Best Buys $10 And Under

Since "Whiskey" is made from grain, and buckwheat is technically not a grain, this is technically not a whiskey. But for "not a whiskey", this sure drinks like one. Notes of vanilla and a hint of smokiness accentuate the grainy and nutty character of the buckwheat, making for a "not whiskey" that will please every lover of "whiskey". One and Only Buckwheat is made by Catskill Distilling Co. in Bethel, N.Y. with Catskill Mountain water and New York grown grains. 42.5%abv.

Distiller Notes
Warm toasted burnt sugar notes with spice, sweet, smoky. During the 1970s and 1980s, Michter?€?s Original Sour Mash Whiskey was the distillery?€?s single most popular product. While the ?€?Sour Mash?€? moniker originated from the whiskey production process of the same name ?€? whereby some previously fermented mash is used as the starter for the new mash to be fermented, much like making sourdough bread ?€? Michter?€?s Original Sour Mash earned distinction for its unique taste. With its unique grain selection, it cannot be categorized as a rye or a bourbon.

If you can imagine the caramel, vanilla and fruity notes of Maker's Mark turned all the way up, you'd have a pretty good idea of what Maker's Mark Cask Strength is like. One of the better regarded cask strength Bourbons. 55.8%abv.

El Tesoro uses 100% estate grown agave, allowing the agave to grow longer than most to peak maturity and double distilling to proof without adding water after the final distillation. The anejo is aged in American oak ex-bourbon barrels for two to three years. The process imparts a strong influence of oak but retains a complexion of agave, with floral and pepper notes on the nose and palate. 95 Points - Beverage Testing Institute Awards 2020. 40%abv

100% agave tequila aged for 12 months in American oak barrels has a sensory profile that is unique in its class. Aromas: Sweet notes of coffee and nuts. Finish: Silky with an intense wood flavor and smoky tones. 40%abv

"It's good to see an official distillery bottling of Clynelish in the U.S. This one is very true to the Clynelish style: fresh, appetizing, and very drinkable. Notes of brine, fruit (lemon-lime), and vanilla-accented malt, are the foundation of this whisky. Delicate seaweed, peat, exotic pepper and a hint of citrus rind bitterness entertain the palate throughout, all the way to its appetizingly briny, seaweed-tinged finish. Perhaps the definitive aperitif whisky." Whisky Advocate

Nose: zesty, mandarin, tangerine. Smoky. Palate: quite light, great clarity. orange, soft acidity. dry oak. mixed fruits, vanilla, leather. Finish: quite long, bitter sweetness developing, spicy oak. Great balance with perfectly rounded mouthfeel. 46%abv - Fresh Fruit and Vanilla -

Made with fresh passion fruit juice (100 percent non-GMO passion fruit grown in the town of Majagual in the Dominican Republic), cane sugar and neutral cane sugar spirit, the cordial is neon yellow, subtly sweet, lip-smackingly sour and incredibly versatile.

Aged for 7 months. Soft, slightly oaky with hints of caramel and cocoa. It has a silky texture with a medium to long smooth finish. Casamigos was co-founded by actor George Clooney.

Islay, Scotland- Burnt Sienna in color with Dark chocolate and raisin aromas that compliment the classic Bowmore smokiness. Wonderful cedar wood and rich treacle toffee flavors and a robust and warming finish.

PRODUCER NOTES
Amarula Cream Liqueur is a delicious blend of the unique flavors of the marula fruit including chocolate, caramel, and a hint of butterscotch. On the open plains of the African veld grows a tree, untamed by man. It is the Marula Tree, and its exotic fruit is at the heart of Amarula Cream, the perfect blend of fresh cream and the distilled Marula fruit. A drink with a distinctive, exciting and sophisticated taste.

While the majority of tequilas in this category are unaged (or aged briefly in stainless steel or in oak then filtered for clarity), this pale golden-hued one, made from 10 year old agave grown in Los Altos, Jalisco, is aged for 28 days in new French Limousin oak barrels - not quite enough time to become a reposado. Flavor contours are smooth and clean with notes of herbs, pepper and earth.

A blend of eaux-de-vie aged a minimum of 2 years, this Cognac offers aromas of candied fruit, toffee, vanilla, and wood spice; the palate is full and warming with flavours of chocolate, orange, vanilla, and Christmas cake spices followed by a long and balanced finish.

Hand-crafted in the village of Las Milpas overlooking rolling pastures and nestled among cornfields. Agave: Espadin. Naturally fermented and twice distilled in wood-fired copper stills. Nose of slate and tropical fruit, palate of citrus, lavender and pea shoots, with a long dry finish. ABV 46. - Producer's notes

Panama- A smooth, rich, and complex rum created from scratch. Aged up to 18 years in bourbon barrels. Aromas of toffee, toasted oak, and vanilla. Tastes of orange zest, pepper, and coffee. Perfect for sipping.

#14 Whisky Advocate Top 20 Whiskies of 2021

2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold Medal Winner

Named for the finery one would wear for special occasions back in the day, the six-year-aged Bib & Tucker bourbon has a nose of antiques, new saddle leather, chamomile-soaked butterscotch drops and warm cinnamon-kissed cedar. If that doesn?€?t bring up images of Americana, the flavor profile mirrors the nose, urging on that sense of peace, harmony balance: all the good things you taste and should feel while sipping a great bourbon.

There are 10,500 cases of the 2009 Haut-Brion, from a blend of 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 14% Cabernet Franc. For technicians, the highest ever natural alcohol, 14.3%, was achieved, with a pH of 3.9, which is about the same as the 1989 and 1990, as well as 1959. This is the kind of wine to send chills even up my spine, and I have been tasting here for nearly 30 years. An extraordinary nose of plum, blueberry, raspberry, crushed rock, and that intriguing floral as well as unsmoked cigar tobacco note (a classic sign of this terroir) is followed by a wine of creamy unctuosity reminiscent of 1989, but there is a freshness, vibrancy and precision that is historic and possibly unprecedented. Some graphite emerges as the wine sits in the glass, but the wine is very thick while at the same time precise and elegant. This is the quintessential expression of one of the greatest wine terroirs of the world. To reiterate, the good news is that there are going to be 10,500 cases of Haut-Brion in 2009, which is about 1,500 more cases than the 9,000 produced in 2005. This wine will probably need 7-8 years of cellaring when released and evolve as well as the 1959 has (which is still a perfect wine today), so we?????re realistically talking 50-75 years when stored in a cool cellar. (Tasted once.) - WA98-100

Wine Advocate, 96pts. - "Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 Coutet leaps from the glass with warm apple pie, dried mango, fresh straw, lemongrass, ginger and cr?me caramel notes. The rich, concentrated, unctuous flavors are lifted by amazing freshness, finishing epically long, layered and with a tantalizing nuttiness."

Decanter, 96pts. - "On clay over limestone soils, relatively cool compared to Sauternes, this has a purity and freshness that is striking . . . Full of the quince, candied orange, truffle, apricot and lemon curd that you hope for in a quality sweet Bordeaux, coupled with lime blossom, ginger and citrus zest adding poise and character."

Winery Notes:
"This Merlot blends the craftsmanship of California winemaking with the exotic tradition of dark rum barrel aging, resulting in an incredibly bold sensory expression. Ruby red in color, it opens with rich, sweet aromas of molasses, cocoa powder, maple, and black plum. Flavors of jammy plum and blackberries with complex nuances of toasted coconut, baking spices, and rich vanilla follow. Ripe tannins and concentrated flavors carry through to a long, and lush finish. A superb accompaniment to rum cake, pasta Bolognese, Korean short ribs, Jamaican jerk chicken, spicy coconut curry, dark chocolate, brie with fig jam, and a white, sandy beach at sunset."

100 points Jeb Dunnuck
The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new French oak. With an essence of Cabernet like character in its darker currants, green tobacco, cedar, graphite, and floral aromas and flavors, this gorgeous wine is full-bodied and has bright yet integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It?€?s just gorgeously put together and a magical, flawless wine. It?€?s going to take a decade to hit maturity but will evolve for 40-50 years in cold cellars. It is as good as it gets in classic, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon!(1/2021)

100 points James Suckling
This is incredible on the nose, offering hot stones, blackcurrants, iodine and wet earth. Full-bodied with a tight center palate, then it opens with a tannin structure that is weightless and spreads across the palate. Totally integrated on the palate. This is a magic-carpet wine. Really incredible. One of the reference points for the vintage. Drinkable now and please try a bottle, but it?€?s one for the cellar. (5/2021)

99 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Dominus slowly emerges from the glass with profound notes of blackcurrant cordial, ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of violets, star anise, cracked black pepper, raspberry leaves and pencil lead, plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impactful black fruit layers, creating a beguiling sense of richness that is beautifully countered by invigorating freshness and great poise, framed by super ripe, plush tannins and beautiful tension, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note and, finally, lots of mineral sparks. For all that it is at the moment, one cannot help but feel that this 2018 is holding something back. Give it a good five years in bottle, at least, and then get set for what I suspect will be a mindblowing transformation over the next 30 years+. (LPB) (2/2021)

97 points Vinous
The 2018 Dominus is wild and exotic from the first taste. Lifted aromatics make a strong opening impression. There is something exuberant about the 2018 that is hard to describe. The 2018 is not a huge Dominus, nor is it massively structured, but the intensity of the flavors is remarkable just the same. Dark raspberry, spice, leather and cedar are some of the many notes that open over time. (AG)

"Firm, fresh and complex, with an array of glazed apricot, ginger, maple and cream flavors. Features notes of truffle and mineral on the crisp finish. Drink now. 200 cases imported." Wine Spectator

What: Sparkling
Where: California
"Korbel Sweet Rose is made from a complex selection of both red and white grape varietals. The blend is especially designed to have very bright fruit flavors and aromas of raspberry and vanilla. The harvesting of red varietals early in the ripening process helps achieve the desired style for this cuve. The varietal composition of Sweet Rose is Pinot Noir and Zinfandel with a dosage level of 6.0%.

Excellent With:
Fresh fruit or appetizers such as grilled prawns and mango salsa, or with a selection of ripe cheeses."

Winemaker Notes:
"Rich, deep burgundy. Aromatic profile features red apples and raspberries. On the palate, bright fresh cherries with toasty elements and just a hint of pepper."

#9 on The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2019!

96 pts Wine Spectator
Offers a lush, juicy mix of blackberry, blueberry and black cherry flavors that appears seamless, integrating with notes of amaretto, clove and lavender. Plush, juicy and very generous on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2034. 1,156 cases imported.

88pts- Vinous:
"Bright gold. Aromas of fresh pit fruits, melon and tangerine, plus a hint of tarragon. Bright and airy on the palate, offering lively nectarine and citrus fruit flavors that show good clarity and back-end snap. Finishes clean and firm, leaving a bitter orange pith note behind."

Limited release, artwork by Eniko Katalin Eged. Rustica is a Golden Russet and Roxbury Russet highlight that showcases their ability to create a crisp, complex and balanced cider. Minimal sulfur use, Unfined, Unfiltered. 93 Cases. 8% abv

Apples: 50% Golden Russet and 50% Roxbury Russet

Tasting Notes: Rustica has stunning aromatics with lightly perfumed with a fresh apple scent and a citrusy electricity. It is silky and full on the mid-pallet, acid-driven, and dry with lighter tannins and subtle herbal notes. A refreshing cider, lightly tannic and perfect for pairing with rotisserie chicken and veggies.