GUINIGI

Spirit Reviews

90

Star & Key Passion Fruit Rum ($35)

From a single estate and made with real passionfruit flavor, this rum is aged in French oak Cognac and Bourbon casks, the oak present on the nose and palate with a whisky-like intensity. The fruitiness is subtle, complemented by an imprint of spice and brown sugar, with considerable heat on the finish.

95

Star & Key VSOP Rum ($45)

Made from fresh sugarcane grown on a single estate on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, this is a single-cask rum aged four years in French oak Cognac cask. Oak-forward in notes of vanilla, butterscotch, caramel and a hint of cardamon, it offers a refined palate with balanced sweetness and length. This is a nicely made and memorably sippable rum.

92

The Community Spirit Vodka ($32)

Made entirely from American corn and five-times distilled, this gluten-free vodka is clean, crisp and brimming in pure corn goodness, aromatically and on the palate. It has an intensity on the midpalate of hay and wet stone that add to its subtle earthiness and length, finishing without a burn. A B Corp-Certified brand, this New York-based producer gives 5% of its revenue and time to communities it cares about.

91

Whiplash Whiskey – Whipped Cream Whiskey ($26)

Claiming to be the world’s first whipped cream whiskey, this 70-proof concoction is heady in strong salted caramel and butterscotch aromas and flavors, sweet, crowd-pleasing and an interesting option for adding richness to any cocktail.

94

Black Tie Cocktail Syrup Blood Orange ($28)

Meant to add into mocktails and cocktails, this is a densely concentrated sugar cane-based syrup that would go well in a Margarita or similar fruit-flourished drink, made with real juice and zest. Offering true candied orange flavor and aromas, and zero-proof, it is thick and rich with enough acidity to remain in check.

95

Black Tie Cocktail Syrup Old Fashioned ($28)

This is a non-alcoholic, densely concentrated Turbinado sugar-based syrup with real lemon and orange peel and real lemon and orange juice that also includes aromatic bitters. Ideal for adding to whiskey, it offers authentic flavors and aromas that are in balance and never cloying.

96

Bushwood Longball Single Barrel Whiskey, Black Label, Kentucky, USA 100 proof ($85)

Like a long ball in golf, this whiskey goes deep and smooth with walnut cream and peach-maple. Mouth-coating, with an electric heat that soothes rather than disrupts and goes the distance.

94

Casa Maestri Café Reserva de MFM, Mexico  70 proof ($30)

With Maestri tequila blanco as its base, perfumed notes of brown butter, banana bread, and mocha latté charm. As rich and developed it is on the nose, the mouthfeel is reined in, satin-lined and beautifully balanced with coffee and milk chocolate.