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Staff Favorites - Andrew Stevens
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Reviews
Caves Messias Santola "Crab Wine" Vinho Verde
Review Date: 05-15-2018
Summer sippin goodness in a bottle. That is what I thought the first time I tried this wine a few years ago and that thought has remained each time I taste it again. Perfect thirst quenching, low alcohol, slightly fizzy sipping goodness. This is the wine to grab by the case and find a reason to open on a beautiful afternoon.
Price:
$9.99
Gilbert Jacquesson "Cuvée Eugénie" Brut Rosé Champagne
Review Date: 02-07-2018
New DI Champagne is always exciting to me, mostly because it means I get to taste Champagne and no matter what that is great. Still better when I find ones I really like. This new Rose is definitely our best priced Rose Champagne, but just because it is less expensive does not mean it is less drinkable. Bright fruit with some lovely structure from a little skin contact this all Pinot Meunier rose is a spectacular buy and a tasty bottle.
Price:
$32.99
Four Pillars "Bloody Shiraz" Gin (750ml)
Review Date: 08-30-2017
I was willing to buy this bottle based on the aromatics alone, well that and the fact that Four Pillars seems incapable of making a bad gin. Watching this come in and getting to finally taste it makes me do a happy dance. The aroma juniper, sweet orange, bitter herb, red berry are all present here and hint at the tastiness hiding within this bottle. The flavor here is reminiscent of a SloGin but brighter and drier than most I have tasted. The beauty of the Four Pillars botanicals are still here just surrounded and submerged in sweet red fruit, more spice and a perfect amount of sweetness. I can't wait to try it in a Negroni and I feel I won't even need the sweet vermouth.
Price:
$29.99
Paranubes Oaxacan Aguardiente de Caña Agricole Rum (1L)
Review Date: 07-18-2017
Wow, I mean seriously wow. This is one of those spirits that just makes me sit up and take notice. The nose immediately hits you with a fairly big grassy and slightly woody note. However, as powerful as the aromatics here are the body is light and balanced. Beautiful oxidized fruit, a touch of earthiness, much less aggressive than many agricole. Although David has just been sipping it this is the kind of spirit I cannot wait to start making cocktails with. I love when I get to play with something new and this is going to be a very good summer with this spirit I feel.
Price:
$39.99
El Silencio Espadin Black Bottle Mezcal (750ml)
Review Date: 06-08-2017
This is a perfect addition to my rotation of Mezcal that I can cocktail with and I am excited to see how it plays in my favorite drinks. The El Silencio has classic big notes from the Espadin, rich waxy rounded fruit with plenty of smoke. This is an unctuous fruity Mezcal that holds nothing back, but not in an overwhelming style. All of that big fruit typically play so well in cocktails and are necessary to stand up to other flavors when I make my Mezcal Negronis. Add to this the fact that the bottle is under $30 and we have ourselves a winner.
Price:
Hidden
Bollinger "Special Cuvée" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 06-08-2017
Bollinger is one of my immediate go to houses for people looking for a known name that delivers stunning wine for the price. The special cuvee from them is the perfect place to start with this all family owned estate. Lovely fruit notes of early plum, red fruit, and green apple with a little wood and spice are all firmly in balance here. The level of complexity is impressive and the finish is soft but does not fall flat in any way. There is also a beautiful tartness to the wine from the acid that serves to enhance the overall experience.
Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 06-06-2017
If you are a Champagne House that carries the name recognition and appeal of Laurent Perrier how do you change your signature offering? Easy, you introduce a wine like the new La Cuvee. Taking on new vineyards and changing the basic cepage Laurent Perrier also decided that a longer lees time was also just what this new cuvee needed. The result being a continuation of what they are capable of and I believe a treat for all of their customers. This new champagne features a slightly creamier nose than the Brut and is filled with delectable stone fruit, cream, and plenty of balancing acid. I am fairly confident that those who are already familiar with this house will be delighted with this change and the handful of people who haven't tried them yet here is exactly where you should start.
Santa Teresa 1796 Ron Antiguo de Solera Rum Venezuela (750ml)
Review Date: 01-30-2017
This wonderfully rich, but balanced Solera style rum is one of my go to's for those just getting into rum or those who have been long time fans. Dark, warm fruits and notes of toffee are not cloying, but rather they compliment each other and the strong streak of vanilla that brings this rum to a close.
Kilkerran (Glengyle) 12 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
Review Date: 10-21-2016
One of only three active distilleries in Campbeltown, this new offering created in the revamped Glengyle is created using old techniques, and the dedication shows. Beautiful white fruit and spice layer the peat, showcasing the uniqueness of Campbeltown. Lovely layers of smoke move throughout this whisky and bring it to a finish with medium heat and spice. Full-flavored yet balanced, this is a cool new offering for those who love every different expression of peat, smoke, and of course, Campbeltown.
Price:
$99.99
Nikka "Yoichi" Japanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml)
Review Date: 09-21-2016
This may be my favorite offering from Nikka, which is saying something. The whisky opens with fruit, hints of spice, and of course a lovely layer of peat. Unlike some of the other Nikkas, this whisky plays on a more fruity note, loaded with baked pears and green apple, and baking spices like cinnamon and cardamom finish it off. The peat here is more smoldering than outright smoke and adds to the complexity. The lack of age statement here in no way diminishes from how good this bottle is, working well either neat or as a highball.
La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé
Review Date: 08-08-2016
Reading over all of the reviews for this delightful bottle of bubbly I realize that I have nothing new to add except to ditto everything that has been said about it. Is it a fantastically fun summertime bottle resplendent with notes of strawberry and citrus and a tantalizing tart taste on the tongue? In a word, yes. Basically this is a perfect little bottle to toast success, friends, BBQ's, picnics, and Monday's with. Enjoy!
Price:
$14.99
Michel Couvreur "Blossoming Auld Sherried" K&L Exclusive Malt Whisky (750ml)
Review Date: 07-24-2016
With the exploding popularity of Compass Box and companies like Suntory releasing the Hibiki Harmony it behooves us to recognize great blended whiskey. These bottles perhaps does not share in the fame of those mentioned, but they do not fall short on the quality. The Blossoming Auld Sherried Malt from Michel Couvreur opens with a big rich nose of caramel and dense fruit. A rather creamy mouthfeel follows, fell of baked fruit, almonds and the richness that Sherry casking brings. Add to all of this a slightly hot baking spice finish and you have yourself a spectacular whiskey that is well worth drinking.
Price:
$249.99
Siete Misterios Doba-Yej Mezcal (750ml)
Review Date: 07-24-2016
In many ways I am still just now exploring the wonderful world of Mezcal. Although there is much to be said about various sipping Mezcals and how good and complex they can be, for me it is all about making them into cocktails. It may be my bartending background, but the world of the Mezcal Cocktail is where I am focusing much of my exploration into this spirit. With that in mind I was excited to taste this new one that we got in. It was at the right price point for a mixing Mezcal, but it needed to have other elements as well. Fortunately this spirit completely delivered. Fruity nose with lots of white pepper and some smoke immediately entranced me. Soft layers of fruit with pepper notes and just the right amount of smoke sold me. This is exactly the kind of Mezcal that I cannot wait to make Palomas, Negronis, and tons of other drinks with. Although there is no reason not to sip this one, do yourself a favor and try it out in other drinks and taste how good they can be.
Price:
$39.99
Don Amado Pechuga Mezcal (750ml)
Review Date: 07-10-2016
Another beautiful offering from the Don Amado brand, primarily dealing with Espadin agave. This Mezcal shows off a little vanilla in the nose with a more muted fruit characteristic. A touch of oak adds a creamy texture with soft white fruits and a layer of vanilla. A nicely soft and light finish means this Mezcal is a great choice for sipping neat.
Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky (750ml)
Review Date: 06-19-2016
I, like so many others, really like a lot of what Suntory has to offer. There are so many wonderful whiskeys they put out, unfortunately many of these have gotten super expensive and rare. Fortunately, they are trying to fill in the gap with a more everyday whiskey, and the Toki is just the product to do that. A lightly fruited nose reminiscent of caramel apple and vanilla leads to a smooth and somewhat fruity whiskey. Baked apple and stone fruit notes are rounded with touches of vanilla and a somewhat creamy mouthfeel. Low heat finish rounds out the delightful little whiskey.
Price:
$26.99
Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin (750ml)
Review Date: 05-28-2016
Some people want to reinvent Gin while others simply want to perfect it, at Four PIllars they go for the latter. This has all the elements that make gin so good, citrus, juniper, spices and balances them. Fresh and clean with a dry finish this is the kind of gin you can just keep as the standard, always on hand. Mix it, sip it, prepare it any way you like Gin, just enjoy it.
Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin (750ml)
Review Date: 05-28-2016
Complexity and balance is always what I am most excited about in a Gin and this delivers these two attributes. The citrus notes from the limes off just the right amount of snappy citrus to overlay the backbone of juniper. This gin is surprisingly smooth for its proof offering up its power in complexity and flavor as opposed to burn on the finish.
Price:
$39.99
St. George Bruto Americano Bitter Aperitivo Liqueur (750ml)
Review Date: 05-24-2016
I am a big fan of pretty much everything St. George Distillery does and one of my favorite things about them is all of their liqueurs and brandies. Seriously, the people over there are never satisfied with just sticking to gin, vodka, or whiskey (although they do all of those things well) and now they have added an Americano! I bought a bottle immediately and it is delicious, as is expected from them this is not an attempt to re-create Campari but rather it's own beast. Clove and cinnamon add a much spicier component to this spirit, with a lovely dry and herbaceous finish. This is delicious on its own or with soda water and a twist and I cannot wait to try making it into a Negroni.
Price:
$27.99
Kilchoman "Sanaig" Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)
Review Date: 05-09-2016
I am so glad I finally got to try a couple different expressions from the newest distillery on Islay, and I am so impressed with this whisky. A lovely whiff of smoke on the nose lets you know you are getting into an Islay; however, the sherry casking lends it a smooth and rich body without being brooding. Slightly nutty and fruity notes play against the smoke and lead to a long finish with low heat. This whisky does not need an age statement at all, it stands up and delivers incredibly well for a newer, younger blend.
Price:
$79.99
Mas Codina Cava Brut Reserva Penedès
Review Date: 05-09-2016
This is one of the best bottle of bubbles in the store for its price. The fact that we directly import this sparkler and that it is from Spain means that it drinks far and above its price point. This Cava is very clean and enhanced by bright acid while still having some weight and richness on the mouthfeel. A lovely balance of ripe fruit and citrus make this one that can easily turn heads at a party and is priced to keep a case around the house.
Price:
$13.99
Guzman Riestra Sidra Natural Cider, Asturias (700ml)
Review Date: 02-12-2016
I am very new to the world of Spanish Cider, so I am not sure if this is a typical example of what they do. However, I do know that it was cool, interesting, and enjoyable. The nose definitely had some brett and there was a vinegar note underlying the green tart apple, which totally worked for me. A good food cider, this paired well with the beans, peppers, and rice I prepared. Fun and funky.
Price:
$13.99
2010 Clendenen "Le Bon Climat" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay (Winery Direct Library Release)
Review Date: 11-16-2015
Jim Clendenen is already known for his Au Bon Climate label that is consistently well received here at K&L. However, with his Clendenen label he is taking his knowledge up a step and making very serious wines with his children. The 2010 Chardonnay showcases his knowledge and passion. This wine is weighty and full of rich butter and citric notes. The oak plays on the nose and allows for a serious finish. This is a decadent, impressive wine without a price tag that puts it out of reach.
Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)
Review Date: 11-15-2015
Very smooth creamy rye from Russell. I was taken aback a little when I first tasted this, with how smooth and well balanced this whiskey is. Definitely a good sipping rye that will please the palate of those just getting into this type of whiskey expression, or already love rye whiskey and want something special for the holidays.
Price:
$69.99