Millstone 100 Rye Whisky
$108.99
Made from a mash of 51% malted and 49% unmalted rye grains, the whisky is 100 months old, 100 proof and 100% rye. This is a single rye whisky and has won awards from the Wizards of Whisky and Whisky Magazine. In 2016 it won Best Dutch Rye Whisky.
While not historically known for their whisky, the Dutch have been distilling as long as anyone in Europe. Most famous for genever and brandy, some of the distilleries there have taken to producing whisky. The Zuidam family began producing genever and other liquors in 1976 in the town of Baarle-Nassau on the Belgian border. Patrick van Zuidam, the second generation, began experimenting with whisky distillation in 1996, and started laying down barrels. The distillery produces both malt and grain whiskies, including a powerful rye. While they have borrowed and been influenced by the whisky makers in other countries, they are making a distinctly Dutch whisky. In one curious aspect, they mill their own barley in traditional windmills.
From the Distillery: “The new spirit is aged for a minimum of 100 month on new American oak barrels. The nose has rich notes of citrus fruit and spices with delicate tones of honey combined with vanilla and oak. The taste is rich fruity, honey sweetness and delicate spicy notes and a long peppery vanilla and oak finish.”
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: Cloves, pine needles, coffee grounds and earthy spices. Maple syrup, ginger snaps, pumpernickel bread, dried dill, mint leaves, black liquorice, raspberries and blackberries and orange rind. Dark rye bread toasted with honey.
Palate: Black tea, black liquorice, ginger molasses cookies, nutmeg, blackberry compote, root beer, pumpernickel bread again, hints of citrus and mint.
Finish: Slightly drying. Spice, earthy components and black liquorice along with hints molasses sweetness mingle to the end.
Comment: This is a very earthy rye whisky. Not quite like anything else I have tasted from Canada or the USA. It is dark, dense, earthy and delicious.
La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Extra Dry
$26.99
Made from wine and Pineau des Charentes with specially selected herbs mixed in.
Domaine du Haut Bourg Muscadet 2014
$36.99
Located in the heart of the Appellation Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu, four generations of winegrowers built the Domain du Haut Bourg. The first vine was planted in 1945, and today, the surface of the vineyard reaches 40 hectares.
The vineyard is entirely located in the town of Bouaye. The soil mainly contains mica schist, granite and sand. It gives good balance and richness to the wines. The lac de Grandlieu (south), the Loire river (north) and the low altitude (from 15 to 25 meters) create a microclimate characterized by low-temperature differences between day and night. This phenomenon allows an early harvest.
Racine Picpoul de Pinet
$24.99
One of the oldest Languedoc grapes, Picpoul dates back to the 1600s and possibly even earlier. And it's still fantastic! This fresh, affordable and easy-to-drink white wine has notes of flowers and citrus. Pair with anything light — seafood, perhaps a ceviche, or mild cheese and a baguette. Serve chilled.
Aviation Gin
$42.99
One of the progenitors of the craft gin boom - Aviation Gin was originally a collaboration between a Seattle bartender and a Distillery in nearby Portland. Called 'New Western Dry' in style it is created from distillate containing Rye grain and includes botanicals such as cardamom, coriander, lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and two kinds of orange peel.
Te Mata Estate Vineyards Syrah
$27.99
Te Mata is a winery located in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, that has quite the reputation for producing fantastic wines, year after year. "One of New Zealand’s most respected wineries," according to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate! This intense, velvety Syrah has notes of blackberry and blueberry, plus a long and pleasant finish.
Castarede Armagnac 1985
$159.99
If you are looking to gift somebody a birth year bottle of something they can either drink now or hold onto as long as they want, Castarède Armagnac should be considered.
The Armagnac House Castarède was founded in 1832 and remains in the same family to this day. It is now headed by Florence Castarede, who is the sixth generation of the Castarède family in charge of the Armagnac house. Castarède has an impressive selection of vintages still available, with consecutive vintages from 2003 back to the 1890s.
The vineyards are in the heart of the Bas-Armagnac region and are planted with a variety of grapes: Folle Blache, Colombard and Saint-Emillion. Castarede Armagnacs then get aged in black oak barrels in the family's ancient cellars, before a little bit finds its way to Canada for fans like us!
Plantation XO 20th Anniversary
$69.99
Nose : The stunning floral/fruity opening aroma is transcendent, then releases fragrance of vanilla, cocoa and milk
chocolate.
Palate : The delightful mango notes lend evidence to its advanced age, a result of long maturation in French oak cask.
If one isn’t too careful this bottle will drain in a night. Cursory check for all those Ron Millonario lovers: here is your new love. This 20th-anniversary edition was created to celebrate Alexandre Gabriel’s rum meets cognac brainchild, this spirit was crafted from strictly Barbados stock in secret to surprise the head honcho on the anniversary of the companies inception. From selected stock 12 to 20 years of age, partially matured in the Carribean and then shipped to Cognac, France for further ageing before being bottled.
Darroze 12 Year Armagnac
$91.99
Francis Darroze started his business in 1974, as a producer and trader of fine Armagnac. Here's a fantastic and very rare example, from 1985. Here's what Robert Parker has to say about him: "One has never really tried an Armagnac until trying those of Francis Darroze!" One for every serious fan of French spirits. All the Darroze Armagnacs are aged in their own barrels, and no caramel or other coloring agents are ever added. And to be sure they keep their true character, they are never blended. Rare, hand-crafted, original.