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2016 Conterno Fantino Barolo Mosconi Vigna PedPiedmont, ITALY$220. 00Bottle$2640.00 DozenABV: 15%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The Conterno Fantino 2016 Barolo Mosconi Vigna Ped shows beautiful richness and precision with abundant fruit, tar, smoke and black licorice. The wine is generous and exuberant in a manner that only Nebbiolo can be. In other words, it offers a big personality on a svelte and slender frame. Maceration times are short, lasting from 12 to 15 days, and the wine ages in barrique for 24 months. The fruit comes from a small site measuring slightly less than a hectare in Monforte d'Alba at a moderately high, cool altitude (at 360 to 380 meters above sea level). The opulence and softness of the winemaking is beautifully balanced against the precision and sharpness that is inherent to this vineyard site. Production is 6,200 bottles.
97 points
Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (July 2020)The 2016 Barolo Mosconi Vigna Ped is another gorgeous wine in this range. The natural richness of Mosconi comes through loud and clear, but unlike most wines made from this site, Conterno-Fantino's 2015 is wonderfully polished and refined from start to finish. Ripe red and purplish berry fruit, wild flowers, licorice, mint and lavender build as this super-expressive, inviting Barolo shows off its alluring personality. The 2016 is just so phenomenally delicious.
95 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousVery subtle and refined, yet there’s a line of fine-grained tannins running through the center palate. It’s medium-bodied, racy and beautiful. Needs two or three years to open.
93 points
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23rd Street Distillery Violet Gin (700ml)Renmark, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$84. 99Bottle$1019.88 DozenABV: 40%Tasting note: Distilled from sugarcane spirit, this striking ultra-violet gin employs butterfly peas steeped for eighteen hours to bestow its special tint. The floral soft nose accents lemon myrtle and home made lemonade. The palate is light and breezy with lime and low-key juniper, ending mildly peppery, lemony and medium fresh. Sensitive to pH, so the colour will change if you add tonic or lemon. 40% Alc./Vol. - Isle of Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Isle of Jura, SCOTLAND$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 40%
Lying just to the East of Islay, off Scotland's west coast, Jura is one of Scotland's most spectacular but least known islands. The Isle covers 36,692 hectares and rises to a height of 785m. The name Jura has several meanings : “two brothers Dih and Rah”, “island of yew trees”, and “island of red deer”. However, with a human population of under 200 and about 5000 red deer, (the deer out number the people by around twenty five to one), expert opinion tends towards the latter.
The Jura whisky is produced from water from Loch A'Bhaile Mhargaidh (Market Loch) and ground malted barley. The water is not peaty as the loch is high in the hills. The wash is distilled twice in pot stills. High necks on the stills give a light spirit. The whisky gains a little weight and richness by being matured in a mixture of American oak and Sherry casks.
The 10 year old Isle of Jura is a medium-bodied malt with the character and texture of a west Highland whisky - accessible with a hint of spice and fruitiness. Unlike some of its heavier Islay cousins, Isle of Jura is only lightly peated.
Tasting note: Nose: Oily, lightly piney, earthy, salty, dry. Palate: Sweetish, soft, malty, oily, slowly developing a slight island dryness and saltiness. Finish: A little malty sweetness and some saltiness. Comment: A lovely aperitif. 40% Alc./Vol.
Rating: 7.5/10 - tasting note sourced from Michael Jackson, www.whiskymag.com - All Saints Estate Rutherglen Muscadelle (375ml)Rutherglen, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenABV: 17%Closure: Glass Stopper
This wine has been produced from 4-5 year old stocks. Caramel brown, orange colour and orange olive hue. Aroma of honey, toffee, confectionary and spice. Moderate palate length, with flavours of honey and toffee followed by a touch of orange rind and caramel. Soft acid finish. Aftertaste of orange, honey and toffee.
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Makers Mark Bourbon Whisky (700ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$67. 99Bottle$815.88 DozenABV: 40%Labelled as 'whisky,' (the scotch spelling) rather than 'whiskey' (because the owners and their forebears are Scottish), the Maker's Mark brand leapt out of obscurity in 1980 after the Wall Street Journal published a front page story on the history of the distillery. Suddenly everyone wanted to try it. Unfortunately, they were only producing 38 barrels a day - as opposed to the then industry standard of 1,300 barrels a day. Small production remained the key to the brands success. Since 1953 the Samuels had been steadfast in the belief that making small batches using winter wheat instead of rye would produce a better product. Apparently they were correct. As Michael Jackson puts it in his World Guide to Whisky, '"The defining smoothness is achieved, arguably, at the expense of some flavour because Maker's Mark eschews rye in favour for wheat with which to season the palate. This is an accepted alternative way of producing bourbon but few distillers pursue it; Old Fitzgerald is a notable example."
Furthermore, Maker's Mark use an old roller mill instead of a more modern and efficient hammer mill to cook the grain because they feel it is less likely to scorch and impart bitterness. They also don't use a pressure cooker to speed up the process, instead preferring an open cooker which allows more aromatics from the air about to penetrate the mash. At first the barrels are placed on the upper hotter floors of the warehouses. Then after several summers they are moved down to the lower, cooler stories.
The brand's distinctive vessel and trademarked dripping red wax seal is said to have been inspired by a collection of cognac bottles. The distillery itself, dating back to 1889, has been fully restored by Bill Samuels Senior and is now a National Historic Landmark. The whisky is aged for 6-7 years (according to the company) and is produced from a mashbill of 70% Corn, 16% Wheat and 14% Malted Barley. It was summed up by breakingbourbon.com as "A consistently solid bourbon that’s readily available at an affordable price point, leaning into the sweeter side of the flavour spectrum."
Other reviews... The original Maker's Mark, tried and true, and the same since the 1950s. The nose is consistent with a flare on the floral, toffee and caramel, roasted almonds, and loads of vanilla. Just when you think you've tasted this a million times, it offers candied fruit and pie crust with the final touches of praline and a hint of pecan shell. 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com
Rich, brilliant amber hue. Sweet caramel, pecan pie, and brown spice aromas have a perfumed fruity edge. A silky enty leads to a dry medium-to full-bodied palate with rich roasted nuts, salt, dried fuits, dark caramel, tea leaves, and pepper spice. Finishes with a bold but balanced wave of heat and spice. Very nice. International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal 90 points (Exceptional) - tastings.com
Nose: Aroma with delightful strands of exotic fruit and honey. Fruit cake. Oak adds to feeling of class. Palate: Lush, pleasingly deep and malty. A firm nuttiness adds extra oily, chewability to the toffee. Finish: Drier than of old. Caramel toffee with the oak guarantees a bittersweet edge. Comment: An old faithful of a bourbon. Never lets you down and being from the wheaty school always shows good oak balance. Nose is to die for. Rating: 8.5
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2018 Domaine Charles Audoin Marsannay Blanc La Charme Aux PretresBurgundy, FRANCE$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkDomaine Charles Audoin was formed in 1972 by Charles and his oenologist wife Marie-Francoise, starting with three hectares in Marsannay. Their holding has now grown to around 14 hectares that captures some of the best parcels in Marsannay. Their son Cyril joined his father in 2000, and is now in charge of both vineyard and winemaking activities for the Domaine. Cyril is increasingly focused on vineyard health, to deliver wines with pure varietal expression and a sense of place. They are among the most serious wines from the area, and while juicy and approachable young, have the capacity to age gracefully for many years.
Other Reviews....
Scents of peach, honeycomb, fresh pastry and orange oil introduce the 2018 Marsannay La Charme aux Prêtres Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping wine that's quite perfumed and expressive this year, maintaining good underlying tension. This will offer a broad drinking window.
89-91 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Feb 2020)There is a whiff of the exotic present on the melon, tangerine and white orchard fruit-suffused nose that is trimmed in just enough wood to notice. There is notably better size, weight and concentration to the medium weight plus flavors; indeed this is a big Marsannay blanc that terminates in a more mineral and soil-inflected finish. Very good quality in a package that could be enjoyed young.
89-91 points
Allen Meadows - Burghound - Polmos Spirytus Rektyfikowany (Rectified Spirit) Polish Pure Spirit Vodka (500ml)POLAND$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 95%
This extraordinarily strong spirit needs to be treated with respect. It is questionable whether the human body is meant to digest such strong substances. Being effectively pure ethyl-alcohol, it is more commonly used in cooking, in the preparation of fruit and herb tinctures, for medicinal purposes or by home perfume makers. One customer recommends it above all else as therapy for arthritic pain, and has been massaging his joints with it for years!
At any rate, the premium price of this Pure Spirit goes some way to ensure it is used sparingly and thoughtfully. Drink diluted & chilled it traditionally makes a fine accompaniment to fish dishes.
95% Alc/Vol.PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRODUCT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SHIPPING OUTSIDE OF AUSTRALIA.
THIS PRODUCT CANNOT BE SHIPPED USING EXPRESS SHIPPING SERVICES.
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Bulleit Bourbon Whiskey (700ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$68. 99Bottle$827.88 DozenABV: 40%Bulleit Bourbon, "Frontier Whiskey" was originally distilled in 1830. Over the years the brand has moved from one company to another and one distillery to another. Since 1997 Bulleit has been a Seagram product and it is made at their Lawrenceburg distillery in Kentucky. It's produced with a higher proportion of rye than most other Bourbons, creating a drier more complex spirit. The distillery has its own Grain Division, which acquires distiller's grade grains grown to Bulleit's specification. Only limestone-filtered water is used during production which sees the whiskey distilled in small batches then aged for no less than six years in a single-story warehouse (which is said to reduce inconsistencies in the maturation process). In March, 2004 Bulleit Bourbon won the Gold Medal for being in the top of its class at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition - beating more expensive and better known premium bourbons such as Knob Creek, Maker's Mark and Jim Beam Black. Beautifully packaged in an award winning 1880s replica bottle design.
Tasting note: Deep gold. Sweet with fairly pedestrian aromas (gobstopper, chewing gum, vanilla) alongside fresh sawn oak and flashes of rye. Medium weight with plenty of body and youthful appeal. Sweet corn, caramelised peach, oak shavings and a nice burst of pepper to finish. Ends drier / delicately minty with the rye shining through. Value buy. 40% Alc./Vol. Other reviews... Light and teasing nose, like mallows roasting on an open fire, plus pine nuts and vanilla. Honest folks. The faintest taste of dry oak vanishes within seconds for a rich follow-through of sweet chestnut, a bust complexity of malted barley and rye, then spice. Mildly oily, softly honeycombed and chocolatey for a chewy, bitter-sweet finale. Like all thats gone before, exceptionally well balanced and satisfying. Absolutly excellent from first to last, an essay in balance and control. I doubt if any frontier whiskey of Boone's day was half as good as this. 45% Alc/Vol.
88 points - Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible, 2006 An intensely grainy bouquet. The palate entry is corny sweet and nearly honey-like; at midpalate the core flavor of sweet corn mash remains while tastes of buttered popcorn, brown sugar, and nougat expand. Finishes with a spurt of fire and lots of long, corny/grainy tastes. Should be part of every serious whiskey-lover's collection. 90-95 points. - wineenthusiast.com -
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The Arran Port Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Isle of Arran, SCOTLAND$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 50%Tasting note: Following the rest of the re-packaged range comes Arran's hugely successful wine cask finishes. After initially maturing in x Bourbon casks for around eight years, this was finished in a selection of Portuguese Port casks. Here the malt, which normally is a highlight of any Arran, feels subdued, the spirit slightly sharper and the length only moderate. Compared to equivalent expressions, the port pick up is slight. There's an odd mustiness on the palate and the finish is short. Try it with dark chocolate. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from Arran... Nose: Cinnamon, baked apples. Palate: Vanilla spice, ripe citrus & dried fruits and nuttiness. With a splash of water more depth of mandarin citrus with fudge and honeyed notes. Finish: spice, bitter orange, chocolate, cherries.
- Weis Obstler Brandy (700ml)Elz Valley, Gutach, GERMANY$72. 99Bottle$875.88 DozenABV: 38%
Weis Obstler is an apple & pear brandy, produced by the same family company for over two hundred years.
As young man who loved nature and its gifts, at the tender age of fifteen, Georg Weis brought the old family spirit recipes to light again and began to produce clear fruit brandies. Georg delivered his brandies with his motorcycle, and soon they were popular throughout the whole region. What Georg Weis had begun as a second source of income in the difficult times of WWI, soon became the main source of income for the family farm. When he came of age, Georg Weis had long known what his life's work would be: in 1924, the Elz Valley Distillery Georg Weis was officially founded. The traditional farmstead was transformed slowly but surely into a modern company.World War II interrupted this development. In 1940, Georg Weis was drafted. The copper pots of the distillery became a victim of the needs of the Wehrmacht, as well as the delivery truck. When Georg Weis returned home in 1945, he had to start over from scratch. With business acumen and daring, he managed to once again get the distillery going as a working enterprise. The complex was continuously enlarged and the circle of customers expanded. In the early seventies, Clemens Weis, the son of the founder, took over the business, and in 1996 he handed over the reins to the third generation of the family. Hansjörg and Christian Weis today run the company with the same "spirit" and passion that drove Georg Weis 85 years ago.
The distinctive split log bottle used by the Weis company to package its spirits cuts a good figure in every house bar. It's rhomboid form is textured like wood and appears simultaneously natural and refined. The design actually refers back to an old tradition: At one time, wooden forms were used in making glass bottles, which gave the surface of each side of the bottle a special texture. Weis’s split log bottles are of course made with modern industrial techniques. But they are reminiscent of the "good old days" -- the times when many of the recipes for white brandies and liqueurs originated. 38%Alc./Vol. No tasting notes available.
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Glenfarclas 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$999. 00Bottle$11988.00 DozenABV: 43%The roar of the direct fired stills, the gleam of the sunbeams reflecting on the polished copper, and the sight of the largest pot stills on Speyside, is breathtaking. This is the Glenfarclas distillery, home to some of the Highland’s finest malt whiskies. Distilling twice, the six traditional direct-fired pot stills, three 'wash' stills for the first distillation and three spirit stills for the second, work their magic. Only the lightest and the best fractions of alcohol are collected and it has been said, it is the whisky they don't use that makes Glenfarclas great. It is with a trained eye, a skill passed on by generations, that the still man makes the ‘middle cut’ at precisely the right moment to collect the glorious new spirit worthy of the Glenfarclas title.
Once the precious new spirit is collected, with its aroma of pears and cherry blossoms, it is filled into the finest Spanish sherry casks to be matured. The casks, from Seville in Spain have previously held Oloroso and Fino Sherry, and just like his ancestors, John Grant, the present Chairman, selects the casks himself. This is all part of the rigorous quality control program, ensuring each batch of Glenfarclas is as special as the last.
Tasting note: Polished copper colour. Orange cake, juicy malt then fruit mince pie and gobstopper. Aeration adds oatmeal biscuit to the aroma list. Almost chewy in texture - a sublime harmony of honeyed malt and light Christmas pudding at mid palate; then buttered raisin bread, followed by hints of caramel fudge and grassy freshness late in the fade. Woody to end, though still good vibrancy. Distinguished by its subtle staying power. 43% Alc./Vol.
- G.E. Massenez Marasqual (Maraschino) Liqueur (700ml)Alsace, FRANCE$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenABV: 25%This is another very versatile liqueur from Massenez that can be drunk neat, over ice, in cocktails or poured on ice creams, pastries, etc. Produced by distilling Marasca cherries, expect aromas of cherry blossom and marzipan followed by a sweet delivery with delicate bitter almond notes. 25% Alc./Vol.
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Patron Silver 100% Agave Tequila (700ml)Jalisco, MEXICO$109. 99Bottle$1319.88 DozenABV: 40%Closure: CorkIn 1989 two visionaries, John Paul DeJoria and entrepreneur Martin Crowley formed The Patrón Spirits Company with the singular goal of producing “the best tequila in the world”. Under the stewardship of DeJoria and former Seagram executive Ed Brown, a new distilling factory was built in Jalisco. With the guidance of the renown master distiller Francisco Alcarez, the new factory was designed as a state-of-the-art complex but with a core steeped in tradition. Patrón Tequila has since become the world’s number one ultra premium tequila, outselling it’s nearest competitor by eight times in the United States alone. In 2004 Patrón Tequila was recognized with the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences Five Star Diamond Award. Patrón is the first spirits brand ever to receive this prestigious honor. The Company’s headquarters are in Las Vegas Nevada.
Jalisco, Mexico is considered the most ideal region for the production of the Blue Agave plant. The climate is warm and the soil is clayey with high ferrous oxide content, resulting in Agaves of higher "honey" or sugar content. Patrón tequilas are made from premium selected Weaber Tequilana Blue Agave plants. The trimmed heart of a premium agave plant resembles a large "pineapple" and takes eight to nine years to reach maturity. There are certain "bitter" sprouts which must be carefully removed from the "pineapple" before steam baking. Few distilleries still take the care and time to remove these sprouts as Patron does. After harvesting the Agave’s, the next step in Patron’s production is the slow vapour steam baking in masonry ovens. This steam baking takes approximately thirty six hours (most tequila factories fast cook the pineapples caramelizing the outside and leaving much of the inside under cooked, bitter and starchy.) The cooked agave is then carefully torn and placed in a shallow stone milling pit and slowly macerated by large stone milling wheels. Crushing in this fashion leaves the sweet juice freely absorbed in the mescal fibers. The juice filled fiber is then placed in wooden fermentation vats. Once in the fermentation vats the juice is naturally adjusted and yeast added to encourage fermentation. This fermentation lasts for sixty to seventy two hours. The "must" is then submitted to a double distillation in copper pot sills. The tequila is then balanced to 80 proof (40% alcohol by volume) and fine filtered. Finally, like Patron’s extraordinary commitment to quality, the Patrón bottle is also unique.
Tasted from a 20ml sample, the nose offers soft, seductive aromas open with vanilla custard that takes precedence over hints of candle wax, clove and black pepper. A very soft palate entry builds to a light to medium bodied, off dry profile revealing flavours of unripe pineapple, green peppercorn and beeswax. Gently warming with a slightly oily mouthfeel. Excellent balance. Finishes dry and salty, followed by an aftertaste of unripe pineapple, cigar box and beeswax fade. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Clear with a silvery cast. Vanilla taffy, dried pineapple-like agave, nutmeg, and mildly earthy aromas. A round, supple entry leads to a dryish light-to medium bodied palate of roasted citrus, dried flowers, dusty mineral, salt, and a touch of cream. Finishes with a white pepper and plum custard-like fade.
International Review of Spirits Award: Silver Medal
RATING: 89 points (Highly Recommended) - Vecchia Romagna (Nera) Brandy (700ml)Emilia-Romagna, ITALY$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 40%
While Grappa is the country's national spirit, Italy is not a country foremost in one's thoughts when brandy comes to mind. It is however, the home of a very likeable drink called Vecchia Romagna. From the heart of sunny central Italy where the premium Trebbiano grapes grow, Vecchia Romagna is distilled according to traditional methods. The distillate is aged in two types of wooden barrels: the first are the French oak barriques (400 L) where it rests for at least a year, close contact with the wood imparting an intense aroma and a subtle vanilla scent. The next step takes place in large Slovenian oak barrels (4000-5000 L), which allow a slower exchange with the wood and the spirit to preserve all of the qualities of the original wine, becoming refined and rounded. The final phase of the Vecchia Romagna method is blending: the aged spirits are hand-picked and combined by skilled craftsmen. This delicate game of balance ensures that Vecchia Romagna’s sensorial characteristics remain unchanged over time. Finally, the selected brandies are combined in large vats and left to rest for at least three months before being bottled in the iconic triangular bottle. Although young it possesses a harmonious bouquet and a smooth and full flavoured character that is a bit of favourite amongst older Italians. 40% Alc./Vol.
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Southern Comfort Black Whiskey Liqueur (700ml)CANADA$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenABV: 40%Master Blender, Drew Mayville has crafted the new release at the company’s legendary distillery in Buffalo Trace, Kentucky, using a proprietary blend of whiskey sourced from Sazerac’s North American reserves.
“As one of the first markets to launch Black, we are incredibly excited about our plans to strengthen Southern Comfort’s position as an iconic whiskey brand with this new addition”, said Southern Comfort Senior Brand Manager James Johnstone. “The bourbon category has changed, Australians are looking for brands with provenance, authenticity and premium blend options – Southern Comfort BLACK answers these requirements and puts whiskey right back at the heart of the brand”.
Enhanced with Southern Comfort's essence and landing at a higher ABV than standard Southern, the silky-sweet aromas and flavours of caramelised peach, vanilla, cough syrup and cinnamon confectionary are only slightly more robust than its lower proof sibling. It avoids being cloying, and by the finish leaves you with suggestions of young Canadian rye or Bourbon and traditional rock'n'rye liqueur. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The nose is less “college” than I remember, so that’s an encouraging start. The sweetness is still the most obvious component of the aroma with lots of candy-inspired notes: cinnamon jellybeans, bubble gum, and cocktail cherries, among others. There’s less stone fruit than the original, replaced by something closer to limeade. For all that sweet fruit on the nose, the palate shows genuine restraint with more bourbon-styled flavors of caramel, cinnamon, and brown sugar balancing out the cherry juice and candied lime peel and making for an experience nowhere near as suffocatingly syrupy as the SoCo of yesteryear. The finish even sees a bit of woody spice that gives a fleeting impression of something approaching bourbon. While the old Southern Comfort was a questionable shooter at best, Southern Comfort Black is something I would happily play with in a cocktail and maybe, just maybe, sip neat. - drinkhacker.com
- The Macallan 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Presentation Tin circa 1990s bottlingSpeyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$1999. 00Bottle$23988.00 DozenABV: 43%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. This one, in particular, is in remarkable condition. Actual product pictured.
A rare 100% Sherry matured Macallan, imported by Remy Australia Ltd, so it should be a late 80s or early 90s bottling. The deep colour is quite spectacular. 43% Alc./Vol.
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The Whistler Imperial Stout Cask Finish Blended Irish Whiskey (700ml)IRELAND$114. 99Bottle$1379.88 DozenABV: 43%Tasting note: Having matured a seven year old sourced Irish whiskey, casks were emptied and refilled with Boyne Brewhouse Imperial Stout for a short time. The casks were then emptied and re-filled with sourced malt and grain whiskey. The finished blend has an atypical Irish bouquet with low definition choc-ripple biscuit aromas and a mildly grassy edge. Medium bodied flavours suggest green wood, ginger biscuits and cocoa. Ends oily, vaguely woody and gently warming. Doesn't inspire superlatives. 43% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Notes from Whistler... NOSE: Apple drops, fresh citrus zest, creamy and luscious toffee undertones with banana, apricot, melon and creamy red raspberries. PALATE: Sweet peach on the fore with pear and a bright fresh citrus zest. Malt undertone with creamy vanilla underneath. FINISH: Long and creamy with hints of pear and citrus zest remaining. -
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Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Bourbon Whiskey (700ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 58.4%Rare breed, as the name suggests, is a unique bourbon experience. A marriage of Wild Turkey 6, 8 and 12 year olds, Rare Breed is 'barrel proof', meaning that it is bottled at barrel strength with no water added to lower the proof or dilute the flavour. Master Distiller, Jimmy Russell follows suit even after bottling - he keeps his Rare Breed in the freezer so he doesn't have to add ice, which would melt and ultimately dilute the flavour! Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... A clever glass bottle, its roundness reinforcing the mouthfeel and character of the bourbon itself: one of the most rounded in all Kentucky. In some ways this whiskey is the blueprint for Bourbon: its characteristics embrace what we mentally define as Bourbon. - 95.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2023
Cotton candy, marshmallows roasting over an open campfire, baked apples, and cornbread batter start a whiskey that then offers hints of caramel apples, pumpkin pie, and roasted pecans. Water opens it up to more nuanced fruit, spice, and sweetness. Without water, brown-sugar butter dominates about mid-palate and leads to a long finish. Dilution makes this a completely different whiskey experience. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...The nose is distinct with chocolate mint notes, baking spice, plenty of vanilla, and a bit of pepper. On the palate, it’s an awfully hot whiskey, which helps bring out more of the toasty wood notes alongside those almost candylike notes of sweetness. Water won’t hurt ya: It’s a big help in coaxing out notes of flambed banana, toasted marshmallow, and some coconut notes. The finish is a big one: Bursts of caramel sauce, milk chocolate, and a vanilla reprise. - drinkhacker.com
"The nose offers spice and spearmint, with vanilla sweetness hiding behind heat. The palate opens with brown sugar and vanilla, leading into burnt toast and char. Sultry smooth all the way through even with its hefty proof. Dry oak and spice come out on the finish with pine, mint, and the lingering rich sweetness of vanilla in myriad forms, think: vanilla frosting, pudding, and pound cake." - distiller.com
Gold Medal at the 2000 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Notes from the producer... Dark amber colour, indicative of the age of the blend, this offers a rich, deep, aromatic nose. Assertive with hints of light oranges, mint, and tones of sweet tobacco reminiscent of grandfather's pipe-bowl. Complex, full bodied palate, long, warm and nutty , lingering in the mouth with hints of hot peppers and well-toasted whole wheat bread, yet soft despite the power of the alcohol. One to be savoured.
- Regans No.6 Orange Bitters (148ml)New Orleans, Louisiana, UNITED STATES$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenABV: 45%Closure: Cork
In pre-Prohibition days, a cocktail, by definition, was not a cocktail if it didn’t contain bitters. Which is why mixologists who look back longingly to that golden age for inspiration are in a frenzy over Regans’ Orange Bitters No. 6, cocktails historian Gary Regan’s brand-new elixir. Like adding vinegar to temper the sweetness and round out the flavour of certain dishes, adding bitters to cocktails provides balance and complexity. But unlike Peychaud’s and Angostura brands, orange bitters are hard to come by. So when Regan couldn’t find any to his liking, he decided to cook up a batch of his own. It took six attempts and a trip to a witches’-supply store in Greenwich Village—presumably Kalustyan’s was a bust—before he got the recipe down. The tasty brew of orange zest, cardamom, cinchona, caraway, coriander, gentian, quassia, and a few other occult staples is fast becoming a hot commodity on the mixologist circuit. 45% Alc./Vol.
Gary Regan’s Bronx Cocktail...
60ml ounces gin
30ml ounce sweet vermouth
30ml ounce dry vermouth
30ml ounce fresh-squeezed orange juice
Orange bitters to taste
1 orange twist for garnish - Oscar.697 Bianco Vermouth (750ml)ITALY$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenABV: 16%Produced in Canelli, in the province of Asti in the Piedmont region in Italy’s north-west, this fairly new Vermouth brand is the brainchild of three drinks experts: Stefano di Dio, Oscar Quagliarini (the brand’s namesake who created the recipe for the vermouth) and Oreste Sconfienza, a vermuttista who’s been making Italian vermouth since the late 1950s. Sleek contemporary packaging belies a traditional production method that follows the guidelines for Vermouth set out by the Italian authorities. Trebbiano di Romagna, a white variety from central Italy (selected for its neutrality) makes up 75% of the mix with the remaining 25% being a maceration of botanicals in high ABV neutral spirit. The Bianco offers strong notes of bergamot, yarrow muscat and elderflower. The sugar level is kept relatively low (14%) to ensure the final product is drier and slightly more bitter than most other examples. Recommended in a spritz or with white spirits such as gin, tequila and pisco. Other reviews... 5 stars - diffordsguide.com
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Highland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%The extreme northern archipelago of mostly uninhabited islands around Orkney is in every sense isolated. It's not known when the first distillery was established in Orkney, but there were almost certainly local producers by the middle of the eighteenth century. Above the capital, Kirkwall, is a rise with fine views out to the northern isles traditionally known as the ‘High Park’. It's here that Highland Park distillery was said to have been founded in 1795. There have been several different owners, before coming into the hands of James Grant and family in the late 1800s. By 1826 when the distillery became legal, the site had already become known as 'Highland Park'. Now owned by The Edrington Group, its location must partly be accountable for the distinctive character of the malt, through the surrounding ocean, the local peat and the Orkney spring water. To blenders, the distillate is prized - many of whom claim it possesses unique 'catalystic' properties which enhance flavours in other whiskies.
Nearly always ranked alongside the classic malts, revered as a spectacular after-dinner drink and without doubt '...a malt to challenge any Cognac or Armagnac', the house style is fragrant and floral with a smooth, honeyed character over hints of citrus and smoke. The phenol content of the distillery's own malt is 30-40ppm but the remainder which is imported from Simpson's is unpeated. The distillery is serious about quality oak, spending $20 million a year on wood alone, more than any other Scotch distillery - despite having a fraction of the output of some of the larger brands. First released in 1979, the 12YO is still the best introduction. Employing about 20% first-fill sherry casks, a name change and packaging update took place in 2017.
Retasted 2019 ...Surprisingly full at 40% ABV but loses vitality and flattens out towards the finish. Otherwise, mostly unchanged. 90 points
First tasted 2012... Brilliant, bright gold appearance. Almost floral in delivery. Honey and toasted barley mingles with a perfectly balanced waft of peat and brine. An exceptionally soft, silky entry offers good concentration and the same seamless integration as found on the nose. Medium dry, subtle nashi-pear fruitiness combines with a judicious slap of peat. Crescendos with a spicy flourish at mid palate. Finishes more peaty than some previous bottlings with drying brine, spice and smoke lingering before a honey fade. Getting closer to what this whisky was 10 years ago. 40% alc./vol. 92 points
Other reviews... "The sweet aroma is very inviting and draws you in closer to inspect the dram. The honey'd and vanilla fragrance takes a turn on the palate replaced by grass and pineapple. A lemon twist or two comes next with the peat smoke just teasing your senses." 91 points - drinkhacker.com
...This amber spirit has a light, briny vanilla scent and a silky feel. A veil of smoke rises through the Scotch (but fades out fast), leaving behind a sweet nutty, vanilla finish. 93 points - wineenthusiast.com
More Viking paraphernalia… Could we at least have Lagertha? Colour: gold. Nose: not my preferred style of HP either, but this is fresher, fruitier, more lively, even if the core is kind of similar. Bitter oranges, marmalade, ginger, ale, whiffs of pumpernickel bread, oak spices, a little leather and tobacco… Indeed I like this nose better. Mouth: no questions, this is more refreshing despite the ‘seasoning’ that’s a little too apparent to me. Pepper, oak spices, black tea, grass smoke… Nice earthy honey beyond these bitterish spices. Finish: medium, spicy, with an obvious tannicity. Comments: they seem to have used active seasoned wood too here, but the spices and the leather were better controlled in my opinion. But indeed I much prefer the brighter, distillate-driven HPs. Because what a distillate it is indeed! 83 points - whiskyfun.com
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Glenmorangie The Nectar D'or Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$134. 99Bottle$1619.88 DozenABV: 46%This is the new look Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or, now released with no age statement. Initially aged in x Bourbon casks before being finished in sweet white wine casks from Sauternes in Bordeaux, France, it's become one of the biggest selling malts in the Glenmorangie stable. 46% Alc./Vol. Other reviews... An exercise in outrageously good sweet-dry balancing. 94 points
- Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2020 -
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Bakery Hill Peated Malt Single Malt Australian Whisky (500ml) - Cask StrengthVictoria, AUSTRALIA$210. 00Bottle$2520.00 DozenABV: 61.8%With a selection of Scotch whiskies that far outnumbers whiskies produced elsewhere in the world, we've occasionally been accused of being parochial. However, for some time now we've been extolling the virtues of other world whiskies as well as Australian whisky, in particular those from Bakery Hill Distillery. Back in February 2005 when we first tasted David Baker's range we commented, 'Bakery Hill’s Single Malts, despite their youth, are very promising initial efforts, and as the spirits spend longer in barrel one can anticipate some very interesting results'. The Bakery Hill whiskies are now well passed the stage of been local curios and offer world class Single Malt experiences.
For those who are completely oblivious to this tiny distillery, some background information: David Baker, a former food scientist, distills his whisky in the picturesque foothills of Mount Dandenong then puts it aside for maturation in American Oak casks previously filled with Jack Daniels, which have been re-coopered at Heritage Coopers, in Melbourne's Diamond Valley. At the cooperage, the fresh 225 litre barrels from Jack Daniel's are dismantled, then the staves are re-bent and shaped into 100 litre barrels which David believes are the ideal size for maturation in Melbourne's diverse climate. Warmer weather causes casks to expand, cooler weather causing contraction - essentially a breathing effect which increases the rate of the whisky's oxidation and oak exposure, leading to accelarated maturation. The peated whisky is made using imported, peated barley (Victorian environmental laws forbid the burning of peat). The distillery's first spirit flowed in 1999. Today, wash is produced in 1000L batches which is then traditionally double-distilled in a made to order copper pot still. No caramel is added to the whiskies in order to enhance the appearance.'Instantly dispels the myth that great whisky can only come from Scotland'.
Cask 2208 tasted: Golden straw colour with very pale straw hue. At cask strength the nose shows strong, spicy, baked apple and pear top notes with hints of fudge and very delicate peat smoke underneath, with a gentle prickle. The addition of water tones down the spice, to expose soft silky aromas of stewed apple and pear, hints of malty vanilla and cocoa. At natural strength the palate is a thriller! A very bright, fresh, fruity assault before the malt grips and the smoke wakes up. On the back palate, the barley takes the reins and drives the exceptionally long spicy, gently smoky finish. The whisky gives a slight tingle and prickle, but it's in harmony with the massive array of flavours delivered. Dilution to around 40% alc. causes the whisky to become rich, silky and creamy. 59.9% Alc./Vol. -
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Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml)Kilmarnock, SCOTLAND$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 40%There are many bottlings of Johnnie Walker, however few Australian whisky enthusiasts will be familiar with Johnnie Walker Gold Label. Until recently, Gold Label was reserved exclusively for the duty free market. The product has now been released at the retail level and provides lovers of Johnnie Walker with an opportunity to taste the portfolio’s "older brother".
Conceived by Alexander Walker in 1920 for a centenary blend, Gold Label had to wait another 30 years to see the light of day, due to shortages of aged malts caused by the First World War. It remained as jottings in a notebook until the early 1950s when, shortly after Alexander's death, the Johnnie Walker master blender completed this unfinished symphony. However, this time shortages caused by the Second World War, meant that bottlings were exclusively reserved for the company's blenders and directors. From its smoky, caramel and vanilla aroma to its creamy, honeyed taste, this Scotch whisky finishes with a light and lingering spiciness. It's unique character comes from an alchemic blending of 15 whiskies, at the heart of which is Clynelish, the rare Highland malt whisky made from spring water that flows over veins of pure gold.
40%Alc.Vol.Tasting note:Nose: Big, soft-hearted nose: honeycomb, meaad, exotic spice, rose petal, butter, light wood and ozone. Palate: Hugely silky and ripe: a whiff of smoke, peach, mango. All very rich, waxy and long. Finish: Soft, honeyed and gentle with some light smoke. Comment: Voluptuous and deeply sexy. More of a cousin to Black than a brother. Rating: 90 - tasting note sourced from David Broom, www.whiskymag.comsize>
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Rowan's Creek Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 50.05%Back in the late 1700's when John Rowan first settled in Kentucky, whiskey making was the order of the day. John went on and made a name for himself as a respected judge & statesman. The creek still bears his name. As a small batch bottling the profile will vary from batch to batch. Tasting note: [BATCH QBC 16-23 tasted] Amber-gold. The nose is 'pretty' for a Bourbon - almost floral, with aromas of beeswax, stewed pear, caramel fudge, light clove and white pepper. Incredibly approachable at high proof. So softly spoken, yet with a hard, peppery edge from the oak; just enough lingering vanilla/fruit sweetness to hold your attention, but the wood threatens the balance. Lean and savoury. 50.5% Alc./Vol. Other reviews... . Beautifully balanced, like Kentucky Vintage, but more complex and with greater depth. It’s also not as boldly dry as Pure Kentucky X.O. Rather, it is softer and more seductive. This is splendid bourbon! It would be a shame to adulterate this bourbon in any way—don’t even think of mixing it. Find yourself a quiet moment, pour yourself a measure, and savor. (Batch 03-59)
- www.maltadvocate.com 2nd Quarter 2005 Issue—Vol. 14#2
Click here to learn more about American Whiskey -
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Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$82. 99Bottle$995.88 DozenABV: 40%Tasting note... Pale gold. Subtle, soft, sweet orange rind and biscuit notes are overpowered by vanilla and cocoa. Very clean. Medium weight, semi-sweet cereal and biscuit flavours are accompanied by a pleasant spiciness. Vibrant and youthful. Biscuit and toasty cereals repeat on the moderate aftertaste. Uncomplicated everyday drinking. 40% Alc./Vol. First tasted 31/10/2005... A straight forward whisky that has nonetheless retained its characteristic smoothness that first won it the following of so many. The simplicity of the nose is repeated on the palate with dried fruits and a suggestion of peat. Extremely soft mouthfeel with a faint smokey finish. Other reviews... The world’s best-selling single malt. Isn’t that sufficient to give this dram some respect? It might be me, but it strikes me that ’Fiddich has more heft to it these days, with a sherried element giving the pear, apple, and light cereal of the distillery character a sweet, plump, sultana underpinning. This then adds chewiness to the palate, balancing the dry nuttiness and receding on the finish where those green fruits come through to add fresh acidity. Great balance. 86 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Dave Broom (Summer 2013)
Reputedly founded with almost no capital and only second hand equipment bought from the Cardhu distillery, distillation at Glenfiddich began on Christmas day in 1887. It now boasts twenty-eight stills and is the largest selling single malt in the world and remains the only Highland Malt whisky to be matured and bottled at its own distillery in Dufftown, Banffshire, Scotland.William Grant, the founder of Glenfiddich was the man behind the success of the brand. However, it was only in 1963 when Glenfiddich was accepted into the blend-dominated English market in 1963, that Glenfiddich re-introduced Single Malts to the world. Glenfiddich was marketed as a 'traditional' Scotch whose taste expressed its origins, much like a great wine expresses its 'terroir'.
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Bookers Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 63.3%Note: This is typically around 60%, however the ABV may vary from batch to batch.
In 1988, Booker Noe, Grandson of Jim Beam introduced his own signature bourbon - 'Booker's'- hand-selected and bottled straight from the barrel, uncut and unfiltered. He first created 'Booker's' as a holiday gift for his special friends, but the whiskey was so well received that he decided to make it available to bourbon lovers worldwide. This remains Beam's flagship brand and is packaged to show it.
Other reviews... Rich copper color. Toffee and earthy, oily roasted peanut aromas. A rich entry leads to a vibrant off-dry full-bodied palate with toasted coconut, toffee, dried fruit, brown spice, white pepper, and wood polish flavors. Finishes with a chewy tannic fade of rich spice and dried fruits. A big brawny style with fire and remarkable balance. Opens and smooth out great with water. Try with cigars. 89 points - tastings.com
- Montelobos Espadin Joven Mezcal (700ml)Oaxaca, MEXICO$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 43.2%
Popular in its homeland, Montelobos Mezcal has ties to William Grant & Sons, of Scotch whisky fame. Iván Saldaña, a respected agave academic with a background in molecular plant biology founded the distillery in Santiago Matatlán in 2012. Sourcing organically certified Espadin agaves, Saldaña has paired his talents with Mezcalero, Don Abel Lopez. Both share a passion for artisanal mezcal respecting traditional production methods (roasting agaves in a volcanic stone pit, crushing with a tahona and natural ferments), as well as a concern for sustainability and the quality of life in the communities and families who have produced mezcal for generations.
'Montelobos' which translates as "mountain of wolves" is yet another Mexican operation to have caught the attention of multi national corporations, and in 2019 it was acquired by Campari. The acquisition also included Ancho Reyes chili liqueur.
Other reviews... "The nose is fairly straight-forward with abundant notes of smoked meats and brine. The palate is where things get more interesting; flavors of lemon zest, salt, grilled rosemary and ash are detected. Overall, this is an enjoyable mezcal and at this price point, one that is very suitable for a cocktail." - distiller.com
5 Stars - diffordsguide.com
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Glen Grant 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 40%"GG10 remains, if found at a bar, my single malt of choice." - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2025-26
Glen Grant is named after its two founders, James and John Grant who built the distillery in Rothes in 1840. After their death, the son of James, Major James Grant took over the business, and built another distillery across the road naming it “Glen Grant II” (today known as Caperdonich). The Major always aimed at producing a first rate malt, and so designed the distilleries especially tall, slender stills and purifiers himself. He reputedly enjoyed leading guests through his exotic gardens to a nearby falls where, taken from his secret whisky safe, he’d offer drams of Glen Grant accompanied by spring water drawn from the same Speyside burn that still feeds the distillery today. When the Major died, his grand son, Major Douglas Mackessack took over the distillery, continuing its success.
Like most distilleries, Glen Grant closed its doors during the two World Wars due to a lack of barley and has since changed ownership several times. The distillery was sold in 2006 to the Italian group, Campari as a result of the acquisition of Allied Domecq by Pernod Ricard. It remains one of the world's best-selling single malts (being especially popular in Italy).
Matured in x Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, the ten year old offers light, fresh, easy-drinking, with a mildly fruity bouquet (nashi pear), hints of dried grass, and subtle flavours of biscuity malt, vanilla and cinnamon; orchard fruits returning at the finish. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Only Glen Grant at 10 can be this delicate, this refined, this understated and still unbelievably complex. It is this magical formula that every single malt distillery aspires to but only a small handful achieve. It is for this reason GG10 remains, if found at a bar, my single malt of choice. 96 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2025-26
(n23.5) OK: let's take turns in counting the rungs on the barley ladder here...the usual crisp aroma, but softened by deft, if unspecific fruitiness (maybe the distant aroma of a very old orange and by no means unpleasant!), myriad vanilla and butterscotch notes can do without the toffee one; (t24) magnificent! A malty delivery which simultaneously melts in the mouth, yet offers granite-like barley that crashes into your teeth; the star, perhaps are the sugars which vary from caster, through golden syrup and pans out somewhere in the muscovado range - curiously honey-free, though; (f23) a tad tangy, though the caramel returns to turn out the lights after the butterscotch and marzipan say goodnight...; (b23.5) unquestionably the best official 10yo bottling i have tasted from this distillery. Absolutely nails it! Oh, and had they bottled this at 46% abv and without the trimmings...my word! Might well have been a contender for Scotch Whisky of the Year. It won't be long before word finally gets out just how bloody good this distillery is. 95 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2013
Awarded: 'Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Years & Under' - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2015
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Martin Miller's Westbourne Strength Gin (700ml)London, UNITED KINGDOM$104. 99Bottle$1259.88 DozenABV: 45.2%Gin - The Dutch invented it, the English refined it, the New World glamorised it, and now , according to most reviews, Martin Miller's have perfected it. "Westbourne Strength", was recently awarded ‘Spirit of the Year 2003’ by the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute (BTI), the world’s largest and most powerful drinks testing institute.
Miller's is London distilled using over eight botanicals and aromatics including selected Tuscan juniper, cassia bark, angelica, Florentine orris, liquorice root, coriander, finest Seville citrus peel, ground nutmeg, and cinnamon bark. The botanicals are steeped overnight in the spirit to allow a greater infusion of flavour. Millers is distilled in the traditional way via pot still. It keeps the 'body' of the spirit high and because of a lower distilling strength the congeners (flavours) are kept within the final product. Millers use a one hundred year old copper still manufactured by John Dore & Co. in 1903. Following distillation, most London dry gins are blended with British spring waters. Miller’s is transported by ship to Iceland where it's blended with glacial lava filtered waters, supposedly the purest in the world. In the small village of Borganes on Iceland's remote west coast, a final ‘mystery’ ingredient, unknown even to the Master Distiller, is also added.Other reviews... Clear appearance. Sweet floral and citrus aromas have an herbaceous, juniper edge. This is silky in the mouth with a bright citrus (grapefruit and clementine) character, spice, and juniper notes. Finishes in a long, smooth, citrusy fade. A very fruity and vibrant London-dry gin that will shine brilliantly on its own or in a cocktail. 45.2%Alc.Vol.
International Review of Spirits Award: Platinum Medal, 97 points (Superlative) - tastings.com...Crisp and classic, this gin is ideal for martinis. A light cucumber aroma leads the nose, opening up with more cucumber and juniper on the palate, finishing smooth and brisk on nutmeg and coriander accents. 94 points - wineenthusiast.com
- Stoli Vodka (700ml)Riga, LATVIA$63. 99Bottle$767.88 DozenABV: 38%
One lot only at Australia's best price!
Previously labelled as "Stolichnaya" (from the Russian 'Stolitsa' meaning 'capital city'), the west began drinking Stoli in 1972 after PepsiCo began importing it to the U.S. Since then, the vodka has become a sentimental favourite. Made in Latvia according to traditional Russian methods following the original 1938 wheat and rye-based recipe, the distillery triple filters the spirit through birch charcoal and quartz sands before blending it with pure spring water. Popular for its quality and slightly sweeter, oily taste and texture, after nearly eighty years of success, the brand introduced this new contemporary presentation in 2023, dropping the Soviet style label which featured Moscow's famous Moscova Hotel.
Other reviews... [NB - 40% batch tasted] Clear. Neutral wet stone and cream aromas. A buoyant entry leads to a round, dryish medium-to-full body of smooth cream, wheat dough, and delicate spice flavors. Finishes with a warming, peppery and sweet cream fade. A nice vodka with a smooth, classy edge. 92 points (Exceptional), International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal
4.5 Stars - diffordsguide.com
- St-Remy VSOP Brandy (700ml)Multi District Blend, FRANCE$53. 99Bottle$647.88 DozenABV: 37%
Remy continues to represent value in today's competitive brandy market. From cooking to use as a mixer, Remy is an ideal all purpose example at a reasonable price. 37% alc./vol.
- Monte Alban Con Gusano Mezcal (700ml)Oaxaca, MEXICO$83. 99Bottle$1007.88 DozenABV: 40%Closure: Cork
The original Monte Alban Mezcal contains a specimen of the famous worm that inhabits the agave plant. It is actually the larva of one of two moths. There is some mystery surrounding the purpose of this worm and its supposed hallucinogenic properties. One theory is that the worm serves as proof of high alcohol, which is to say that if the worm does not disintegrate in the bottle, the percentage of alcohol in the spirit is high enough to preserve and pickle. We still hear of the occasional psychedelic experience but we are yet to be convinced these are actually related to ingesting the worm. Suffice to say that, if one has reached the bottom of a bottle of Tequila, hallucinations are bound to occur with or without worms. Higher quality mezcals do not generally include worms.
Often considered the “prototype” of all Tequilas, Monte Alban is, as one would expect from such a reputation, a fiery and wild spirit. Its pronounced nose of smokey oak and dust is reminiscent of a sweaty saloon bar ashtray, and evokes the faces of villains from one of Clint Eastwood’s spaghetti westerns. The pungent nose carries on to the full-bodied palate that is tempered by the slightly sweet and spicy wood characters. Finishes with a big spirit hit and a long warming aftertaste. Sip neat or enjoy in the conventional way with salt and fresh lime juice: a small amount of salt tongue, followed by Mezcal and only then – lime juice. However one decides to enjoy Monte Alban, we do not recommend it for the faint hearted. 40% alc./vol.
Other reviews...Brilliant golden pale amber color. Smoky agave, grilled pineapple, and prairie fire aromas. A soft entry leads to a buoyant light-to-medium body of grilled jicama, prune, and light petrolly mineral flavors. Finishes in a tangy, charred pineapple, white pepper, and muddy straw fade with lingering, tongue-numbing warmth. A solid mezcal for making interesting agave-based cocktails. International Review of Spirits Award: Silver Medal
RATED: 85 points (Highly Recommended) - tasting note sourced from www.tastings.com -
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Campari Bitters (700ml)Milan, ITALY$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenABV: 25%Closure: Screw CapLike most liqueur / aperitif producers, the Campari company considers its recipe as the key to its ongoing success. Consequently, secrecy is paramount. The complete recipe, kept in a bank vault, is known only to the company's President who overseas weekly production. With worldwide annual sales now exceeding tens of millions bottles, this cautionary attitude is perhaps understandable. What is known is that it contains quinine, ginseng, orange peel, herbs and rhubarb that are steeped in a mixture of water and alcohol. The drink is then coloured with cochineal. It's typically served very cold without ice but with a dash of soda to release the flavours.Other reviews...Light red color. Dark berries and spice on the nose. A smooth attack leads to a somewhat sweet, medium-to full-bodied palate with ripe and tart black cherry and dark fruit flavors that give way to a barrage of extremely bitter herb and fruit pit elements that dominate the back palate and linger as the fruity sweetness dissipates. A complex and dynamic aperitif that could use a mixing element to calm down the bitterness.
International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal
93 points (Exceptional) tastings.comCherry-red color. Nose is snappy and expectedly bitter in a woodsy, earthy, quinine-like way. Palate entry is mild in a sweet-sour fruity manner; midpalate is sweet and only moderately bitter. Finishes long and mildly quinine-like. While I’m not a bitters aficionado (more a bitter aficionado, really), Campari and orange do positively click. I’m savvy enough to know when not to argue with 58 million Italians. 80-84 points - www.wineenthusiast.com
- Tromba Cinco Cinco Still Strength Blanco Tequila (750ml)Jalisco, MEXICO$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 55%Tromba takes its name from the ‘big rain’ which arrives in the Jalisco region every spring. These rains provide the nourishment required to yield some of the finest agaves in Mexico. Created by veteran distiller Marco Cedano, Tromba's latest release, 'Cinca Cinca' is one of a handful of higher strength tequilas to enter the Australian market to date. Expect extra texture and intensity. 55% Alc./Vol.
- Glenfarclas 8 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenABV: 40%
Glenfarclas - "Glen of the green grassland" - has an enviable reputation amongst whisky lovers around the world. Noted Whisky writer, Micheal Jackson comments of the distillery: "Among the handful of truly stand-alone distilleries in Scotland, Glenfarclas is the most assertive of its independence, by far the longest established, and the best known to connoisseurs. Its whiskies are in the top flight among Speysiders, though they do not enjoy the wider popular reputation of some similar examples from this region."
Other reviews... Less intense sherry allows the youth of the malt to stand out. Mildly quirky as Glenfarclas and enormous entertainment! 40% Alc./Vol. 86 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2012size>
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Chandon BrutSouth Eastern Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkMoet and Chandon established Chandon Australia in 1985 with the purchase of land in the Yarra Valley and the creation of a sparkling winemaking facility. Their sparkling wines have been consistently excellent, which has in part been due to their ability to source a wide variety of grapes from cool climate growing regions from around Australia.
Retasted 30/09/2010:
Grapes for this sparkling are sourced from a range of premium cool climate vineyards in the South Eastern Australia, including the Yarra Valley, Strathbogie, the King and Buffalo Valleys in Victoria, and Coonawarra in South Australia. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir the wine pours with a good white creamy mousse that’s relatively short lived. Pale straw coloured base wine with very fine bead showing excellent persistence. The nose displays aromas of brioche, yeast lees and biscuit with a lemon sherbet like end note. Clean delicate palate flavours of biscuit, yeast lees and lemon with a light toast overlay. Crisp clean finish. Aftertaste of biscuit and lees with some light toast also emerging.
Drink over the next 2-3 years (2010-2013)
Alc 12.5%Tasting Note: A fuller style N/V Sparkling. Bright straw colour with pale straw hue. Short lived mousse. The bead is quite fine but not profuse. The base wine displays bottle age and multi-cuvee blending. Yeast lees top note, followed by cashew and a hint of hazelnut. Full bodied palate. Creamy texture. Clean finish.
Cellar 2-3 years (2008-2009)
Alc/Vol 12.5%
First Tasted: 9/11/2000. This wine displays a wonderful spectrum of apricot pink hues. Excellent mousse, followed by very fine persistent bead. The nose displays complexity with notes of winter strawberries layered over yeast lees. Creamy texture, with again subtle flavours of strawberries and yeast lees. Clean finish, followed by a very long aftertaste of lees, biscuit and strawberries.
Drink Now
Alc/Vol: 13.0%
Rating: 94 - Tempus Fugit Creme de Banane Liqueur (700ml)SWITZERLAND$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenABV: 26%There have been few high quality banana liqueurs on the market. Suntory produced a very good drier style called ‘Lena Banana’ for some time, however this version from Tempus Fugit sets the bar for the category in terms of flavour, authenticity and quality. The liqueur first emerged in the mid-19th century when the banana was revered as a rare and exotic treat. Sourced from Europe's distant colonies, it soon became one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world. As a cocktail modifier it delivers the ripe and complex flavour of banana that bartenders have described as 'liquid banana bread'. Apart from consumer consensus, Tempus Fugit's Creme de Banane has also received the highest rating of 5-Stars from F. Paul Pacult's prestigious Spirit Journal, resurrecting this quintessential crème as a modern classic and the perfect accompaniment for Tiki cocktails. Created from nothing but the distillation and maceration of bananas, water and sugar. 26% Alc./Vol. Other reviews... "This is an amazing liqueur achievement of the top rank."
Highest recommendation. - F. Paul Pacult, The Spirit Journal It's dark colour and intense, over- ripe banana flavour set this superb creme de banana apart.
5+ stars - diffordsguide.com -
- Nicks Import
Bouvet Saphir Saumur Brut Vintage Methuselah (6000ml)Saumur, Loire Valley, FRANCE$380. 00Bottle$4560.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkBouvet Ladubay is regarded by many wine lovers as the finest expression of sparkling wine from the Loire Valley. The house was founded in 1851 by Etienne Bouvet, the son of a vigneron-sommelier who encouraged the young Bouvet in the wine trade. Recognizing the Loire's terroir to be extremely well-suited to the production of sparkling wines, he settled on the bank of the Loire River just outside the town of Saumur. Ms. Ladubay, Etienne’s accountant, soon became his wife, and the firm was christened “Bouvet-Ladubay”. After many years of ownership by Champagne Taittinger, Bouvet Ladubay is once again fully owned by the Monmousseau family who have continuously run the business since their purchase in 1932. Bouvet Ladubay employs precisely the same wine making process as Grand Marque Champagne, delivering French sophistication at an everyday price.
The grapes for the Bouvet 'Blanc' methode champenoise are predominantly Chenin Blanc, a varietal which has been grown in the Loire Valley prior to the Roman conquest of France. Bouvet source their grapes from 120 properties around Saumur - spread over an area of 15 x 30 kilometres. The notion of using such a diversity of vineyard sites is to provide complexity to the base wines. Domaine Chandon in the Yarra Valley employ a similar process. These 120 micro climates each provide the wine maker with base material that when blended together will create the sensation of considerable complexity. The art of blending is critical and at Bouvet the third generation of blenders from the same family are in charge - in fact they have been creating the blend for the last 60 years. State of the art, temperature controlled stainless-steel fermentation tanks, computer-regulated 'gyropallets,' or riddling machines, highly advanced freezing and disgorging equipment and micro-wave cork heaters have brought Bouvet’s vinification facility to the technical forefront. The winery itself however, remains an impressive monument to the region’s history with the wines spending their final maturation period within freestone cellars built by Saint Florent monks around 1040 AD. These tunnels cover some 2.6 hectares with eight kilometres of subterranean cellars - storage capacity for some 7,000,000 bottles!
Tasting notes: Our new shipment of Bouvet Saphir has arrived. The wine delivers creamy white mousse, with fine bead of moderate persistence. Straw coloured base wine. The nose has more pronounced lift than that of previous vintages, hints of toast, lees, baked apple and biscuit emerge. Full bodied palate, with excellent flavour profile. Creamy texture, flavours of baked apple over hints of toast, biscuit and citrus. Fresh, crisp acid finish, followed by a long lemon, biscuit and baked apple aftertaste. Cellar 3-4 years (2009-2010) Alc/Vol: 12.5% Very Limited Stocks of the Imperial bottlings. -
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Jameson Irish Whiskey (700ml)Dublin, IRELAND$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenABV: 40%No bar is complete without a bottle of Irish Whisky, and more than likely that whisky will be Jameson's - a timeless spirit combining the ancient traditions of Irish Whisky-making with a contemporary expertise.In 1780, John Jameson established his distillery in Bow Street, Dublin. Determined that his whisky would be the finest in the world, he laid down rules for quality that have been maintained to this day. John Jameson was fastidious as a whisky maker and patriarchal as an employer. His dedication to quality went through every aspect of the business, from the barley strain, which he encouraged the farmers to grow, to the choice of sherry casks used for maturation.
The growth enjoyed by Jameson Irish Whisky in the 1960s meant that expansion of facilities became necessary. In 1975, production was moved to the Midleton Distillery, Co. Cork. The new Distillery has remained true to the original methods and standards. Today, the Midleton Distillery is acknowledged as one of the finest whisky distilleries in the world with world wide sales of 1.5 million cases a year.
Triple distilled for smoothness, Jameson Irish Whisky's production process differentiates it from Scotch and American whisk(e)ys. Made with pure water and a combination of malted and unmalted barley, the malted barley or malt is dried by warm air. This ensures that smoke does not come into contact with the grain and that the natural taste of the barley shines through in the final whisky. This is unlike the Scotch production process, in which peat smoke is blown through the malt and flavours it.In Ireland, one of the secrets of making whisky lies in the slow, triple distillation in copper pot stills. This method of distilling gives the whisky its remarkable smoothness and round flavour. Other whiskys are distilled only once or twice. Meanwhile, the mellow, sweet taste of Jameson Irish Whisky is attributed to the length of time the spirit is allowed to mature in seasoned American and Sherry oak casks.
Tasting Note: Light gold hue. Floral aromas abound over a grainy background. A typical Irish blend - nutty, sweetish palate, relatively simple and light-bodied but exceptionally smooth and clean. Ends shortish with a sweet grainy aftertaste and a lovely, mild spririt warmth. Almost liqueur like in texture. Excellent value. 40% alc./vol.
Other reviews… Nose: Very aromatic. Waxy orange skins. Linseed oil. Leather. Palate: Big, oily, creamy, sociable. Finish: Delicate. Peppery. More-ish. Comment: A superb Irish for everyday drinking. I love this, though not quite as much as the 1780.
Rating: 75 - Michael Jackson, www.whiskymag.com'The inclusion of extra pot still is one thing; getting the balance as fine as this is something else. Truly magnificent: this is the current Irish masterpeice. As classically Irish as someone called Seamus O’Grimmins. '
Rating: 95- Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2006.
50ml Irish Whiskey 90ml Fresh Coffee 25ml Brown Sugar Syrup 2.5cm Whipped Irish Cream Method: Combine the whiskey, coffee and syrup in a tody glass. Ladle 2.5cm of cream on top.
Classic Cocktail: The Irish Coffee
Joe Sherdian, a barman at Foynes 'Flying Boat Terminal' (now known as Shannon International Airport) in Ireland, orignally prepared this drink. Sheridan had a habit of greeting weary travellers sneaking into war-torn Europe on seaplanes from the United States with hot coffee laced with Irish whisky and topped with lighlty whipped Irish cream.
Variations include: Cafe Amore: Amaretto and brandy. Calypso Coffee: Rum and Kahlua. Jamaican Coffee: Rum and Tia Maria. Kioke Coffee: Brandy and Kahlua. Mexican Coffee: Tequila and Kahlua.
- recipe taken from The Craft of the Cocktail, Dale DeGroff 2003
Click here to learn more about Irish Whiskey - Seagrams V.O. Blended Canadian Whisky (700ml)Ontario, CANADA$56. 99Bottle$683.88 DozenABV: 37%A blend made of Canadian whiskies at least six years old.
Other reviews... A nose like light caramel corn, with a hint of biscuit dryness and a smidgen of cinnamon sugar. Light in the mouth, sweet and a bit spicy, with some cinnamon heat toward the end. There is a bit of a roar right in the middle, where the grainy sweetness catches fire briefly, but mostly this is fairly meek stuff. Made for mixing, no real flaws. 81 points - whiskyadvocate.com (Fall 2012) Reviewed by: Lew Bryson
...Nose: Sweet. Crème caramel, hint of brown sugar. Raisins in a vanilla syrup. A touch of raspberry juice. Touch of resin. Palate: Crisp and dry, bursting into a gingery spiciness. Finish: Spicy and dry, oaky, quite lingering. Comment: A well put together dram with a solid oak frame.
80 points
- Martin Nouet, whiskymag.com -
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Massenez Golden 8 Williams Pear Liqueur (200ml)Alsace, FRANCE$54. 99Bottle$659.88 DozenABV: 25%A liqueur based on eight year old Poire William eau de vie. Soft, plump aromas of stewed pears follow in a broad, syrupy liqueur with pear confectionary, vanilla and (oddly), white chocolate to finish. Very sweet. Tastes manufactured rather than fresh and natural. 25% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... 4 stars - diffordsguide.com
- The Milk & Honey Distillery Elements Peated Single Malt Israeli Whisky (700ml)ISRAEL$129. 99Bottle$1559.88 DozenABV: 46%Matured in barrels that previously held Islay whisky, then blended with ex-bourbon barrels left to mature under the hot Tel Aviv sun. The result is a delicate, rather mellow and lightly peated whisky. Non Chill Filtered. Classified Kosher. Other reviews... Well distilled, though the half-hearted peat is never entirely convincing. 46% Alc./Vol. 84.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021 Notes from the producer... Aroma: Delightfully fresh. A distinct smoky, earthy scent opens to a unique balance of vanilla and oak notes, with a final hint of lemon. Palate: Medium bodied. Vanilla sweetness is followed by a delicate peat touch. A light spiciness accompanies ginger and lemon flavours. Finish: Long. The peat coats the mouth, with delicate oak and lemon flavours lingering on the tongue.
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Redbreast 15 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (700ml)County Cork, IRELAND$220. 00Bottle$2640.00 DozenABV: 46%"...what we have here is a truly great Irish whiskey and my pulse races in the certain knowledge it can get better still..." 94 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2017
Besides Midleton and Greenspot, Redbreast is one of the last surviving true Irish pot still whiskeys, triple distilled from a mix of malted barley and unmalted grains. In 2007, Irish Distillers produced a one-off 15 year old to celebrate the 50th anniversary of French retailer, La Maison Du Whisky. Such was its reception that it was decided to continue it alongside the regular 12 year old as a core product. Delivering more sherry input and with zero chill filtration, it is one of the most textural and buxom Irish we’ve tasted. The entrancing bouquet is spicy, creamy-yet-fresh, all at the same time. The palate turns oily, pithy then more cocoa-like with a cascade of sweets suggested, ranging through dark chocolate to vanilla wafer and toasted marshmallow. Oak adds balancing grip, while the overall persistence is sustained by oils through the aftertaste. Equally an Irish to savour with water which brings another dimension highlighting fruits on the nose (fig, orange oils) as well as in the mouth. Almost like two whiskies in one. Superb. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Redbreast 12 year old is a classic pure pot still Irish whiskey; where can you go from there? This new 15 year old expression is more muscular (bottling at 46% and not chill filtering certainly helps), but there are trade-offs. It’s a bit closed on the nose (like a great Bordeaux wine that’s too young). I do enjoy the silky/oily texture, the bold resinous oak spice grip on the finish, and the rich nutty toffee, fig, black raspberry, chocolaty, chewy nougat throughout the palate. Still, it’s not as eminently drinkable, refined, or balanced as the 12 year old. 92 points- www.maltadvocate.com, (Vol. 19, #4) Reviewed by: John Hansell
... this 15-year-old builds on the beautiful flavors of the 12-year-old version, adding big, mouth-filling caramel tones, a spicy finish and a velvety feel. 91 points - wineenthusiast.com
The nose on this pure pot still Irish whiskey is nutty with light spices, oak, and red apples. The taste is smooth with roasted almonds, figs, blackberries, oak, and dark chocolate notes. The finish has a hint of vanilla with hazelnut and charred oak notes. Outstanding! 93 points - whiskycast.com
Category winner - World Whiskies Awards 2023.
Winner - World's Best Pot Still Whiskey - World Whiskies Awards 2015
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Chatelle Napoleon V.S.O.P. Brandy (700ml)FRANCE$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenABV: 37%In spite of the fact that he took an interest in grape cultivation on the island of Elba and much cognac is connected with his name, Napoleon (who almost certainly had cancer of the stomach) was quite indifferent to what he ate and drank. This truth of history has not deterred inumerable brandies from adopting his title as a rather meaningless designation of quality.
Nevertheless, 100% French brandy at this price is uncommon. Perhaps that’s why Chatelle’s popularity as an everyday drinking brandy maintains its strength. Recommended. Always good value. 37% alc./vol.
- Wyborowa Wodka Vodka (700ml)POLAND$57. 99Bottle$695.88 Dozen"The old line about vodka is that it's colourless, odourless and tasteless. The new line is that premium vodkas are much, much better. But what do they taste like when you can't see the labels?" To get an answer to that question, an Independent journalist wrapped nine bottles in newspaper and served them to a panel at London's Wodka Restaurant. On the panel was Ian Wisniewski, co-author with Nicholas Faith of the book "Classic Vodka". Mr.Wisniewski believes that all vodkas have a flavour, either good or bad and that in Eastern Europe, where vodka is served neat, the distilleries try to give it a pronounced flavour and character….This Polish vodka [WYBOROWA] was the first tested, and it met with a rapturous response…It was the favourite of our panel, as it is of many discerning barmen." - Sourced from the THE INDEPENDENT, May 25, 1997, in a report entitled "Tried & Tested: Clear Favourites" presented the results of blind-tests of a range of vodkas, conducted by the magazine's panel of experts.size>
How Wyborowa is made…size>WYBOROWA is one of the only vodkas in the world produced exclusively from rye grain. The rye used to make WYBOROWA is grown in a limited part of north-western Poland where the soil is loamy and the climate is milder than in other parts of the country. Only winter varieties sown in the autumn and harvested the following summer are used, because of their very high starch content. The grain is selected at regional agri-distilleries which complete the first stage of the distilling process, producing so-called raw spirit. Three-stage selection - in the field, on entering the distillery and then in the distillery's laboratory - eliminates all but the healthiest ripe grain. The next steps of distilling take place in the beverage distilleries, where the raw spirit is put through a technologically advanced rectification process and then the vodka is made according to the distillers' closely guarded, traditional recipe.
The WYBOROWA production process follows the rule of "3 X 3." This means "triple-cleaned, triple-distilled, triple-filtered." Even then, only the best, middle part of the batch ("No heads, no tails") is used for Wyborowa. The distillation process is carefully controlled to produce alcohol with the exact chemical and organoleptic parameters required for a brand that is distinguished for its consistent purity, taste and aroma. The aroma of grain spirit is difficult to eliminate, but for that it is also more desirable, so in the production of WYBOROWA some aromatic fractions are kept intentionally. The spirit is then diluted to the required strength with very soft water taken from the distilleries' deep wells and filtered with the most up-to-date equipment by reverse osmosis, the most natural way to filter. The water that is finally blended with the rectified spirit to make what is to become WYBOROWA is brilliantly clear and without any foreign taste or odour. The product is again filtered before bottling. The WYBOROWA resulting from all these painstaking procedures is a product of crystalline clarity with a character all its own. It has the barely perceptible sweetness of, not sugar, heaven forbid, but superior rye grain spirit. WYBOROWA has few equals for making martinis, serving on the rocks, and above all drinking NEAT - very well chilled (to about 3 degrees C and never more than 10 degrees C) and served in frosted shot glasses kept in the freezer. A perfect companion to caviar or smoked salmon hors d'oeuvres.
The extraordinariness of Wyborowa finds confirmation in the many awards it has won in some of the greatest international quality contests - up to now Wyborowa has gained twenty two gold medals. In 2001 Wyborowa won the gold medal Monde Selection and double gold medal (meaning the jury was unanimous) as well as the title of the best vodka in World Spirit Competition in San Francisco.
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- Packaging may vary
O.P. Anderson Aquavit (1000ml)SWEDEN$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%First introduced in 1891, O.P. Anderson is named after the legendary Aquavit maker, Olof Peter Anderson. Produced from 100% grain spirit, cummin, anise, coriander and fennel , O.P.Anderson is an assertive, old world classic with a complex flavour of spice, aniseed, caraway and fennel. In addition to traditional smorgasboard dishes such as salmon and herring, O.P.Anderson adds new dimensions to dishes like Peking duck, grilled lobster, tandoori chicken, smoked salmon or prawns. To be at its best, O.P.Anderson should be served in small aquavit glasses and chilled. Shelf life is 2 years minimum. Avoid direct exposure to sunlight.
Tasting note: Clear. Dry, subdued scents of caraway, fennel and thyme. The palate has a juicy mouth feel with concentrated anise and sweet rye flavours delivered over a pure, silky, soft and very gently warming spirit. Good length. Finishes long with a gently spicy liquorice and caraway fade. 40% alc./vol.
SILVER MEDAL AT THE 1998 INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION.
- Chambord Raspberry Liqueur (700ml)Loire Valley, FRANCE$66. 99Bottle$803.88 DozenABV: 16.5%
Made in France from hand picked, red and black raspberries (mûre), honey, vanilla, and Cognac. In the time of King Louis XIV the nobility of France entertained with feasts in their vast chateaux that were invariably concluded with liqueurs. It's in this tradition Chambord has been created- packaged in a spherical bottle with gold plastic lettered "belt". The bottle is modelled after a Globus Cruciger in order to reflect the liqueur's royal connection.
The most obvious drink to create with Chambord is of course Kir Royale - that being a dash of liqueur at the bottom of a glass of champagne. However, alternatives abound. For example, an equal mix of Chambord & Cognac gently heated in a glass makes an ideal heart warmer while the Chambord Vodka Tonic (a dash of Chambord, ice, 30ml. Vodka, tonic & lime garnish) makes for a delicious refresher. Other common drinks made from Chambord include Chambord Daiquiri, Chambord Royal Spritzer, Little Purple Men, The Purple Hooter Shooter, Sour Grapes, Grape Crush, French Martini (which started the "cocktails as a Martini" craze) and the original Sex on the Beach. Needless to say the liqueur is more than acceptable drunk neat, although it lacks some of the viscosity and intensity of its Dijon counterparts and is lower in alcohol. (16.5% alc./vol.)
As Chambord is made with all natural ingredients with no preservatives, it is best drunk within six months after opening.
















































