Broker's Gin

Broker's Gin

Before you go home with another fifth of Sapphire, consider this bottle instead. Broker's is a fun, hard-working gin that can make for a superlative mixer, depending on the night you have planned.
Overall Rating: ★★☆

Reyka Icelandic Vodka

Reyka Icelandic Vodka

Reyka is a lot like Bjork: Icelandic and bizarre. If you don't know anything about how they make this stuff, it's definitely worth a read.
Overall Rating: ★★☆

Tullamore DEW

Tullamore DEW

An underachieving whiskey for sure. If you're wondering if the alternative to Bushmills and Jameson is any good, it really isn't.
Overall Rating:   

Ballantine's 12 Scotch Whisky

Ballantine's 12 Scotch Whisky

As if the world didn't have enough reason to care about age-stated blended scotches. In a word: Ballantine's 12 is overcomplicated.
Overall Rating: ★☆☆

Kirk and Sweeney 23-Year Rum

Kirk and Sweeney 23-Year Rum

Aged rum can be stupidly cheap. However, an age statement of more than two decades carries some hefty expectations, regardless of price. In this respect alone the Kirk and Sweeney falls short.
Overall Rating: ★★☆

Suntory Toki Whisky

Suntory Toki Whisky

Don't let the (low) price scare you off. This isn't discount-grade Japanese whisky, but a graceful and well-crafted product. Not just for highballs! 
Overall Rating: ★★☆

Nolet's Gin

Nolet's Gin

"Who drinks gin straight?" some people ask. Take my word for it: they're out there, and Nolet's is a gin those people are likely going to appreciate. 
Overall Rating: ★★★

Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey

Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey

They could have called it anything else, literally anything, and been better for it. The whiskey itself is surprisingly not bad, and a huge step up from Bushmills' white label. 
Overall Rating: ★★☆

Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila

Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila

Cuervo Gold: the spirit so bad it convinced multiple generations they don't like an entire category of liquor. Let's buckle in for a well-deserved hatchet job.
Overall Rating:   

Creyente Mezcal

Creyente Mezcal

Creyente is an extremely solid mezcal that should cater to those who like the lighter side of life. You'll know you're still drinking a mezcal, but not every bottle needs to smell and taste like a warehouse fire.
Overall Rating: ★★☆

Johnnie Walker Green Label

Johnnie Walker Green Label

Green Label isn't the most expensive of the Johnnie Walker line, but it's typically the most venerated by those in the know. It's not my favorite of favorites, but being objective, it's a great product. 
Overall Rating: ★★☆

Gabriel Boudier Saffron Gin

Gabriel Boudier Saffron Gin

Say, that's a real pretty color you got there. It'd be a real shame if people was to know it was, how should we say, not the genuine article.
Overall Rating: ★☆☆

Alipus San Andres Mezcal

Alipus San Andres Mezcal

As of yet my favorite mezcal, flat-out. If you've thought of anything in the spirit category as a perpetual tire fire in liquid form, this might be the bottle to make you reconsider.
Overall Rating: ★★★

Paul John Brilliance

Paul John Brilliance

There's a lot that's very strange about this one from start to finish, although sometimes a little strangeness is just what the doctor ordered. Here the doctor is Indian and the strangeness is peanut.
Overall Rating: ★★☆

Balvenie Doublewood

Balvenie Doublewood

The Doublewood is one of the few single malt scotch whiskies I actually dislike. Chalk it up to a mix of personal taste and overexposure I'll explain in more detail.
Overall Rating: ★☆☆

 

Square One Cucumber Vodka

Square One Cucumber Vodka

It's fun to be wrong. Although I've crapped on flavored spirits before, the Square One Cucumber is as cool as a... well... you know.
Overall Rating: ★★★

El Dorado 5 Rum

El Dorado 5 Rum

A fair mixer and a serviceable sipping rum if you're not paying too close attention. The rum rub: you can get a lot better than the ED-5 for not very much more.
Overall Rating: ★☆☆

Mars Iwai Japanese Whisky

Mars Iwai Japanese Whisky

As everyone goes gonzo for Japanese whisky, the market adjusts to provide supply to match demand. Yes: this is Japanese, and it is whisky, but it might not be what you expect.
Overall Rating: ★☆☆

Espolón Blanco Tequila

Espolón Blanco Tequila

A "meh" product from a distillery that does pretty good work. Here, Espolon tries to gun for two flavor profiles at once and I don't think they pull it off.
Overall Rating: ★☆☆

Auchentoshan Three Wood

Auchentoshan Three Wood

Auchentoshan isn't really known as a powerhouse distillery. So what do you do when you know the market is itching for boldness? You force yourself to be something you're not. Here, it's surprisingly successful.
Overall Rating: ★★☆