You may not have ever heard of an agricole rum. No time like the present to learn, and no better bottle than this to learn from. At the end of the day it might not be your thing, but it gets a thumbs-up from me. Overall Rating: ★★☆
A perfect case of evaluating a product on its own merits. On paper, this is utterly stupid. However, I'd rather have a glass of this than just about any other flagship Jim Beam offering. Overall Rating: ★★☆
St. George shouldn't be able to do so many things well, but one of their standout products is this affordably priced and superbly crafted vodka. If you typically use vodka in lighter, fruitier drinks, you need a bottle of this. Overall Rating: ★★★
A light, otherwise boring whisky might be able to escape the sharpest barbs of criticism if the price was good. However, the distillers want about $45 for this, and at that price this bottle has nowhere to hide. Overall Rating: ⃠
Be warned: sometimes "craft" products in the booze world are about as similarly uninspiring as cable-knit iPhone caddies, overpriced essential oils, or rocks painted like sleeping cats. Overall Rating: ★☆☆
Support your smaller producer with this lesser-known but fully-capable cognac. The Hardy VS is a solidly crafted spirit that would serve as a great entry point for the cognac clueless. Overall Rating: ★★☆
Armenian Brandy has a pretty rich and storied history. My Armenian friends might be wrong when it comes to System of a Down, but they're certainly not messing around with the Ararat Akhtamar 10. Overall Rating: ★★☆
Sometimes even a huge, faceless conglomerate can get something right. If you're fine with drinking the scotch equivalent of an Adele song, there's enough going on with the Glenfiddich 18 to warrant a look. Overall Rating: ★★☆
What if I told you that what people widely promoted as the most manly, ass-kicking kind of spirit was actually formulated to be rather sweet and gentle? You might think you're getting Motorhead, but you're actually getting REO Speedwagon. Overall Rating: ★☆☆
The perennial white knight of the bottom shelf, Gordon's is a surprisingly fine answer when it comes to gin and tonics or classic martinis. Overall Rating: ★★☆
Sometimes you find yourself in the mood for a quiet, comforting dram. Other times you want a monster to stomp all over you. This is not a quiet, comforting dram. Overall Rating: ★★★
There's a lot about the Bowmore 15 "Darkest" that's fairly criticized for being inauthentic. However, I think it tastes great, so I'm conveniently looking the other way. Overall Rating: ★★☆
If you're basing your understanding of "New American" gins based off of what's in the New Amsterdam bottle... uh, don't. Overall Rating: ⃠
Sweet needn't be a bad thing, but you've really got to buckle in for a shockwave of maple if you want to get your tentacles around this one. Overall Rating: ★★☆
I'll be honest: if this stuff is superior rum, I'm having a really hard time trying to think of a single rum that it's actually superior to. Overall Rating: ⃠
Sometimes an upmarket version of a rack-grade blend comes correct. The Prohibition edition is far and away better than regular Cutty for not too much more money. Overall Rating: ★★☆
Grand Dad wouldn't steer you wrong. Slap a twenty on the counter and run out of the store giggling when you think of what a gonzo value this is.
Overall Rating: ★★★
Looking for a reposado that doesn't taste like an unappealing compromise? We've got the bottle for you in the Fortaleza. Overall Rating: ★★★
The reposado from Hornitos isn't a bad product, per se, but it's an underwhelming mixer I think can be partially explained by its production process. Overall Rating: ★☆☆
The Lasanta is the awkward middle child in the Glenmorangie cask-finished lineup: not pretty like the Nectar D'Or and not bold like the Quinta Ruban, it slumps into a distant third place. Overall Rating: ★☆☆