hope that we might soon return to a world where the top name staples of yesteryear are once again readily available!

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/6/2022 | Send Email

The Mckenna was one of those sleeper bourbons that we all hoped nobody finds out about. Age stated 10 year old bottled in bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon is simply not being sold by anyone else. There's absolutely nothing out there that can claim those stats even at higher prices. And you know what, it's SINGLE BARREL as well. So checking almost every geeky bourbon box. But ultimately this is just one of the very finest drinkers in the shop. While it doesn't have the smack you around power of its sibling the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, it offers so much supple and sumptuous sipping that it should be considered up there with Blanton's, Russell's and Four Roses as one of one of the pillars of single barrel goodness.

By: Alexandre Tweedie | Review Date: 12/5/2022 | Send Email

Out of the glass, "Hommage 1921" leads with a bright & salted lemon timbre at the core of its nose, without coming off as austere or overtly sharp. Reduced bosc pear tones on the palate lead to gentle notes of holiday nuts by the fire and early mornings in a sleepy bakery - gentle brioche and warm croissants, this blanc de blanc is crisp, yet open enough to dive into further - a fantastic champagne for holiday cheers and summer sips!

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 12/3/2022 | Send Email

This one was definitely a hit during our Champagne tasting of 26 November. Unlike a lot of Extra Brut wines, it is not teeth jarringly taut and overly acidic. It has a nose of white peach, poached pear and lightly roasted pine nuts. On the palate, there is an initial light kick of bright citrus, quickly followed by very creamy lemon meringue, juicy peach and vanilla pastry. Long finish that has minerals, spice and a light touch of sea salt. Just really delicious!

By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 11/29/2022 | Send Email

Damien Hugot's "Hommage 1921" is a beautiful champagne that balances a creamy texture with plenty of fresh citrus. The first sip is full of ripe mandarin and zippy lemon flavors on a background of fresh cream. The finish is delicately chalky with touches of vanilla, and goes on and on. This makes a great aperitif or toasting champagne, and a fantastic pairing with shellfish.

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 11/29/2022 | Send Email

This incredible new gin from our dear friends at Four Pillars in Australia really takes the category forward. It's not the first Yuzu gin, but it's the first one that doesn't forget that's gin. Behind the wild earthy citrus aromas a huge wallops of juniper, a warming hit of ginger and a wild earthy tumeric, yet still sands ready to remind you what Four Pillars is all about. The aromatics on the nose are 2nd to none and the citrus oil character on the palate make it extremely inviting and easy to use. It's one of the most versatile and inviting new products on the market today. I'm super into it.

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 11/22/2022 | Send Email

Basil Hayden is the core of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection - while the more limited and higher proof bottling in that collection like Booker's tend to get all of the attention from the whisky geeks, it is the humble Basil Hayden at its accessible price point, that is responsible for introducing so many whisky drinkers to fine Bourbon. If you haven't revisited this bottle in a long time, or if you're new to the Bourbon world, Basil Hayden is a perfect bottle to pick up for the holidays. It's flavors are an excellent way to end the a holiday meal and it's a clutch bottle to have around when your extended family is in town, down right delicious, well respected and well known, and not so expensive it'll break the bank if your uncle goes to town on the bottle. As for the tasting notes: The color is deep chestnut. The nose is a rich bouquet of sweet wood, loads of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, and spicy wood with just a hint of herbaceous rye to balance it all out. The palate is much the same, super luscious and round, tons of oak and all of the spice and sweetness that brings. There is a surprising and delightful shot of dried fruits as well. The finish is pleasant and easy going. Just a super tasty all 'rounder on the Bourbon scene.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 11/21/2022 | Send Email

We finally got our hands on some of Wiston’s remarkable Blanc de Blancs. This 100% Chardonnay bottling is pressed in their traditional wooden Coquard basket press, fermented and rested in neutral French oak for a year, before aging more than two years on the lees in bottle. Reserve wines range back to 2008, with the 2018 harvest making up most of this iteration. Look for aromas of white flowers, baked apple, crushed quince, pie crust, stony minerals, chalk, saline, and oyster shell notes complete this magical wine. More volume and golden ripe fruit here versus the racier other NV wines. Beautiful stuff! Limited quantity.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 11/21/2022 | Send Email

If you're gonna try just one English Sparkling wine to see what all the fuss is about...it should be this one...and it won't be your last! I've extensively tasted English wines from dozens of top producers over the last couple decades and in my opinion Wiston Estate stands head and shoulders above the rest. The commitment to quality here is second to none. This dedication to consistent excellence is perfectly illustrated by the long-term investment in their non-vintage program from the outset. Learning from centuries of experience in neighboring Champagne, Wiston recognized that the blending of vintages would not only create more consistency in their wines, but also better value for their customers. By holding back reserve wines for their non-vintage program, these wines have so much depth and complexity versus any of their peers. This incredible family estate on the grounds of a 16th century manor house captures the very best of the deep chalk soils so famed for the production of sparkling wines. They utilize traditional techniques such as basket pressing, barrel maturation for their base wines and very long ageing on the yeast lees. The Wiston Estate Brut has that magical combination of bright zesty citrus fruit, crunchy apple, baked bread, oyster shell, hazelnut, marmalade toast. Racy, electric acidity, lovely toasty nutty aromas and flavors that linger forever on the saline mineral finish. It's the real deal, the complete package, and it's under $30!

By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 11/16/2022 | Send Email

Four Pillars has been making great gin out of Australia since 2013, and K&L has worked closely with since they were available in the US. I'm very excited for their newest offering: this delicious and bright Fresh Yuzu Gin. I'm even more excited that K&L has early access to it, meaning we're the first folks in the States to taste it and have it on the shelf for our customers while the rest of the country has to wait for the official Spring release. As expected, big wafts of citrus zest emanate from the glass immediately. It's not just one-note, however, and heavier spices are quick to follow the lemony yuzu scents. Fresh-cracked black pepper and angelica root are quick to emerge and tingle the nose. Light floral notes play with the spices, adding finesse and complexity, then an earthy component comes in (think green tea). All these elements are present in the flavor profile as well (with a touch more of an orange note), though the palate goes through a friendly and simple transition of yuzu to floral and then back to yuzu again. A Gin & Tonic is an obvious use for this that comes out marvelously and smacking of summer, but it's definitely more versatile than that. I'm thinking a Fresh Yuzu vesper martini might be on the menu tonight.

By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 11/16/2022 | Send Email

Another great Champagne from Damien Hugo! Full bodied yet fresh and vibrant with touch of toasted hazelnuts and fresh pastry with long finish and rich, citrus driven flavor on the palate. Beautifully balanced between all elements," Hommage 1921" will please a wide range of Champagne aficionados and will be perfect accompaniment to Thanksgiving celebration.

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 11/16/2022 | Send Email

I've been steadfastly proclaiming Four Pillars as the finest gin distillery on the planet for years (as have numerous competitions and critical reviewers). All they make is gin - and they're very good at it. All of their core SKUs have been staples on our shelf, and some of the most popular gins in the store, since the day they arrived. Four Pillars is so damn good that we have done batch after batch of our exclusive Faultline gin with them as it has proven to be my, and many of our customers', hands down favorite gin. But today a new to the US entrant from Four Pillars may, just may, in time dethrone the Faultline. I've been craving this gin since they first released it in Australia and it has finally been imported! At first pour, you cannot help but notice the burst of citrus that takes the air out of the room. The crystal clear gin exudes bright confidence. The complex Australian grown Yuzu fans out into a cornucopia of citrus tones ranging from lemon and lime to mandarin, cumquat and grapefruit. Lest it be overpowering, Four Pillars has balanced that exuberance with a host of botanicals that Japan has been pairing with Yuzu for centuries: green tea, brown rice, turmeric, ginger; they all play a role in elevating each other to the nth degree. When it comes to the palate: "luscious" comes to mind. Texturally it's full and friendly. This would be an exquisite Martini gin, expressive enough to be made bone dry although open knit enough to play well with many vermouth options (Bordiga dry comes to my mind first). In a G&T, no questions asked, except maybe "how many fingers?" If you are lucky enough to find fresh Yuzu - use that to garnish, although any citrus should do just fine. Feeling Japanese? Try a Gin Highball by adding your favorite soda water over some clear ice and let the bubbles carry the enticing aroma up and at you. I would be hard pressed to find a preparation that didn't work with this gin. It's powerful enough to stand up to a Negroni or Last Word without a doubt and elegant enough for the simplest of drinks. There is not a fault to be found. Bravo to the team at Four Pillars!

By: Hope Cooc | Review Date: 11/15/2022 | Send Email

From the producers who brought you, Don Julio, comes Lalo. Lalo’s concept is to continue his father and grandfather’s legacy by producing the best Blanco tequila without any preservatives. This tequila is very approachable and great for people who want to explore a new tequila. Meeting Lalo was an honor in hearing his story about wanting to preserve and pay homage to the agave and keeping his tequila as clean and pure as possible. You get sweet herbaceous notes of fresh-cut grass, and lemongrass, with a touch of earth. It rounds out mid-pallet and has a soft, silky finish. Very enjoyable and such a great value!

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 11/11/2022 | Send Email

There are few products that I truly love as much as Chartreuse. If you've ever talked to me in store or asked what I drink at home, the answer, for many years now, has been, "I mostly just drink Chartreuse these days." While I love many spirits, Chartreuse has really taken my heart. It's a combination of the well documented and long history (over 9 centuries for the order and 400+ years for the recipe), a certain romanticism and mysticism, purported healing powers, and its down right deliciousness that has fascinated me since my first sip. While volumes can be written (and have) about the Carthusian monks and their famous green elixir (the color Chartreuse was actually named after the beverage, how cool is that!?) the beverage that started it all is known as "Elixir Vegetal de la Grande Chartreuse." From the time the monks received a secret manuscript with a recipe containing 130 plants in 1605 it took the monks over 150 years to 'get it right.' In 1764 they declared to the world it was ready and sold the first bottle of the product we have here today. This was all a natural fit for the monks as they had long provided medicinal knowledge for the community around them as well as plant husbandry (there is still a fruit tree nursery from the monks in Paris' Jardin du Luxembourg, home to a Carthusian Monastery long before it was home to the French Senate). While the elixir is their first product, it doesn't have much sugar in it and it's bottled at 69% ABV, so it is quite intense. Chartreuse Green and Yellow were introduced in the 1800s as more easily enjoyed versions of that same secret 130 plant recipe. There have been many iterations over the years and the popularity has waxed and waned, but with the revival of The Last Word cocktail (thank you, Murray Stenson) demand for this special product has skyrocketed. Interestingly, the monks, who rely on the sales of Chartreuse to fund the monastery aren't actually all that interested in the production. They just want to make enough to quietly pray and contemplate God, mostly away from civilization. As such, with the huge interest today, Green and Yellow Chartreuse are impossible to keep in stock and there doesn't appear to be additional production coming to relieve the shortage. Even if the were to ramp up production, the liqueurs age for approximately 3 years before being released. However, for the first time ever, Elixir Vegetal, is being released in the United States! The quirks as to why this has never been sold in the US are too long to get into here, but for years I personally would hand carry a bottle or two home every time I went to Europe, or beg friends to bring one home for me if they went. It's available at nearly all French pharmacies with a day or two notice. The uses are endless for this magic elixir. While for obvious reason the monks can't claim any healthy benefits for this nonFDA approved digestif, I can tell you that I always put a spoonful in a cup of tea when I'm not feeling well. It's wonderful dropped on a sugar cube after dinner as a digestif. It makes the perfect glass rinse in place of Absinthe for many cocktails. If you just want to make your Last Word a hell of a lot more intense, try it in place of Green in full or partial measure. It's an amazing product that will undoubtedly make its way into the serious bar programs across the country in new and creative ways now that it's readily available. As to what does it tastes like? My tasting notes will never do the complexity justice, but here is an abbreviated version anyway: The nose is a wild pepper of every color mixed with exotic floral and herbaceous teas. Cinnamon and sandalwood, allspice and ginger, nuts of many types and so much more. On the palate - wild fire - if you're drinking it straight, you're in for it. At 69% ABV it's a bruiser at first, but I'll be damned if it doesn't linger for ages as a pleasant concoction reminiscent of Underburg. You'll really have to try for yourself as it's hard to explain. It comes only in 100ml bottles which are individually packed in 17th century bubblewrap - a hard wooden case the shape of the bottle. Cut the strip around the middle (or twist hard on the top and bottom in opposite directions) to open. Below the bottle is a small plastic stopper which can be fitted into the bottle as a dropper. I usually have a bottle open with and without the stopper so I can pour according to my use. Happy exploring.

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 11/11/2022 | Send Email

Harmony has had an incredible trajectory since its inception. I'm not sure any new whisky brand has grown quick as quickly. While the market driving Japanese whisky growth has been insatiable, it's hard to imagine Harmony being what it is today without the whisky itself tasting wonderful. While the diehard collectors might scoff at the lack of an age statement and instead proudly refer to their hard won trophies of old age stated bottles of Hibiki, the fact is, anyone looking to simply drink and enjoy the prowess of Suntory's distillations and impeccable blending now has the opportunity to do so, at a fair price and without the effort of hunting down delivery trucks. A blend of Yamazaki and Hakushu single malts, and Cheeta's grain distillates, Harmony brings together Beam Suntory's prized distilleries in a seamless package. The flavors are a delight, crisp apple, fresh stone fruits, a touch of piquant pepper and a surprising amounts of vanilla and caramel. The palate has much more weight, presumably from a higher malt content, than I recall in my early tastings when it was first released. It coats the tongue, but is never heavy. The finish is clean and bright and decidedly entices you to have another sip. It's a gorgeous dram and a great sipper or highball maker for Japanese fans and the uninitiated alike.

By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 11/10/2022 | Send Email

How is this Champagne only $25? While previous releases were dark and rich, with cherry fruit and considerable length, the most recent bottle I tasted showcased that same complexity, but with added lift. White floral and honeycomb on the nose, the smell is reminiscent of Los Angeles in the summer, with jasmine notes leaping from the glass. The fruit – 100% Pinot Meunier – is full bodied with a hit of spice, the palate weighty but fresh all the way through to a toasty finish. It took a bit of time for Champagne Club favorite Jacquesson "Cuvée Tradition" to develop, but whoa, it was worth the wait.

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 11/5/2022 | Send Email

Kilchoman is one of the smallest distilleries and is independently owned. The nose has nice promounced smoke aromas. They are inviting. The sherry wood influence works well with this single malt, providing complexity and flavor , but it does not dominate. This is an easy, creamy and smokey treat.

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/5/2022 | Send Email

What the heck? I've never tasted anything like this before! This super clean and very refreshing lemon sake is unique and a ton of fun. Remember Lemonheads candy? Have you had Limoncello? If you could mix the two, you have a beverage that is the perfect amount of sour lemon, lemon zest and the slightest amount of whipping cream. That's what this sake is. If you want to wow someone or are a total sake geek, this is a fantastic selection.

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 11/2/2022 | Send Email

Such a pretty and inviting nose on this Grand Cru from Franck Bonville. There's a gentle florality to it, but around that is softly wafting around a core of pear and a melange of citrus. The palate is clean and crisp and the fruit shines through from the first sip, the minerality shines through and contributes to the lingering and satisfying finish. All of Franck Bonville's wines have been a pleasant surprise and this is no exception!

By: Alexandre Tweedie | Review Date: 11/1/2022 | Send Email

Sparkling wine....from England...? Don't worry, I had the same question when I was sat with this glass of Winston Estate's Brut, and was happily surprised at the result! With an attractive nose of bright cereal grain, and a *sharp* slice of acid on the palate, my eyes were opened to the possibilities tucked away within the UK. An exciting and accessible way step out from the "comfort zone" of French Champagne, Winston Estate offers a glimpse into the shrouded world of English wine. Take a chance, cross The Channel, and Winston will welcome you with open arms.

By: Alexandre Tweedie | Review Date: 11/1/2022 | Send Email

Flint, slate, chalk - these notes of minerality confidently lead this English sparkling out of the glass, paving the way for tart shamrock apples and a driven acidity. Made from 100% chardonnay in the classic Blanc de Blanc fashion, this statement stands tall across the English Channel, gazing into the distance at its French cousins - a distinctive take on sparkling, Winston brightly shines a light into the oft-forgotten world of English wine, inviting you to shift the way you think of sparkling, and broaden your horizons into new territories.

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 10/30/2022 | Send Email

The pedigree of Brane Cantenac's 2019 is unmistakable right out of the gates. The color is brilliant, while the aromas are an endless mix of violets, graphite, and plum. The palate is ethereal and balanced, with bright acidity lining deep flavors of blackberry, cassis, and a hint of leather. There's a hint of wild fruit coming in from the Merlot, but for the most part it is pure classic Cabernet. I can't wait to see how this develops over time, and many Bordeaux enthusiasts will be thrilled to have this 2019 in their cellar for the years to come.

By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 10/24/2022 | Send Email

Allimant Laugner produces one of our most sought after rosé sparking wines ever outside of Champagne! Their blanc is just as delicious "inside secret" of ours, but I decided to let he word out. Perfect for an elegant aperitif, parties or anytime when a celebration is called for. Enjoy.

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/22/2022 | Send Email

I see so much of this Mezcal go out the doors here. It isn't just the very affordable price. It is the quality and taste! There is a nose of white pepper, wet stones, orchard scents, faded campfire and wet stones. A lot going on. On the palate, quite clean with minerals, tip of the tongue spiciness, pear, white fruits and light menthol and smoke. Easy to drink! Perhaps a little too easy.

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/22/2022 | Send Email

This excellent Mezcal has a clean clay nose with minerals, salt, soy bean and mineral oil. There are initial flavors of pepper, vanilla cream and bright citrus. It finishes with ashy flavors and light menthol. An excellent sit around and sip it Mezcal.

By: Alexandre Tweedie | Review Date: 10/17/2022 | Send Email

Joyous, irresponsible, youthful, naïve - this 8 year statement from Lagavulin eschews their normal concentrations on balance and complexity, and instead opts for objective heat and energy. With the hue of sun-scorched straw, this whisky makes no attempt to hide behind convolution - up front and very assertive on the nose, like lemon peels being dredged through kerosene (in the most praise worthy way possible), an engaging tone of oiled leathers being lost to a house fire, all along side a massive wash of Hebridean salt air. With no exaggeration, this to me is my favorite scotch of all time; it is deeply honest with zero intention to fool you or hide behind any secondary notes, saying what many scotch's never want to hear "I am young, and I am damn proud of it".

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 10/5/2022 | Send Email

The bright burnished copper color here is a bit misleading - as soon as you smell the glass you know you're dealing with a spirit that is older and carries more weight than you'd expect from color alone. Darker barrel notes are immediately present, first scent feels like the middle of a rickhouse - dark, dusty, and distinctly woody. And yet, it also sings of ripe fruits and summer days, right off the bat, good fortune indeed. Sweet spices like cinnamon, mace, and nutmeg intermix with fresh and candied apples and the crushed stones of stone fruits giving a beautiful candied marzipan/amaretto note. The legs in the glass are thick and slow to move - exceptionally beautiful like little diamonds tumbling in slow motion back into the honeyed elixir below. The palate is sweet and carefree. Brandied cherries, Werther's Originals, apple pie, candied ginger. It's like an old time candy shop in a bottle. Then a wave of the more serious woody/dusty notes comes through to maintain balance and harmony. At 51% ABV it is perfect on it's own. A splendid first batch from the inimitable Pablo Moix and hopefully just a sneak peak of what is to follow.

By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 9/30/2022 | Send Email

Louis Roederer Collection 242 is a gorgeous Champagne. The aromatics on this is more than one could expect but would not be surprised at. So many layers of orchard fruit and tropical fruit. Combined with petite bubbles, this drinks like a fine wine. Finishes dry and with some much dimension, an absolute reliable champagne that is sure to please any connoisseur.

By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 9/30/2022 | Send Email

Laurent Perrier La Cuvee is a timeless Champagne that delivers wonderful flavors thru and thru. Crisp green apple, D ’Anjou pear, baked into a buttery tart garnished with candied ginger bits. There is a charming texture and flintiness that makes this a unique Champagne that is consistent and genuine.

By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 9/28/2022 | Send Email

The Brut reserve is such an enjoyable Champagne for everyday drinking. Full of bright, fresh flavors and satisfying textures makes this just a mouthful of deliciousness. The tastes of yellow apple, flint, black peppercorn is all so enjoyable. Drink, enjoy, repeat.

By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 9/28/2022 | Send Email

This is as delicious as I have always remembered. Wild strawberry tartness, juicy peach, hibiscus petals florals, and finishing with a soft mousse of red berries. There is a reason this is our top-selling rose Champagne it is just so delightful to drink.

By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 9/28/2022 | Send Email

This has a lovely freshness to it that blends flavors of citrus, under-ripe tropical fruit, and dried ginger in the finish. This is mostly Pinot Meunier has enticing florals and for me this is a special cuvee that lends a cherry note that is delightfully playful on the palate. Finishing dry overall, and a great aperitive for the beginning of a meal or a toast.

By: Adrian Gomez | Review Date: 9/25/2022 | Send Email

This is an incredible bottle of bourbon with a profound nose of vanilla, caramel and maple syrup, Following up the nose with a well balanced body of salted caramel, cherry and spices, finishing off the the pallet with plum and toasted sugar. Every sip brings out and accentuates each flavor profile making this one of the most easy drinking and crushable bourbons I've ever had.

By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 9/24/2022 | Send Email

Alexandre Le Brun Cuvee Number 1 Brut Champagne is stunning! This is an oaked aged Champagne with Chardonnay, Pinot and Meunier. It has a nice amount of Flor like you would find in sherry with the lovely combination with apple and stone fruited notes. The mouthfeel is full and robust, making this perfect for foods seasoned with exotic spices. This a great one to cellar but exceptionally enjoyable for the knowledgeable Champagne drinker.

By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 9/23/2022 | Send Email

Fortuna Sour Mash Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey aromas are reminiscent of spirits enjoyable in the autumn and fall seasons. An upfront nose of maple, praline, candied apricot, and apples in a buttery tart lightly dusted with fennel pollen. Displays roundness in the fore front and along the cheek then on the backend and finish there are hints of pink peppercorns giving this a lovely spice element. There is certainly a mouthful of flavors that fit together equally, and you can unquestionably taste quality and precision that the Rare Character’s team intended in this bottling. Enjoy as a sipper preferably on the couch watching your favorite fall movie, mine would be Knives Out. Cheers!

By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 9/23/2022 | Send Email

This is one of the best sour mash bourbons I have ever tasted! The higher proof and oily texture give this bourbon more body, making it pleasant, balanced, and complex. Aromas of caramel, stone fruit, curacao, and oak spice shine, and a little water opens this bourbon up nicely. A great sipper that would pair fantastically with a cigar.

By: Austin Jenkins | Review Date: 9/23/2022 | Send Email

Wow, it's not very often we get to encounter something so "new" and so refined. New is in quotation marks for the sake that Fortuna has a preexisting history. With that being said however this bottle is nothing to scoff at. The aromas just off the initial pour alone are enough to get the mouth-watering; brown sugar, and maple, with the most subtle char. The flavors are heavy on the warming-spice side but not so intense to the point of misbalance, it's chased by caramel for a long-lasting finish -- the texture is extremely silky. Even now as I'm writing this I'm considering going back for a second dram. This is a legendary bottle produced by a soon-to-be (if not already) legendary team. I foresee this bottle sweeping out in the coming days. And considering at the time of posting this the juice was bottled only one day ago, so get it while it's hot -- or rather, get it while you can.

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 9/23/2022 | Send Email

This Bourbon is full bodied and expressive. In the nose there are sweet caramel- like classic Bourbon aromas. In the mouth it is big and sweet but there is a pleasant balance to it. There is a mouth coating finish. A splash of water opens it up and brings out a little more sweetness. It is good with and with out water.

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 9/22/2022 | Send Email

Is Forunta the next craveable hard-to-get Bourbon? Hard to say, it is a compelling and rich style, with a panoply of baking spices intermingled with flavors of dulce de leche and caramel. That creamy and smooth palate lingers on the brain. So, sure, very craveable and very well balanced. Hard-to-get? Probably after you taste it and try to come back for more.

By: Illya Haase | Review Date: 9/22/2022 | Send Email

I love Bourbon! I also learn towards high proof and a high rye mash bill. But, sometimes one comes across my desk and shakes me out of my preference. The Fortuna shattered that preference! One word Balance. Water need not apply. From start to finish for me it's near perfection. It opens up with white honeysuckle just like the kind that we used to pick off the bushes in Kentucky. Fresh cut wood and roasted peanuts. Candy caramel and butterscotch. That is just the nose. First sip is lively and bright with tastes spearmint and baking spice. Mid palate is heavy with wonderful array of creamy caramel and bright cherries. Balanced flavors, where nothing over takes the other. The finish is long with that KY hug right down in the chest. Even though it is not a crazy high proof it has an amazingly lengthy finish. I can hear it now. Well, "it is only a 6 year." Like I say all the time "don't really care how old it is, it has to be good!" And Damn this is Good!

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 9/21/2022 | Send Email

The story behind the Fortuna brand is only eclipsed by the incredible quality of the spirit in the bottle. Re-established by Pablo Moix of the preeminent Rare Character bottler, the original brand was once one of Kentucky's most sought-after. Phil Hollenbach created the brand to share his "good fortune" with the world and now we're extremely grateful and lucky to do the same. Each tiny 6-barrel batch is hand blended by Pablo. While he can't tell us who is distilling for him, he can tell us who is NOT. The product is produced "on the shelf," referring to the famous limestone shelf that makes bourbon country, and its water, so special. It's not a sweet mash or a pot still, so not being sourced from any number of new distillers. So that leaves one of the legacy distillers, which to be honest is absolutely incredible on its own. There are no new brands that get access to stocks from legacy distillers, even ones that seem to have access from certain places, are working through limit brokered stocks. But beyond the access that Fortuna has garnered, the incredible breadth of tasting knowledge and experience that Pablo is unprecedented. Here, Mr. Moix tries his hand at blending, and I have to say he's hit an absolute home run. Guided by samples of the original stocks, which come out of his personal collection, Pablo carefully mingles these stocks with the goal of capturing the original character of this ancient whiskey brand. I can't believe anyone else is taking so much time and energy to put together such a delicious product. Let's taste it! Right out of the bottle the nose is absolutely singing. Big, sweet aromas of marzipan, vibrant red cherry, caramel candies, Seville orange oil, roasted clove and fresh ground cinnamon. The nose is absolutely enchanting and exemplifies the goal of recreating the flavor profile you might expect from a pre-pro bottling. It even seems to have that little twinge of dustiness that I always associate with whiskies that have been in the bottle for many decades -albeit not to an overwhelming degree. On the palate, an extremely velvety texture and rounded mouth feel, with even more cherries -candied now, gingerbread, sweet vanilla bean, brown sugar syrup, baking spices of all kinds. The finish is long and very easy. No tannin or burn coming through whatsoever, but the ultra-sweet caramel character is slight spicy bite. The key take away here is BALANCE! SO many whiskies we drink these days are just absolute bombs, this has all the presence and character of the great small batches from the big dogs but adds a level of nuance and complexity that's rarely seen in modern bourbon. I guess that's why they call it Rare Character. We're all so FORTUNATE to have Pablo bringing these incredible barrels to our shelves and proud to be Fortuna's first customer in California.

By: Greg St. Clair | Review Date: 9/13/2022 | Send Email

The nose of this wine is bold and saturated, bursting with savory wild cherry, salted plums, mushroom, and leather that seem to say power incarnate, but in a restrained, country gentleman manner. On the palate, the density of the 2015 vintage takes over. It is discreet power: full yet never heavy, it just shows a subtle energy. The flavors show Poggiarellino's trademark Marasca cherry that emerge from a pool of plummy depth. Hints of cola, leather, and wild herbs segue across your tongue, while the wine's central backbone is always apparent. Gentle hints of tannin only emerge in the end. The finish replays much of the Marasca cherry, with subtle earthy spice lingering on for some time. A long life ahead for this wine that will really begin to open in 2025 but is delicious now.

By: Hope Cooc | Review Date: 9/10/2022 | Send Email

Red licorice is a heavily present on both the nose and pallet. The Junmai is clean, vibrant with vanilla, almonds, and honey. It is a bit higher at 16-17% giving this sake a richer mouthfeel as well. It is produced in Kyushu, Japan and uses Itoshima Yamada Nishiki rice, a delicate long grain, that can be a tad tricky when it come to growing in the Fukuoka prefecture. Mii No Kotobuki does an excellent job producing this small batch sake.

By: Austin Jenkins | Review Date: 9/10/2022 | Send Email

The boquet on this sake is insane! Red licorce, crushed almonds, and goat cheese layered atop soft notes of berries and melon. Flavor/texture profile is rich and creamy. An insane value considering how high quality this offering is!