Suntory Whiskey Toki
Goldenrod yellow in the glass, Toki is a beguiling blend of whiskeys from Suntory’s Hakushu, Yamazaki, and Chita distilleries. Light on its feet, bright aromas of dried flowers, yellow apple, and lemon peel, blanched almond and delicate smokiness anoint the nose. It’s silky on entry, and refreshing with almost no sensation of heat on the […]
Quintessentia Amaro Nonino
Amaro, where have you been all my life? That is a question that begs serious thought. I was first introduced to it by my host on a recent trip to Umbria, he graciously ordered us Amaro Monte Negro on our first night and later, this classic, Amaro Nonino. Orange peel, spice cake, brandied pear, star […]
Caol Ila 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch
Crafted from 100% malted barley and aged in used bourbon barrels and sherry casks, Caol Ila’s 12-year-old single malt scotch is a fine example of of Islay peat, offering up a smokey melange of wet fall leaves, rich, freshly turned tilth, and peat moss clinging to damp stones. It’s satisfyingly round in the mouth with […]
Napa Valley Distillery Old Hollywood Ginn
Intensely aromatic, Napa Valley Distillery’s Old Hollywood Ginn is perhaps my favorite out of the four craft spirit samples I’ve received. The distillery website refers to it as a “speakeasy style,” a playful nod to the founder, Arthur Hartunian’s penchant and passion for using old, pre-Prohibition recipes. The website also notes that Old Hollywood Ginn […]
Napa Valley Distillery East India Cocktail
From Napa Valley’s first bonded distillery since prohibition, this incomparable East India Cocktail. Owners Arthur and Lusine Hartunian craft all of their spirits using old pre-Prohibition recipes and their website notes that the East India Cocktail is from recipe an 1830’s recipe, and it’s very hard not to imagine old maps, steamer trunks and wicker […]
The Kraken Black Spiced Rum
The Kraken Black Spice Rum constitutes my first foray into the world of rum, therefore, I will not offer a score, but will I provide tasting notes. According to Wikipedia, as the Kraken website itself offers little in the way of actual useful information about their product, Kraken is a rum-based spirit sourced from Trinidad […]