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Staff Favorites
| If you’re going to have Robert Parker or Stephen Tanzer over for dinner, selecting a wine they’ve rated highly will be a nice choice. However, when you’re buying wines for yourself, we’d love to see you find wines that match up your unique palate and pocketbook. We have a large staff of friendly and knowledgeable wine professionals that taste hundreds of wines each week. They can put you in touch with bottles that you are likely to love, often at a much lower cost than the highly-rated gems that often see a run-up in price and frequent availability issues. Like any great group of opinionated professionals, our staff has varied tastes themselves. Often our customers will find a particular staff member with a style that corresponds to their own. That concept works extremely well in our retail stores, and this section is our effort to bring you the same online. Don’t get us wrong, we love the highly rated wines from the press and will continue to offer them, but we think you’re missing out if you’re not augmenting those selections with picks from our excellent staff. Here are their favorites. (Click on a name to see their other selections - or to drop them a line.) Cheers! |
Reviews
Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Les Amoureux" Pinot Blanc Champagne
By: Cindy Westby | Review Date: 6/19/2019 | Send Email
By: Cindy Westby | Review Date: 6/19/2019 | Send Email
As if fancy Alsatian Pinot Blanc and Champagne had a love child. With both white flowers, tropical fruits and the nervy backbone of champagne - this wine is truly unique. I would love to try a bottle with a simple green salad topped by grilled peaches, burrata and olive oil!
Price:
$49.99
Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Les Amoureux" Pinot Blanc Champagne
By: Shaun Green | Review Date: 6/19/2019 | Send Email
By: Shaun Green | Review Date: 6/19/2019 | Send Email
How exciting to have an all Pinot Blanc Champagne! Beautiful florals and light brioche on the nose with a silky elegant yet somewhat tropical palate of enticing fruit. Fine and elegant in the mousse as well, with a slight touch of peach stone at the finish. An absolutely delicious and luxurious Champagne.
Price:
$49.99
Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Les Amoureux" Pinot Blanc Champagne
By: Miles Philippe | Review Date: 6/19/2019 | Send Email
By: Miles Philippe | Review Date: 6/19/2019 | Send Email
Extremely aromatic and light on its feet, this champagne dazzles and delights! Lemon zest, citrus fruit, and floral notes leap and bound across the senses against a backdrop of soft minerality, and lit with accents of pale golden honey.
Price:
$49.99
Four Roses "Small Batch Select" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 6/18/2019 | Send Email
By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 6/18/2019 | Send Email
Woody and spicy and fruity! Oh my! This newest project from Four Roses is a special blend of six of their mashbill/yeast recipes. It is more robust and richer than the previous standards from Four Roses, lending a heavy-handed approach to a classic. Cinnamon and clove burst out of the glass with heavy oak toast scents and orchard fruits. On the palate, everything is just... more. Hotter spice is also joined by mint, while those orchard fruit notes are intensified and taste like they've been baked into a pie. The wood flavors get heavier too with well charred oak and cedar notes just barely calmed down by vanilla sweetness.
Siembra Valles Blanco Tequila (750ml)
By: Kaj Stromer | Review Date: 6/12/2019 | Send Email
By: Kaj Stromer | Review Date: 6/12/2019 | Send Email
This glorious tequila smells like a vacation in a glass. As soon as I put it to my nose, the aromatics just swept me away. This super-premium tequila was the recent best-in-class finisher at our weekly staff tasting. The freshness, the fruitiness, the complexity, all make this a standout amongst peers. This is arguably one of the best all-arounders at the price point.
Price:
$69.99
2010 Lilian Ladouys, St-Estèphe
By: Mandana Tourani | Review Date: 6/11/2019 | Send Email
By: Mandana Tourani | Review Date: 6/11/2019 | Send Email
in 2010 the nights were much cooler so this actually allowed the grapes to develop very balance flavors. This Cabernet dominant wine has an abundant amount of dark chewy fruits, a bit spice and great classic leather that you expect in Bordeaux wines.
It is an outstanding wine for an incredible price.
Boulard-Bauquaire "Carte Noire" Brut Blanc de Noirs Champagne
By: Muriel Sarik | Review Date: 6/6/2019 | Send Email
By: Muriel Sarik | Review Date: 6/6/2019 | Send Email
This bottle was more of a visual experience for me, this is what I saw while tasting it. The pale golden color is enticing. The texture was like a large bolt of silk fabric rolling out, while a thread of salinity weaved about.
This is a Blanc de Noirs lover's dream champagne.
La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 6/6/2019 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 6/6/2019 | Send Email
This is long and fine with red cherry fruit and a persistent limestone laced finish. There is an amazing amount of elegance and restraint showing here for only 13 bucks. A remarkable value that is as easy on the palate as the wallet.
Price:
$14.99
Patrick Bottex "La Cueille" Méthode Ancéstrale Bugey Cerdon Rosé
By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 6/3/2019 | Send Email
By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 6/3/2019 | Send Email
Fun, fun and more fun! Here’s a wine bursting with raspberries and bright red apples. Very light in alcohol (8%) and full of bubbles. Rosé from gamay and the very indigenous "poulsard" . For me this wine is picture perfect for Thanksgiving— the last thing I would want is a heavy and cumbersome wine for this late afternoon dinner. Instead this is a light, refreshing, food-friendly wine, with just enough residual sugar to pair just about perfectly with turkey, cranberry and everything that goes with it. And it doesn’t give me a headache! I could give this wine nothing less than 5 stars for what it is!
Littlemill "Old Malt Cask" 29 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 5/30/2019 | Send Email
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 5/30/2019 | Send Email
I know we may tend to over-use the phrase "don't miss this one" at K&L, but you it really rings true on this incredible bottling from the now closed Littlemill distillery. You will LITERALLY never see an offer like this again for this whisky. With its other age statements selling in the thousands of dollars, it's a little mind-boggling we have it for $250. Our spirits buyers truly worked their magic on this one. Though we hope to see Loch Lomond Distillery open it up again eventually, nothing can compare to what this highly sought-after distillery made 29 years ago. The nose is quite sweet, with briochy, light butterscotch notes. This continues on the palate, but with a hefty kick from spice to bring balance. This is one of the best whiskys I've had in some time and it's made all the more special knowing it will never cross my path again.
Price:
$399.99
Littlemill "Old Malt Cask" 29 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 5/29/2019 | Send Email
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 5/29/2019 | Send Email
A lively combination of sweet fruits, candied nuts, and fresh cream are readily picked up on the nose and the palate. The whisky is supremely easy to enjoy casually without much careful thought or consideration. Add to that the excitement of drinking something that can never again be produced and you have a special night. If you move past sliding dram after dram through your lips into the realm of contemplation, you'll be enchanted by a shockingly savory array of secondary characteristics. In a proper glass with lots of time to open, there develops a very pleasant mushroom/miso umami which blends perfectly with the sweeter tones of the nose and entry. It's a combination that will last in your heart and mind long after the last drops of this closed distillery are consumed.
Price:
$399.99
Probitas (Foursquare/Hampden) White Blended Rum (750ml)
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 5/25/2019 | Send Email
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 5/25/2019 | Send Email
This delicious rum has a beautiful light color. In the mouth it was very soft and drinkable. It will go well in some cocktails but drinking it straight is an excellent option. It is pure and clean with layers of flavor. I did not pick up a lot of funk from the Hampden but nuance and expressive flavors . The rums from these two distilleries work well together.
Price:
$24.99
Mortlach 16 Year Old "Distiller's Dram" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 5/18/2019 | Send Email
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 5/18/2019 | Send Email
It’s almost unheard of to find a 16 year old sherry-cask whisky of this caliber from such a well-respected producer at this price point. Spicy, dark, bold, and complex this is Mortlach at its finest. This bottling is a little meatier and with more chocolate notes than the 12 year because of the use of straight sherry cask. Dark, nearly dried fruits meld seamlessly with leather and tobacco notes. The smoke quotient is quite low here, but there is a roasted note coming through. This is complex, smooth, and a great middle ground between the lightness of the 12 year and gaminess of the 20 year.
Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky (750ml)
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 5/18/2019 | Send Email
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 5/18/2019 | Send Email
There is a high level of dedication to the purity of the product from Cotswolds Distillery and this Single Malt Whisky is no exception. Because this is the first ever whisky coming out of the Cotswolds, they wanted to make sure it showed its terroir by locally sourcing ingredients. Aged in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and red wine casks, the resulting spirit is fruity, with a touch of malty richness. The more sweet preliminary flavors of butterscotch appear on the nose, while the palate shows more influence form the barrels, bringing dark red fruits and deep caramel. If you're looking for something different and a great in between for Bourbon and Scotch, you need to pick up a bottle of this.
2018 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, Pessac-Léognan
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 5/17/2019 | Send Email
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 5/17/2019 | Send Email
This was one of our last stops on the en primeur campaign and it seemed by design. This was one of the best wines of the entire trip. The power and concentration were immediately evident, as rich notes of dark fruit, graphite and minerals took over the bouquet. On the palate the fruit took more of a red tone with nice sweetness, minerals and herbs, and the structure was impeccable as the tannins and acidity were already well integrated and balanced with a beautiful fruit driven finish.
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 5/13/2019 | Send Email
By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 5/13/2019 | Send Email
How can a Champagne be so toasty and yet so bright and vibrant at the same time? It's picking up huge depth of flavor from spending seven years on the lees leading to a nose that's simultaneously doughy and toasty. I pick up aromas of a medley of soft orchard fruits here with pear, peach, and apricot at the helm. The palate shows off surprisingly bright acid and fresh green apples. Take this rich yet zippy Champagne to your next gathering because the range of flavors has something to please everyone in attendance.
Price:
$37.99
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Elsa Baez | Review Date: 5/13/2019 | Send Email
By: Elsa Baez | Review Date: 5/13/2019 | Send Email
Our favorite champagne DI Fallet Dart never fails with each bottling I've tasted. This Grande Selection ages 7 years on the lees, which in turn produces the small bubbles. The beautiful aromatic notes with lees-y and toasty aromatics paired with a balanced acid backbone, notes of granny apples mid-palate and a lemon citrus zest on the finish, this champagne is a great value at this price!
Price:
$37.99
Ramos Pinto "Quinta do Bom Retiro" 20 Year Old Tawny Port
By: Adam Winkel | Review Date: 5/13/2019 | Send Email
By: Adam Winkel | Review Date: 5/13/2019 | Send Email
Tawnies are not an afterthought at Ramos Pinto, and casks going into this wine aren't something that one would typically see declassified into a 20-year blend. This is a single-quinta wine of fine terroir which displays surprising freshness and fruit at 20 years old. The wine is a noticeable step up from producers that are famous for their vintage ports and now put their best tawny casks into single-vintage colheita bottlings. This is a flagship wine with Ramos Pinto's best grapes and it isn't to be sold short.
Four Roses "Small Batch Select" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: Illya Haase | Review Date: 5/9/2019 | Send Email
By: Illya Haase | Review Date: 5/9/2019 | Send Email
The Four Roses barrel selection is amazing. This special bottling will be the distillery’s first permanent product-line extension in more than 12 years. And boy, was it worth the wait! It's crafted from six Bourbon recipes OESF, OBSF, OESK, OESV, OBSK, and OBSV, with a 6 to 7 year age statement, and the seldom used F yeast strain. It imparts some very unique fruit and floral components. The candied fruit flavor is poised and balanced on the palate along with the warming spice bursting through from the heavy rye influence. This is a must have for your Bourbon collection.
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Muriel Sarik | Review Date: 5/8/2019 | Send Email
By: Muriel Sarik | Review Date: 5/8/2019 | Send Email
This is another gem in our collection of champagnes. Don't let the low price fool you. There is a lot of work that goes into each bottle. It's made of all estate fruit and 7 years aging on the lees gives it a luscious mouthfeel and toasty aromas and flavors throughout the pallete. Makes a great gift in a classic looking bottle for only $34.99
Price:
$37.99
2010 Lilian Ladouys, St-Estèphe
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 5/8/2019 | Send Email
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 5/8/2019 | Send Email
Smoky toast aromas and flavor, this is a wine that shows the power of Saint-Estèphe tannins in full force. At the same time, there is a blackberry character that adds richness and juiciness, which cuts through the dry core. Quite delicious right now with 1 hour decanting-Perfect with a juicy steak..
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Miles Philippe | Review Date: 5/8/2019 | Send Email
By: Miles Philippe | Review Date: 5/8/2019 | Send Email
If you’d like a study on what “toastiness” in Champagne tastes and smells like, look no further! As most of my colleagues have already pointed out, 7 years aged on the lies adds a lot of complex yeast characteristics that pair lovingly with the simple and pure fruits. This is mostly ripe and clean apple driven, but the yeast…it’s almost as if you toasted a slab of Brioche and let the edges burn a little bit.
Price:
$37.99
Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Miles Philippe | Review Date: 5/8/2019 | Send Email
By: Miles Philippe | Review Date: 5/8/2019 | Send Email
An all-star for the price! The main driving notes here are in the ‘pear’ category, with lovely apricot-like accents. Because of the 3 years of aging sur-lie, the yeast notes on the nose are reminiscent to Pain au Levain. Will do great poured on its own for a party, or served on the dinner table with just about any meal!
Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
Franck Bonville constantly tops the staff picks charts and this blanc de blanc is no exception. The nose is clean, with a nice minerality and subtle floralness that opens up the palate with its balanced acidity with a peach blossom note. The finish is what takes the cake for me amongst other wines at this price point. Long and mouthwatering, this is a must for parties and celebrations.
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
You just can't get much better with over seven years on the lees with estate grown fruit and a 17th generation grower. With notes of toast with pear jam on the nose and a nicely balanced palate with orchard fruit and pineapple upside-down cake this is a great wine to share with friends. The finish is soft but lingers and keeps reminding you to tip that glass back. A truly great value for under $35.
Price:
$37.99
Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
There's a reason there's so many staff reviews backing up this wine. This review is another rock in the quarry but I thought I'd throw my two cents in and be in good company. Easy drinking, crowd pleasing with white peach skins on the nose with a light note of bisquit. The palate mirrors the nose but with a great tart acidity and sweet tangerine peel. Do yourself a favor and go for the magnum on this one (Shhh, don't tell anyone).
Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
By: Elsa Baez | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
By: Elsa Baez | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
I cannot express how amazing this bottle of Grand Cru champagne for this price. There are aromas of white flowers, golden apples, a hint of toast and finishes fresh, refined, with a touch of acid which is just enough to compliment the subtle rich and mineral texture. It's created with 50% reserves, which is a good amount to have in a bottling and aged just under 3 years on the lees. With all of these elements put together, it is really a top notch "gateway" Grand Cru champagne!
Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
I am a sucker for a good Blanc de Blanc. Something about the rich, round, honeyed quality that chardonnay based champagne can bring always puts a smile on my face. Franck Bonville is an exceptional producer, and when you can get your hands on a bottle of 100% Grand Cru fruit at a price this low, it's a no brainer in my mind. The nose is fot, with notes of cherry, vanilla, and white flowers. The Palate is laden with cashew, marzipan, and a long toasty finish. This is a beautiful wine made from exceptional fruit that for the the price, is going to be hard to beat!
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
The Faillet family have been known wine growers since the early 17th century, but it wasn't until the marriage of Gaston Faillet and Genevieve Dart in 1970 that the house of Faillet-Dart was formed. the Grande Selection is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir, and the and even split of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier to round it out. The nose is toasty with notes of white florals, browned butter, and apples. The palate is rich with notes of under ripe stone fruit, apples, and a round marzipan finish.
Price:
$37.99
Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
The Baron-Fuente family has been working in the vineyards of champagne long before the region started producing sparkling wine. The years of experience have lead to the production of some amazing wine at every price point, and the Grande Reserve is no exception. A blend of 60% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Noir, makes for a warm and round nose with notes of honey, sweet dough, and hazelnut. On the palate though it is bright, with a biting acidity, and notes of soft cherry. This is a beautiful bottle for any occasion!
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Chris DePaoli | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
By: Chris DePaoli | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
In Champagne, the law of the land processes and a systematic 7 years aging period lets the maddeningly beautiful Pinot Noir heavy Cuvee showcase wonderful toastiness. The palette of poppyseed and plum skin is carried thru a wonderfully soft mouthfeel, only matched but a lightly sweet nose. A great bottle of bubbles at any price really but one that is ridiculous at the cost.
Price:
$37.99
Four Roses "Small Batch Select" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 5/2/2019 | Send Email
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 5/2/2019 | Send Email
This is a blend of six and seven year old bourbons. For fans of Four Roses it is a must try, and for those who don't already know Four Roses bourbons, it is a chance to see how good this distillery is. The nose is all sweet and brown sugar like. In the mouth it is complex with a nice richness that is on the dry side. It opens up with a little water and becomes a little softer.
Four Roses "Small Batch Select" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/2/2019 | Send Email
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/2/2019 | Send Email
I typically adhere by the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." It seems Four Roses disagrees. With three solid core offerings, they decided to double down on the small batch, offering this great, mid-tiered whiskey at a higher proof (you won't hear me complaining). On the nose I get sweet notes of candy corn and golden raisins with a slight hint of ripe green plum. The palate is definitely kicked up a notch from the regular small batch (which incidentally was my gateway bourbon). Sweet apple notes, with a bit of saigon cinnamon spice make their way forward and leave my tongue tingling with a bit of oak and a small hint of vanilla and finishing with sweet white peaches. The regular small batch got me into bourbon and Four Roses whiskey, and this new Select offering brought me back.
Singani "63" Bolivian Muscat Brandy (750ml)
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/2/2019 | Send Email
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 5/2/2019 | Send Email
Super aromatic and just plain pretty. This muscat based Bolvian brandy gives off aromas of tropical fruits, sweet green apples, and night blooming jasmine. The palate is soft and sweet and reminds me of a tropical fruit punch jolly rancher but with a dry finish. A fun, summery spirit that would work great in a number of cocktails (think cucumbers, limes, basil, and punches) or would be great in a spritz or just on the rocks.
Price:
$29.99
2018 Cheval Blanc, St-Émilion
By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 5/2/2019 | Send Email
By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 5/2/2019 | Send Email
Bright aromas of just ripe red fruits on the nose, broad and silky on the palate with good power. Wonderful rounded tannins finish off this lovely wine. A wine of great harmony and taste! 2.5 Stars Ralph Sands
Darroze Les Grand Assemblages "20 Year Old" Bas-Armagnac (750ml)
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 4/18/2019 | Send Email
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 4/18/2019 | Send Email
The Armagnac discussion has recently been dominated by single cask, vintage, ultra rare bottlings. While that focus is well deserved due to exceptional quality, rarity, and affordability, I think that has come as the disservice of some of the classic blends. Marc Darroze and his family have been distilling Armagnac for farmers for decades. By taking payment for their services in the form of distillate, they have amassed one of the greatest collections of Armagnac stocks on the planet. Marc's prowess as a blender is unmatched and the results I think reach an apex of quality/price in the 20 year assemblages. It's nearly impossible to beat for complexity of flavor, accessibility of profile, and pure deliciousness. All for just a hundred bucks. The nose is packed with fruit, wood spice, and a touch of sweet tobacco leaf. The palate is expansive and soft without ever being flabby. An unparallelled finish where everything lingers in its purest and clearest form, is the true achievement and mark of unrivaled quality.
Cotswolds Non-Chill Filtered English Dry Gin (700ml)
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 4/17/2019 | Send Email
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 4/17/2019 | Send Email
There is a lot of hand labor that goes into producing this gin and the taste certainly reflects those efforts. They peel hundreds of limes and grapefruits every week to get that fresh citrus note in there and all other botanicals are hand-selected for purity of expression. This gin is creamy and lively, showcasing floral and citrus notes, with just a touch of spice. Don't be alarmed if your gin turns cloudy after adding tonic or ice - that's just the incredible amount of botanical oils left in for phenomenal flavor.
2018 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, Pessac-Léognan
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 4/16/2019 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 4/16/2019 | Send Email
One of my favorite Pessac reds in the vintage, Domaine de Chevalier shows a signature textural refinement that carries a core of bright red fruit. The best examples we tried showed great layers with a bright finish and slightly chalky tannins that highlighted a great sense of place. Very compact and composed, there is a bright future for DDC's 2018 and it certainly be a noteworthy vintage for them.
2018 Cheval Blanc, St-Émilion
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 4/11/2019 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 4/11/2019 | Send Email
Very compact and nuanced, Cheval Blanc's 2018 is luxurious on the palate and pulls through with a resounding, long finish. It is built around a mid-palate full of pure red fruit and a seamless texture. It is a wine full of class and has lots of stuffing that hold tremendous potential for patient collectors.
Mortlach 16 Year Old "Distiller's Dram" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 4/9/2019 | Send Email
By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 4/9/2019 | Send Email
Mortlach Distillery, nicknamed "The Beast of Dufftown," is a very unique whisky for Speyside. Many of its neighbors produce elegant, softer Scotch; Mortlach comes to the table with familiar Speyside qualities, but it brings the weight of Highland Scotch. The nose opens with notes of raisin, roasted apples, nutmeg and cinnamon, dates, and light chocolate. The palate is rich and weighty, with notes of apples, baking spice, dried fruit, and OlorosO Sherry (likely due to its aging in ex-sherry casks). This is one of my favorite standard release (not that any Mortlach is standard) Scotches I have had in a long time. If you are a whisky lover at all, this is a Scotch that needs to be experienced.
Paolucci Amaro CioCiaro Liqueur (750ml)
By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 4/8/2019 | Send Email
By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 4/8/2019 | Send Email
Very interesting amaro, with delicious notes of cola, and loads of bitter orange followed by a soft sweetness that will make a perfect digestive for those new to the amaro world. Highly recommended.
Uncle Nearest "1856" Tennessee Whiskey (750ml)
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 3/22/2019 | Send Email
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 3/22/2019 | Send Email
Another whiskey with a neat little story behind it. Coming from a polytechnic schooling, I’d typically ask for sources but the juice seems to speak for itself. The nose is sweet and rich with notes of vanilla, orange peel, stewed figs and a bit of sweetgrass. The palate is soft with a light sweetness that hits the tip of your tongue. Then the sarsaparilla and oak notes start coming through and the finish is drawn out with a bit of sweet mint at the end. At 100 proof, it drinks beautifully and is something I wouldn’t mind having on my bar cart at this price point.
2016 Brane-Cantenac, Margaux
By: Shaun Green | Review Date: 3/14/2019 | Send Email
By: Shaun Green | Review Date: 3/14/2019 | Send Email
Brane Cantenac is a pure and beautifully classic second growth Margaux that has been over-performing for years now. The 2016 benefits from their slow and careful increase in the percentage of Cabernet in the blend. Long, elegant, velvety and expressive, the flavors and textures in the 2016 are irresistible. The elegance of the wine and the complex layers of flavors and aromatics make this an easy choice for your cellar.
Gray Whale Gin (750ml)
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 3/13/2019 | Send Email
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 3/13/2019 | Send Email
A certified 1% For The Planet company, Gray Whale Gin not only makes great gin, they put their money where their mouth is and donate 1% of proceeds to Oceana, an environmental non profit dedicated to protecting the oceans. The selection of botanicals from along the whales' migratory route at first feels a bit kitschy, but one sip and you'll let that feeling go. It's a splendid combination of mint, juniper, and limes set off by a pop of fir, floral notes, and a touch of salinity from sea kelp. An interesting take on terroir (wateroir?), Gray Whale makes a wonderful martini, G&T, or even Negroni, making it a triple threat in your cocktail collection.
Mortlach 16 Year Old "Distiller's Dram" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
By: Will Blakely | Review Date: 3/10/2019 | Send Email
By: Will Blakely | Review Date: 3/10/2019 | Send Email
This is a much more serious bottling than the 12 Year Old, to be sure. The wood influence is ramped up considerably, leading to mature and complex flavors. Layers of dried fruit, cocoa, red berries, savory herbs -- thyme and fennel -- precede dense oak and ample spice, finishing with a meaty salinity and lingering notes of flaky pastry. The 16 Year packs a lot of sherry and malt character into a surprisingly affordable package.
Mortlach 16 Year Old "Distiller's Dram" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/2/2019 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/2/2019 | Send Email
Easily unseating the old Flora & Fauna bottling as the benchmark expression of Mortlach, this distillery seems to sing under sherry and at this age it's completely developed the dense character and meaty savoriness that we crave from the Beast of Dufftown. ON first nosing expect deep dried fruit, dark chocolates, roasted meat juice, tangy clove stuffed pear. Deep and spicy on the palate with the oily texture one demands of the great malts of Mortlach. Hints of fresh herbs, candied tropical fruit and old bay spice. Truly a worth example of this special distillery and well worth $100 they're asking.
Charanda Uruapan Blanco Single Blended Rum (1L)
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 2/28/2019 | Send Email
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 2/28/2019 | Send Email
Full disclosure: I had heard/knew about this product prior to it being imported to the U.S. and it had a lot of hype behind it. People whom I respected and trusted the palates of vouched for it and sang its praises. Prior to cracking the bottle and trying it, the contrarian in me wanted to find something to criticize. Alas, my counterparts were correct in touting this to be one of the most unique and interesting spirits in its category (maybe even outside of it). First off, you can’t beat the price; this is one, 1-litre bottle you’ll want to keep stocked in your home bar. Sipped neat on its own, on the rocks, or wow guests and yourself by mixing it into a refreshing rum cocktail, this Charanda spirit is sure to enlighten. I was so blown away by the aroma that I had to pass my glass around the office, almost frantic, trying to get others to share in the experience of deciphering the smells wafting from the chalice. Notes of pickle brine and light dill danced harmoniously with sweet notes of star fruit, green plantain, and musk melon. The palate was harder to nail down as the chameleon-like flavors seemed to constantly change and then change back. Light fruity notes came to the forefront and the image of a prickly pear popped into my brain as I sampled the spirit. There was also something there that reminded me of Ramune (Japanese marble soda) that I used to covet as a kid. The finish was pleasantly smooth and had a nice, dry, Meyer lemon peel taste to it. Just as it was to me, I would highly recommend this to any rum and/or spirits fan.
Price:
$24.99
Red Spot 15 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 2/28/2019 | Send Email
By: Jackson Lee | Review Date: 2/28/2019 | Send Email
Why was this gone for 50+ years?? Whatever the reason, I’m glad we got it back. The nose was so alluring it captured the attention of passerby’s and many members of the staff ended up sampling this new addition to the Spot line up. Marzipan, Mexican hot chocolate, strawberries and cream, apple flesh and sweet oak all seemed to intermingle together putting the nose to the glass. Even after the vessel was devoid of liquid I found that I couldn’t stop putting my nostrils to the rim and inhaling like it was the first scent I ever smelled. On the palate the apple note translated well on the taste buds followed by semisweet chocolate and sweet oak with hints of candied anise seed and cream soda. The fruity, strawberry note made a reappearance on the finish with other fruity tones and something that faintly reminded me of Apple Jacks cereal. Definitely a great offering to add to the line up.
Mortlach 16 Year Old "Distiller's Dram" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 2/28/2019 | Send Email
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 2/28/2019 | Send Email
The 16 year is the slam dunk of the new Mortlach lineup. If you only try one bottling, this is the one. It's exceptional. Robust sherry of the highest quality imparts a bit of rancio which plays perfectly with the natural meatiness of the spirit and a ton of dried sultanas and figs which lends a beautiful supple sweetness. The palate is extremely full, filling every nook and cranny and hitting every taste bud. The finish lingers on and on and is where you really see the quality of the clean sherry casks used.
Red Spot 15 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 2/26/2019 | Send Email
By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 2/26/2019 | Send Email
This newest offering from the makers of Yellow Spot and Green Spot is a delicious Dublin single pot still whiskey matured in a combination of Bourbon, Sherry, and Marsala casks. The nose is rich, buttery, and a little sweet. Layers of caramel peel back to open on dried red fruits and apple. There's a nice allspice note that bends and binds with a gentle medicinality and leather scent. On the palate, the first thing I notice is the voluptuous mouthfeel - this whiskey has a wonderful texture. The red fruit flavors play off of nuttiness quite well, and the whole while there's a nice tongue-tingling quality. The medium-long finish keeps the fruit and spice notes going and going.