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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
2016 Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
The Cathiards have brought Smith from underperforming to Bordeaux superstar in 25 years. They have learned from their earlier vintages and now make surely a second growth quality wine-maybe super second at a good price. The 2015 sold very well, and this is as good. 65% CS for this sexy, somewhat exotic mouthful of pleasure. Full-bodied and quite rich on the palate. Some red roses and cassis shining through on this modern rendition.
2016 Léoville-Las Cases, St-Julien
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
Just 13.6% alcohol on this-one of the best wines of the vintage. Surprise! Surprise! Chocolate and spice and everything nice on the nose. Totally integrated on the palate. Seamless and pure-lovely texture. Will age long time because of the balance. Almost perfect, but it won't be cheap!
2016 Canon, St-Émilion
By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
2016 Ch. Canon like the 2015 is an outstanding wine. 74% Merlot,60% new oak for 18 months, 14% alc. Incredibly fresh, driven by elegant sweet fruit with hints just ripe cherries and absolutely dry! Classic Canon balance from front to back. I love it. 3 Stars! Ralph Sands
2016 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
Mouton Rothschild reveals an incredible nose that screams greatness! Sweet, pure and persistent old vine fruit with strong structure, a lovely touch of middle fruit richness but still very bold and long finishing. A great tasting wine and a Mouton for the ages! 3 Stars! Ralph Sands
2016 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
This is the best first growth I tasted from 2016--very much in the vein of the great 86 Mouton with softer fruit, so almost like a combination of 82 and 86. The wine is utter perfection, in my my top three for 2016 overall. Only Lafite and Petrus are as good, in my opinion.
Angeleno Amaro (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/31/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/31/2017 | Send Email
Angeleno is the hotness right now. It's not your grandma's amaro though so don't expect the sweet easy richness of Averna or the mellow bitter qualities of Nonino. Instead, the boys at Angeleno have created something distinctly Californian, not in the mold of any Italian Amaro, but with a great respect for those venerable products. The secret recipe includes locally sourced fresh and dried botanicals, many hand picked at a local farm. The base spirit is distilled from Pinot Grigio and a multi-step maceration and blending process before filtration and resting. The unusual concoction has a huge orange element, pointed with powerful herbal aromas, in particular chamomile and gentian. On the palate it starts a bit vinous and zippy sweet before the bitter orange peel and gentian peel pull it back. As you sip the bitterness builds. Very effective as a digestive, but works wonders in aperitif, as Spritz or even can sub-out orange liqueur or Lillet when you want to dry up or spice up a classic recipe. This is a modern classic in every sense of the word and will likely be everywhere before you know it.
Price:
$32.99
Delamain Pale & Dry XO Grande Champagne Cognac (700ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/31/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/31/2017 | Send Email
Delamain is really one of the most special producers of Cognac. They may not be the most exciting, bold or innovative, but they make DANG good cognac in a style that very few producers are going after. Restrained elegant and very deliberate. the XO is Delamain's "entry level" but it doesn't drink like an entry level. This has some very old brandies in the mix and benefits from an extended marriage period in smaller casks rather than the few weeks in large foudres like most producers. The result is a head nose of dried stone fruits, macerated vanilla bean and subtle exotic wood. Excellent vibrant entry that's lifted and open with tons of complexity. Those stones fruits play of the barrel spice perfectly as the long finish builds. This has always been a favorite circa $100+, but at this price this is easily the finest regularly available XO for your money.
Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/31/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/31/2017 | Send Email
Buffalo Trace's flagship Rye named for the famous Coffeehouse in New Orleans which gave its name to both the cocktail and the company that owns the distillery. This whisky has an unconfirmed mashbill but what ever they're doing over there results in a wonderful spicy bold yet balanced rye. Aged for around 6 years and bottled at 90 proof, the Sazerac Rye cleans up at the competitions and is finally available on the regular. Even at 90 proof this bad boy makes a mean cocktail and might be a little more forgiving than something like the WT 101 Rye, plus it's now cheaper than that bench mark. Most serious drinkers should have a bottle open in the bar...
Carpano "Punt E Mes" Vermouth (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/31/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/31/2017 | Send Email
Punt E Mes has been a go to choice for cocktailing at my house for years. When you're a bit tired of the ultra richness of Antica formula, fall back on the lovely and structured Punt E to clear you right up. It does wonders for drying up a bourbon Manhattan, but it also sings in Spritzs and Negronis. The nose is vinous and spicy with herbal sweet earthiness. The palate is somewhat tannic with a strong quinine element. The finish softens up and releases you from its bitter grasp with soft sweet ending. A great change up from the standard red vermouths.
Campari Bitter Liqueur (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/31/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/31/2017 | Send Email
I have a strange and painful affinity to Campari. There's not a moment of any day at any time that I couldn't get down with a bit of that amaroidal crimson concoction. I'm not certain that I'm not physically dependent on it.
Balvenie 12 Year Old "Doublewood" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/31/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/31/2017 | Send Email
Good old Doublewood. Very few entry level offerings from a Scottish distillery provide so much depth for your dollar. For some many people this is the gateway to the world of Scotch and I think it does a lot of things really well. The gorgeous distillery in Dufftown is one of the best reasons to visit Speyside and one of the few that's still using onsite maltings, albeit in small quantities. It's clear that they're going for balance and easy of entry, but not at complete neglect of character. The nose starts with a big honey note framed around subtle driad fruit influence and a big vanilla component. The earthy maltiness builds with air and dominates the palate, but still some darker sherry components poke through. The finish moves away from the sweet honey and raisiny fruit toward darker drier components. Some wisps of fresh oak as it lingers. Certainly I'd love to see this at higher proof, but truly appreciate what this humble bottlings provides for the price.
Waiter's Corkscrew Burgundy K&L Logo
By: Anthony Russo | Review Date: 5/30/2017 | Send Email
By: Anthony Russo | Review Date: 5/30/2017 | Send Email
This is a super-solid corkscrew. Built with metal parts, it'll take a lot of abuse before cracking and falling apart, unlike its plastic competitors. We use it all the time ourselves for tastings and these have yet to let us down! The best feature is the dual pivot point, making the actual cork-pulling process easy, and smooth.
Price:
$6.99
2016 d'Issan, Margaux
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 5/30/2017 | Send Email
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 5/30/2017 | Send Email
A special wine that oozes dark cherry and plum fruit with ample structure that makes it ideal for long term aging. Silky and velvety!
High West "Bourye - 2025" Limited Release A Blend of Straight Bourbon & Rye Whiskey (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/24/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/24/2017 | Send Email
The excellent Bourye is always a special treat. There are so few opportunities to taste old American whiskey at a reasonable price. The Bourye is always a reminder that High West is really an American blending house. Sure, they distill stuff, but what they're good at is figuring out the precise proportions to maximize the impact of each component of a blend. The new Bourye is no exception. The heady spice of old rye and the rich, woodsy sweetness of well-aged bourbons are mingled perfectly for one of the most obvious and delicious bottles on the shelf today. Has this wonderful old-style feel to it and represents quite a good value considering many aged-stated rye and many bourbons are asking upwards of $100.
Price:
$119.99
Del Maguey Minero Mezcal (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/24/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/24/2017 | Send Email
Del Maguey single-handedly created the high-end mezcal category. And while their Chichicapa might be considered the flagship, it is their Minero that is the true star. Hand-milled agave cultivated at over 5,000 feet and roasted over mesquite, huamuchil, and eucalyptus wood is fermented in open wooden vats for up to 25 days. It's then distilled in traditional clay pots (the only standard release from Del Maguey using this type of still) to create one of the most viscous and powerfully rich mezcals available.
Price:
$74.99
Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/24/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/24/2017 | Send Email
This is benchmark whiskey. Jimmy Russell's personal favorite and still one of the staffs go to, the Wild Turkey 101 is great because it pulls no punches and makes no excuses. WT has consistently produced exceptional whiskey for over 60 years and what a lot of people assume to be a mass market brand, is actually qualitatively better than many of their competitors. They make old fashion whiskey in the most efficient way possible and Jimmy has made sure (over the course of many corporate take overs) that WT will NEVER compromise quality for profits. The 101 is for those who like to chew their whiskey. Big bold and spicy, it's relatively high rye content (13%) is noticeable, but not over the top. Textured, full of vanilla and sweet spice, the 101 remains one of Kentucky's great value bourbons.
Franck Bonville Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 5/23/2017 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 5/23/2017 | Send Email
Consistently incredible! Bonville’s delicate, visually-stunning brut rosé is delicious and elegant, but also substantial: this feels like important Champagne, with quality that far exceeds its price point. With 8% Pinot Noir from celebrated Grand Cru village of Ambonnay, this crisp rosé features vivid red fruit on the nose but finishes fresh, with the linear snap expected of 92% Chardonnay, mostly from the colder 2011 vintage. There is electric acidity on the palate but also a plusher component thanks to a luxuriously fine bead. Luxurious, dry, and easydrinking – this is rosé I’ve returned to again and again.
Price:
$59.99
2016 Ducru-Beaucaillou, St-Julien
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 5/20/2017 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 5/20/2017 | Send Email
This is packed and stacked with tons of spiced red and black fruit, a long, thick texture and super sweet tannins. Blackberry, wild raspberry, pencil lead and dark chocolate are present in this huge and tensile wine of strength and focus.
2016 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 5/19/2017 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 5/19/2017 | Send Email
All the brooding potential and massive power you expect from this wine but tempered by a roundness of the edges and a fresh lift to the middle. This is dark and dense looking with a chewy blackberry middle of surprising finesse and a super sweet finish of grainy tannin showing ample tug. This will need time but it screams potential.
2016 Léoville-Las Cases, St-Julien
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 5/19/2017 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 5/19/2017 | Send Email
Once again the top property in the appellation turns out a classic iron fist in a velvet glove. This silky, elegant wine is deeply concentrated, impeccably balanced and the picture of finesse. A sleek, classy and intense wine poised on the cusp of perfection.
2016 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 5/10/2017 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 5/10/2017 | Send Email
This powerful yet polished and beguiling wine is the best from this property in a long time. Raspberry, cherry and currant fruit form a creamy texture that glides across the gentle, rounded tannins in this sleek dark and packed wine. Hints of tobacco, spice and cocoa poke through the middle of effortless balance. Here the muscle is wearing cashmere.
2016 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien
By: Jeff Garneau | Review Date: 5/9/2017 | Send Email
By: Jeff Garneau | Review Date: 5/9/2017 | Send Email
Chateau Branaire-Ducru is consistently one of the best values in Saint Julien. I love it for its elegance and for its classic appeal. I confess I have quite a few bottles in my cellar from various vintages. I plan to add a few more from this remarkable 2016 vintage. Patrick Maroteaux and his team really outdid themselves, producing one of the best wines from this appellation. Wildly aromatic and deeply colored. Bright, fresh, and very lively with fine tannins. Perfectly ripe, sweet fruit. Balanced. Precise. Complete.
2016 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 5/9/2017 | Send Email
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 5/9/2017 | Send Email
64% Cabernet and it shows it with vivid red color and bright red berry aromas. Tons of fruit attacks the palate and great mid palate sweetnes. My notes say-Fruit-freshness-elegance. Round plush tannins and lovely texture and only 6% increase in price from the 2015 vintage. I much prefer 2016.
Hakushu 12 Year Old Peated Japanese Single Malt Whisky
By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 5/8/2017 | Send Email
By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 5/8/2017 | Send Email
Personally, I’ve always been surprised how much more popular the Yamazaki 12 is compared to its sibling the Hakushu 12. To me, the Yamazaki has always been a fine whiskey, but the more dynamic malt is easily the Hakushu, which as pretty much the same delicate and light-drinking flavor profile as the Yamazaki, but with just the faintest touch of smoke. It's so ethereal straight out of the glass, but I feel like it tastes even better with ice (I know that's tough for some people to handle). The subtle peat is like a ghost that moves slowly around every part of my palate, brushing it with hints of earth and phenolic goodness after coating it with sweet grains. With our new pricing, this is a can't miss deal. It's nice to have some real quantity again!
Price:
$159.99
Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky (750ml)
By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 5/8/2017 | Send Email
By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 5/8/2017 | Send Email
When the Suntory Toki first launched at $45, it was a bit of a stretch because of how hot the market was for Japanese whisky. I'm much more comfortable selling this in the mid-thirties, however, and with our new pricing we can do that. While you sip on your bottle of Yamazaki or Hakushu, you pour this one on the rocks, add some soda water, and make yourself a real mizuwari--the great whisky soda that dominates Japan's drinking culture. The fruitiness on the nose really blossoms with the addition of bubbles, so don't be shy here. Do Japanese whisky right and drink it how it's intended!
Price:
$29.99
Cappelletti "Sfumato Rabarbaro" Amaro (750ml)
By: Jeff Garneau | Review Date: 5/3/2017 | Send Email
By: Jeff Garneau | Review Date: 5/3/2017 | Send Email
This wonderful Amaro from Cappelletti is smoky and earthy, sweet and classically bitter. Try it on its own as a digestivo to end a hearty meal or get creative with some of your favorite cocktails. Personally, I am a huge Negroni fan. I have been looking for some time for an Amaro I could pair with Mezcal. As soon as I tasted the Sfumato Rabarbaro Amaro I knew I had found the secret ingredient for my Negroni Sfumato (I thought “Smoke & Mirrors” would be a fun title as well but the rest of the staff seem set on "Smoky Negron"). Try equal parts Sfumato Rabarbaro Amaro from Cappelletti, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, and your favorite mezcal. I used the Mezcalero "Los Nahuales" Special Edition Sierrudo-Cuishe Mezcal from Los Danzantes. Amazing!
Price:
$21.99
Laphroaig "Lore" Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/3/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/3/2017 | Send Email
Laphroaig purist (something I've been accused of previously) might balk at the idea of blending young and old Laphroaig. Add a more pronounced wood influence and people could be up in arms! But, they've worked wonders here. The brain child of Laphroaig head honcho John Campbell, this special offering has tons classic Laphroaig smoke framed around this ultra approachable background of old exotic wood and old Islay whisky. It may not have the intensity of the Cask Strength, but it's got tons going on and is the perfect introduction to how smoky Islay malt ages.
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/3/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/3/2017 | Send Email
I never quite understood how Buffalo Trace was able to make so much great bourbon at such a low price. Even after visiting the distillery several times the numbers just seem silly. What you learn from being there is that Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare are essentially the same exact whiskey. Both are distilled from the same mashbill and aged in the same brick patent heated warehouse. Both are 10 years old when being dumped. The only difference is the way the taste. Literately, they taste each barrel and decide how to bottle it - either as a single cask or in the small batch blend. One is 30% cheaper than the other. Both are delicious. Incredible that this stuff isn't in EVERY well in every bar. Should always be a contender for your current HOUSE BOURBON.
2016 Reserve de la Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 4/28/2017 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 4/28/2017 | Send Email
Just like the Grand Vin, the best in a long time. This shows lots of blackberry jam, dark chocolate and sweet mixed berries in the sumptuous and rich middle. The super fresh finish is ripe and fine and filled with mineral. This echos the quality of Pichon-Lalande and is one of the best 2nd wines we tasted.
2016 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 4/26/2017 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 4/26/2017 | Send Email
Pontet Canet, Mouton and Pichon-Lalande were the 3 most voluptuous Pauillacs we tasted the first week of April and the Pontet comes in as #1. This is ripe, dark and concentrated with huckleberry jam, raspberry fruit, vanilla, spice oak and more on a powerful and creamy yet classy frame. The tannins are sweet, ripe and rounded on this ultra rich wine of almost exotic proportion that still manages to come off as bone dry. I suspect someone will score this 100 points.
Lot 40 Copper Pot Still Canadian Rye Whisky (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
Lot 40 Rye has gone from being impossible to get and expensive to be our go to affordable sipping rye! The spectacular quality you get on this one for the price is UNMATCHED elsewhere in the rye world. That said it's nothing like the grainy rye coming out of all the craft distilleries in the states or the punchy cocktail friendly bravado of a Rittenhouse. This is zippy herbaceous 100% pot still 100% Canadian is well matured rye unlike any other. Delicious nose of caraway, licorice, candied cherries, citrus peel and baking spices. The palate is cinnamon and spice and everything nice! It's almost Christmas-y! Sweet Muscovado finish to balance all the spice. The whole thing builds to a nice long satisfying finish. This isn't a powerhouse that's going to knock you out, but instead there's something more intricate and oblique about it. Perhaps it's the pot stills or something else going on, but this is one serious little drink for $30.
Russell's Reserve 10 Year Old Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
What can I say about Wild Turkey except that Jimmy and Eddie Russell are two of the industry's finest stewards. On their watch, across multiple owners, they've worked to been able to keep quality levels at Wild Turkey extremely high. They've never compromised what they've knew to be important for quality production in the name of making an extra buck and the result speaks for itself. Their namesake product, the Russell's Reserve 10 Year is probably older than Jimmy likes his bourbon, but for me it's perfect. Only bested by the Single Barrels in their portfolio, the 10 year is just a silly price for great aged bourbon of the highest quality. Tons of complexity on the nose, with that high rye component coming through. The big bold herbal spices is tempered with a sweet nougat and toffee. Big and rich on the palate with subtle licorice, old bourbon spice, sweet vanilla and dark fruit to finish. Very few things get this good under $30.
Old Forester "Signature" 100 Proof Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
This is probably the best regularly release whiskey produced by Brown Forman USA. The OF 100 proof has so much going on, yet it remains totally under the radar. For as good as Brown Forman are at making whisky (they skip the e on OF for some historical bizarre reason), they've yet to create serious cache around this brand. New releases like the OF Prohibition are changing that trend, but we sell 10 times as much Buffalo Trace as we do Old Forester. I think that a huge part of that has to do with their ground game in Kentucky. People go to BT (partly because of VW) and see the beautiful old brick warehouses and fall in love. Equally so at Woodford, but OF doesn't have a place to call its own. The distillery experience on Whiskey Row in Downtown Louisville was severly damage in a 2015 fire. Hopefully that will open soon and give Old Forester a place to showcase their exceptional wares. Maybe they'll finally do some cask strength single barrels? In the mean time, I'll keep reminding my customers that this is one of the best bourbons they're not drinking.
Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon (750ml) (Ships as 3L due to bottle size/shape)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
Willett's flagship product is their Pot Still Reserve in the wonderfully weird pot still bottle. This super easy going small batch blend represents 30 years of grit and determination in one little bottle. Now that the Willett's have finally got their still up and running, this will likely become a showcase of their older own distilled bourbons in the future. For now it's still a blend of some wonderful sourced whiskies of excellent quality. Easy drinking, but not simple by any means, expect a strong bouquet of candied citrus and sweet dark caramel. The sweet nose and front palate belies a building peppery note and a drier finish driven by oaky spice. Production remains very limited on these, so don't expect it to always be around. The awesome bottle makes for a great gift all year round.
Price:
$54.99
Four Roses "Single Barrel" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
This whiskey sets Four Roses apart from its competitors in nearly every category. It checks ALL the boxes. A 10 year old high rye recipe bourbon bottled as a single barrel at 100 proof and sold for only $40! What the hell is everyone else doing? Four Roses makes your whiskey look stupid! You go to Four Roses, see what they're doing. Takes some notes. No one sells better whiskey for less. This is always the special OBSV recipe. Since these are single barrels, every bottle you open is a new and wonderful experience. If you don't have a bottle in your bar already, you're making a terrible mistake.
Noah's Mill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
Noah's Mill is a legend. It's been one of Willett's flag ship brands for decades. This whiskey includes some of their oldest stocks, which means some of the barrels in the blend are 20+ years old. Expect an average age around 15 years. This elegant whiskey is complex and heady, but not overpowering. Its soft yet distinctive aromatics range from candied citrus, floral honey and stone fruit to forest, leather and smokey oak. A sweet front palate of caramel and toffee is followed by a pepper and spice finish owing to a significant amount of rye in the mashbill. For an over-proof (114.3-degree) bourbon, it is not at all hot. It's absolutely incredible that we're able to sell this whiskey for $55 when every distillery out their is trying to get you to pay $100 for some 6 year old. Thank you to the good people at Willett for having the gumption to keep it real after all these years.
Price:
$69.99
Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
Maker's Mark is easily the most consistent bourbon on the market today. Not many people realize that it's a wheater (i.e. same recipe as Weller) the coveted base for the Van Winkle bourbons. There's not a whole lot that separates what Maker's does from what happens at Buffalo Trace. The yeast strains are different. The Maker's stills are tall and skinny which makes a difference, but for what it's worth Maker's have become masters at replicating that special recipe, which Julian Van Winkle helped develop all those decades ago. He was making the best whiskey at the time in an "old fashioned" way (i.e. No chemists allowed! was the distillery motto) so why wouldn't you seek his advice when starting a distillery? Indeed, it was in Stitzle-Weller's image that Bill Samuels molded what would become one of the Country's most popular whiskey brands. After around six years, with a unique system of barrel management to encourage consistent aging, we get this ubiquitous and delicious whiskey marked with that special red top.
Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2017 | Send Email
I can't tell you the number of times we've had some older timer walk in off the street and beckon me over to point out the Four Roses Yellow Label, "now why does a nice store like yours carry this CRAP!" Wait a second there Sir. You may remember the old Yellow Label blend that Four Roses used to sell back in the bad old Seagram days and indeed that was a dog, but this is by no means that! The labels are nearly identical, but this one is filled only with Straight Bourbons from one of Kentucky's best. The blend of their ten recipes is one of the easiest Bourbons to get behind in the store and represents a stupendous value. Four Roses is high rye Bourbon, even their low rye recipe is high rye compared to some of their competitors. That wonderful grainy spice is tempered by the various yeast strains and the ultimate result is a wonderful easy drinking bourbon for a VERY reasonable price. Expect a nose of sweet barrel spice, caramelized sugars, and delicate floral notes. The palate has a bit more savory spice, but is still dominated by the sweet flavors of honey, ripe apples and more vanilla. Easy drinking and easy on the pocket book.
2016 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien
By: Jason Marwedel | Review Date: 4/17/2017 | Send Email
By: Jason Marwedel | Review Date: 4/17/2017 | Send Email
This wine typifies the best of the 2016 vintage: purity, precision and elegance. This wine jumps from the glass with loads of black cherry, cola and flowers - while the palate displays layers of sweet supple fruit. Maintaining focus throughout, the tannins are soft and fine leaving you with a delightful spice note at the conclusion. So well constructed, it is an absolute classic!
Neisson Rhum Agricole Blanc Martinique (1L)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
The Neisson Blanc is the quintessential white agricole rhum. Neisson is all about creating rhums of Terroir and the blanc expresses that terroir better than anything thing they offer. The Blanc 100 proof is sourced from two sugar fields in the North of Martinique in the communes of Saint-Pierre and Carbat. The soils are volcanic pumice over sandy clay in nature and planted to Blue, Red, Cannelle, and Zikak Sugar Cane varietals. It's fermented in open vats and distilled on an Armagnac style alembic column still. It's rested for at least 6 months before bottling The traditional distillery is still run by children of the founder Hildevert-Pamphille Neisson. The result is something heady and wild, with tons of funky hogo, tropical fruit and fresh grass. It's vibrant and intense. A true expression of the cane from this special little island.
Barbancourt Estate Reserve 15 Year Old Haitian Rum (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
Barbancourt Estate is Haiti's top rum producer and makes a very unique style that blends technique from both the Cognac and Armagnac. Like most French protectorates, Barbancourt uses only fresh cane juice for fermentation rather than a mix of molasses and water. This is then distilled to 70% on a column still before being rectified on an alembic pot still to 90%. This high proof spirit is then cut to 100 proof and aged in large vats and small barrels. The result is some where in between a Spanish and a French style rhum. It's ultra clean and fruity, but without the sweet syrupy notes of aged Spanish rums. By 15 years, there's plenty of concentration and density of wood, heavy on the butterscotch, toffee and baking spices. It retains some of the fruitiness of the younger expressions on the palate, but the bold spice and sweet caramelized sugar aromas are definitely in charge here. It's really unlike any other agricole on the market, as it's made quite differently, but nonetheless offer a lot deliciousness for the price.
English Harbour 5 Year Old Antigua Rum (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
English Harbour is a stupendous offering that represents some of the old school style rum, without the over the top esters of a Jamaican. Fermented with a mixture of baking yeast and wild yeast, the distillery uses open top fermentation to encourage some of the funky wild yeast to interact with the wash. This is then distilled on an old copper column still for a light bodied rum that's full of character. It's kind of an in between style, not quite light and sweet like the Spanish, not quite heavy and funky like the English. Altogether a wonderful expressive and delicious Caribbean rum.
Johnny Drum "Private Stock" 101 Proof Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
Johnny Drum has long been a go to for our staff and customers are starting to catch on. For years this special Bourbon held the 15 year designation right on the neck and while they're not able to use it any longer, there remains incredible old bourbon in the blend. While we don't have precise information about the contents here, there's no doubt that Willett is including some nicely aged bourbon in the blend. It remains a go to Bourbon that nearly anyone can appreciate. Dense nose of deep maple, oak spice, and sweet candied fruit. The palate is structured and not overtly sweet thanks to the higher proof. This one is really fun to mix with and stands up to anything in the price range without even flinching. Plus the old school wax top looks so COOL!!!!
Price:
$49.99
The Botanist Islay Dry Gin (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
Jim McEwan's ginny babe is a baby no more. Remy has taken the Botanist out of it's crib and it's quickly becoming one of the hottest gins in the world. That hasn't changed anything about how delicious it is. Still using those same 22 Islay botanicals, the key to the Botanist's complexity is actually the ultra slow distillation at Bruichladdich on the banks of Loch Indaal. 17 long hours to produce one batch on the odd Lomond Still nicked named "Ugle Betty". The resulting spirit is one of the most unctuous and deeply complex gins on the market. Each distinct local botanical infused with the breath of the Queen of the Hebrides.
Price:
$34.99
Cadenhead's Old Raj Gin 110 Proof (700ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
Cadenhead's Old Raj is a true Classic. That light yellow hue, imparted from the rare and expensive saffron flower, hints at the exceptional quality and complexity. The stiff 110 proof reminds us that this is Campbeltown's own Gin - the pride of Kintyre. It's racy, it's powerful, it makes no excuses, but it will hold you tight and kiss you goodnight.
Price:
$45.99
Gin Mare Mediterranean Gin (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
Oh Gin Mare, you've always been here for me. When I'm bored of the same old gin, there you are waiting for me, all savory and oily. It's that Olive thing that gets you first, but then you notice the other unusual flavors. And you fall in love. Don't mess this up by trying to mix it too heavily. This stuff begs for good tonic and some anchovies. Nothing more needed.
Price:
$36.99
Ventura Spirits "Wilder" Gin (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
Ventura Spirits is one of SoCal's most exciting new distilleries. These guys are really in it for the right reasons. They do crazy shit like try to distill seaweed and make wild weird brandies from local strawberry, quince and other wonderful treats. Their Wilder Gin exemplifies everything that their all about. They're pulling these botanicals from the hills around the distillery and fruit from local farms, the result is something utterly unique and truly Californian. This is a beautiful base to build complex cocktails around or use it to give a fresh twist on an old classic. No doubt this should be considered one of SoCal's premier micro gins.
Price:
$29.99
The 86 Co. Ford's Gin (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
The wonderful Ford's Gin has become a go to for many bartenders and no surprise thanks to it's loveable creator Simon Ford. It's pretty simple really. First, get one of London's great old gin houses to produce an ultra high quality gin for you. Make sure it's distinctive, but versatile. Maybe add a hint of Grapefruit - nobody is doing that. Next, ship the ultra high-proof bulk spirit to the states for proofing and bottling at Charbay in Ukiah. Kick it with Marko, drink a lot. Finally, sell it for an incredibly fair price. It's that easy. Now you know how to start your own Spirits Company. Or just buy 86 Co.'s Ford's Gin and relax.
Price:
$24.99
Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
My things have really come full circle when the Australians are surpassing the British in the Gin game. No doubt there are some cranky brits over this one, but the quality of the Four Pillars gins cannot be denied or ignored. This is a citrus driven style, but with plenty of botanical oomph to keep it serious. I love to use this in citrus based cocktails. In Rickeys, Corpse Revivers, Last Words it just sings, but has enough to standard up to a really nice tonic syrup and some descent soda.
Darroze Les Grand Assemblages "20 Year Old" Bas-Armagnac (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
The exceptional Darroze 20 year is a tribute not only to the incredibly high quality stocks that Marc Darroze has in the chais, but also to his exceptional skill as a blender. The resulting Armagnac is one of the most elegant and well put together products of any kind. Expect bold notes of dense tropical fruit (mango and guava), soft supple tannins and rich, but not syrupy mouth feel. This is a great age for Armagnac as you have the freshness and intensity on display, but all the edges are starting to round out. This is something that should always be open in the back of the bar, just to keep you steady.