Spirits Over $100

Producer Description 

La Coleccin Mixteca Edicin 4 is a curated selection of small-batch agave spirits crafted in the rustic distilleries of the mountainous Mixteca region of Oaxaca and Puebla. Each bottling explores the maestro mezcaleros interpretation of subjecting agave endemic to the region to peculiar production methods and styles that have largely fallen out of favor in modern times.

This batch of agave Pizorra (a. Marmorata) was distilled by maestro mezcalero Delfino Tobn Meja in his hometown of San Pablo Ameyaltepec, Puebla. Along with friends and family members, Delfino wild-harvested these massive, white-striped agaves in the outskirts of his hometown, whose name roughly translates to "the mountain where water is born" in Nahuatl.

After harvesting, Delfino roasted the agave with tlahuicole firewood in an underground conical pit oven for four days. He then milled the cooked agave with a mechanical shredder and allowed them to ferment naturally with spring water for about a week. Once fermentation was complete, he distilled the mash and tepache once in a custom-made, hybrid 3-plated copper still. Proofed with heads, hearts, and holanda by Delfino. 

Producer Description 

Two producers, one state – this is the 4th edition of La Colección Mixteca from Cinco Sentidos. This yearly release is made up of tiny batches that highlight the unique, rustic production styles used throughout the mountainous Mixteca region of south-central Mexico.

Producer Description 

An artisanal 100% Espadin agave mezcal from Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca, Mexico. Spicy, fruity with notes of citrus and a hint of smoke. Smooth and warming to the palate, with a clean and fruit-driven finish.

Rich and creamy platinum hues. On the nose, a vegetal and citrus aroma with hints of honey and pepper.

Producer Description 

Tequila Herradura Legend is a unique Añejo tequila. made from the finest 100% blue agave, naturally fermented, distilled and then matured for 14 months in heavily charred, new American White Oak barrels.

These special barrels have been deeply grooved, exposing the tequila to more layers of toasted oak, as it patiently ages resulting in a special Añejo tequila with an incredibly rich, deep color and a luxurious and velvety smooth taste. 

Producer Description 

The Arroqueño plants used in this batch of mezcal are the first of his harvest; these 15+ year-old plants are characterized by their “dry espadin” flavor and produced in the ancestral style in Sola de Vega, Oaxaca.

Robles Arroqueno uses a wooden mallet to crush his cooked agaves by hand and distills them in clay pot stills. This mezcal has a deep minerality that is a result of the long-growing agaves.

Producer Description 

To sip Barrel Proof is to experience Bourbon in its purest form: uncut, straight from the barrel, and without chill filtering. Each bottle is hand labeled with its unique proof and batch number; but the nose, taste, and finish are pure Elijah Craig.

Deep amber.  Caramel with toasted oak, fruit notes of apple and orange. Rich vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch along with spices of black pepper & cinnamon at the back of the palate nicely layered showcasing all flavors, fades slowly then lingers as it cools.

Each batch of Barrel Proof is bottled with a unique age statement, including the month and year of the youngest barrel from the batch. The proof also varies with each release.

The batch number on the label provides specific information about each batch. The first letter indicates the order of the release for that year, starting with "A.” The first number represents the month of the release. The third and fourth digits indicate the year.

Expert Reviews

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | This is a robust, full-flavored whiskey, scented with oak and toffee. It tastes almost like an Old Fashioned, meaning distinct orange peel and cherry notes intertwined with the vanilla and caramel. The long finish offers vanilla, oak and orange peel.

The Whisky Advocate 92 Points | Back after a three-year hiatus. Well-rounded, with lovely caramel, creamy vanilla, toasted oak, nougat, and candied fruit, along with a peppering of cinnamon and subtle mint. Pleasant, lingering finish. Great structure with seamless flavors. 

Producer Description 

Bottled solely from the contents of one expertly chosen barrel, this expression of Elijah Craig is the pinnacle of Bourbon craftsmanship. Bold, robust, and incredibly complex, 18-Year-Old presents a rare and unique opportunity to sip some of the oldest Bourbon in Kentucky.

Producer Description 

Chateau du Breuil 20 years XO XL from France, is the extra large variant with a capacity of no less than 2 liters! It is a soft calvados that is rich in full aromas. Chateau du Breuil 20 years XO is a mixture of different Calvados varieties, which are at least 20 years old. This combination makes the taste of the calvados sublimely soft with a nice sweet aspect. 

Producer Description 

The 19 Year Old is the first PX Sherry expression that Bladnoch has released.
The flavorful casks have imparted delectable notes of dark liquorice sticks, dried apricots and warming nutmeg into the golden-hued whisky. 

Producer Description 

Nuance and complex, this shows a floral lilt up front, sequeing into more substantial vanilla and honey aromas.

The palate is relatively dry, with cocoa and leather lightening to ginger spice and hints of tropical fruit.

Producer Description 

Normandy distillate made from apples and aged for a minimum of two years in oak barrels. It exudes a crisp and very fruity aroma, as well as a refreshing, slightly spicy, but slender taste.

Multiple medalist of the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London, which confirms the prestige and unusual quality that the distillery manages to regularly keep in its bottles. Producer Description.

Producer Description 

Craigellachie 17 year old shows an evolution of the distillery style, the tropical fruit flavours are developing more exotic characters and there is an underlying sweetness as some cask development begins to show. This is a really special whisky and fun to explore, thinking about where the different flavours are coming from.

Tasting Notes by Advocacy Host Craig: Craigellachie is often referred to as 'The Bad Boy of Speyside,’ and after tasting the 17 it’s not hard to see why. Thanks to the use of traditional worm tub condensers, they produce a heavier and ‘meatier’ style of whisky.
Starting with a combination of sweet vanilla and caramelized apple, the 17 explodes with flavour when a drop of water is added, bursting forth with pineapple, citrus and lightly charred oak. It has a long finish that doesn't overstay its welcome.

Craigellachie was built in 1891 by the experienced whisky team of Peter Mackie and Alexander Edward. They needed a Single Malt as an ingredient for White Horse Blended Scotch, so the distillery was designed to produce a very specific distillery style which the team replicate to this day.

Craigellachie features some very specific production techniques: barley from an oil fired kiln giving more weight, short stills and worm tub condensers to minimise copper contact. The team do 21 mashes per week, have 8 wash backs and 4 copper pot stills.
People always talk about 'sulphur' flavours, which can be distracting. Craigellachie has a roasted brimstone character alongside a meaty quality. Way back in the 1890s Alfred Barnard described ""the chief characteristic of the Craigellachie brand is the pineapple flavour it develops with age"". This tropical fruit style is what makes the brimstone and meat flavours work, achieving a balance that gets beautifully complex in older age statements.

Producer Description 

Takamine is a refined and uniquely complex whiskey with notes of caramel, tobacco, stone fruit, vanilla, and oak. There is a savory note on the finish. 

Takamine Koji Whiskey is made with the patented Takamine Process, which uses an ancient Japanese mold, koji, to convert starches to sugars in a process similar to malting barley. Unlike malt whiskey where sugars are extracted in a warm water mash before yeast is introduced to start the fermentation, both the koji and yeast are active at the same time in a multiple parallel fermentation. This 100% barley ferment is then double distilled and aged in virgin oak and ex-Bourbon casks.

Producer Description 

From The Heart Of The Ozarks

Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition, the latest addition to Redbreast’s esteemed American Oak series, seamlessly blends the signature Redbreast single pot still whiskey profile, aged in sherry and ex-bourbon barrels, with the unique and distinctive influence of Missouri Oak. The whiskey was meticulously finished for ten months in Virgin Missouri Oak barrels, the oak sourced from the esteemed Ozark Forest, to bring a captivating twist to the renowned Redbreast liquid.

Producer Description 

Our most indulgent double-barreled expression. This bourbon undergoes an extended slumber in a second, custom-crafted barrel. Deeply toasted and lightly charred, it unlocks an unparalleled depth of flavor – a richness and complexity rarely encountered in American whiskey.

A robust medley of rich maple syrup, dark butterscotch, brittle caramel, bittersweet chocolate, burnt marshmallow and sweet hickory smoke notes dominate the nose.
Taste

Rich dried cherry and cranberry fruit swim in a blackberry jam brightened with hints of ripe apple. Chai tea and warming clove notes develop to spice up the palate.
Finish

Warm and drying with a lingering clove character. 

Producer Description 

Fortaleza Reposado Tequila Winter Blend 2024 is a limited-edition release that exemplifies the artistry and tradition of authentic tequila-making. Crafted using 100% Blue Weber agave and aged to perfection, this Reposado showcases the exceptional flavors that Fortaleza is known for, with a unique winter-inspired twist. The 2024 Winter Blend undergoes a carefully curated aging process in select casks, which impart nuanced flavors and complexity, making it a standout addition to any tequila enthusiast’s collection.

Fortaleza Reposado Winter Blend 2024 offers a rich and complex flavor profile that embodies the spirit of the season while celebrating traditional tequila craftsmanship. This Reposado is produced using traditional methods, including stone-ground tahona-milled agave and fermentation in open-air wooden tanks. Aged in a special selection of barrels, the Winter Blend reflects Fortaleza’s dedication to innovation while staying true to its heritage. The 2024 edition offers a unique flavor experience, making it a collector's item and a favorite for tequila aficionados.

This limited-edition tequila is crafted for immediate enjoyment, but its balanced and nuanced flavors will hold up beautifully with careful storage for several years.

Producer Description 

The 2024 release of George T. Stagg Bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery continues the legacy of this bold, barrel-proof bourbon. Bottled at a potent 136.1 proof, this Kentucky Straight Bourbon is crafted from barrels aged over 15 years and two months, honoring the robust character of its namesake and the heritage of Buffalo Trace Distillery.

First launched in 2002 in response to a demand for well-aged, full-strength whiskey, George T. Stagg remains a collector’s favorite for its powerful, complex profile. Last year’s expression took First Place across multiple categories at the 2024 International Whisky Competition, underscoring its reputation as a top-tier bourbon.

Producer Description 

The 2024 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey from Buffalo Trace Distillery continues the legacy of unfiltered, barrel-proof rye whiskey. Aged over six years and bottled at a bold 127.2 proof, this release builds on the historic recipe inspired by Thomas H. Handy, the bartender credited with popularizing rye whiskey in the original Sazerac cocktail.

Hand-bottled without dilution, it captures the raw essence of the rye, honoring traditional methods dating back over a century. Last year’s expression earned a prestigious Double Gold at the 2024 Singapore World Spirits Competition, reinforcing its reputation as a world-class rye.

Producer Description 

The William Larue Weller 2024 Release from the esteemed Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is a true collector’s bourbon, embodying the rich tradition of wheated bourbons with an uncut, unfiltered presentation. Bottled at a robust 125.8 Proof (62.9% ABV), this bourbon is aged for 12 years and 6 months, allowing it to develop a smooth, complex profile that brings out the sweetness and depth of its wheated mash bill. Known for its balance of bold flavors and refined character, the 2024 release of William Larue Weller is a remarkable addition to any serious whiskey collection.

William Larue Weller is celebrated for its full-bodied and rounded profile, showcasing flavors of vanilla, caramel, and baking spices with a smooth finish that highlights its well-aged complexity.

Expert Review - 1996

Ultimate Beverage Challenge  89 Points | Very Good, Strong Recommendation.

Producer Description 

Fully respect each vintage’s respective terroir and ensure its perfect expression.
No blending of domains or vintages in order to preserve the specificities,
No « reduction » that would dilute the alcoholic or aromatic strength and the nuances of the terroir by adding « petites eaux » in order to not betray the typicalities.

Each Bas-Armagnac is strictly itself, with the name of the domain of origin, its vintage and the bottling date which tells its real age as eaux-de-vie stop aging once bottle.

The color of this 1996 vintage is gold with pretty brown highlights. Nose: The nose is very fruity carried by notes of quince, fig, orange jam and verbena. Tannins on the palate that are still young but very delicate. Finale: A beautiful length in the mouth characterizes this Darroze 1996 Armagnac.

Bas-Armagnac, whose capital is Eauze, is to the west of the appellation. It runs in the Landes and the western part of the Gers. It represents 67% of the areas identified in Armagnac. In this part of the land, the soils are sandy loam, called “tawny sands”. Bas-Armagnac eaux-de-vie are delicate and very fruity.

Producer Description 

Chicken Cock Whiskey Red Stave is a celebration of two iconic American industries – Kentucky bourbon and California wine. Red Stave is Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey nished in carefully selected J. Wilkes Petite Sirah barrels that will entice the senses for whiskey and wine lovers alike. With over 300 years of combined whiskey and winemaking history between Chicken Cock Whiskey and J. Wilkes there is expertise and provenance in each sip.

Hints of dark chocolate, toasted oak and dried fruit. Bold caramel and vanilla notes quickly evolves into pear, apple, cherry and red currant fruit flavors before presenting a long nish with bright cranberry tartness with a hint of black pepper

Complex long, lingering, nutmeg and clove spice. A perfect complex blend of flavors.

Producer Description 

This is a single malt from the Yoichi distillery, Nikka's first distillery built in 1934. The founder Masataka Taketsuru chose Yoichi in Hokkaido because of the similar environmental conditions to Scotland, where he learned whisky making.

Yoichi single malt has pleasant peaty notes and smokiness originating from the traditional direct coal-fired distillation as well as a briny hint delivered by the sea breeze during the aging process.

Producer Description 

The Miyagikyo is Nikka’s second distillery, having been founded in 1969. The distillery uses chimney and large steel stills, so itswhiskies tend to be fruity and light, in comparison with the heavier Yoichi whiskies.

This affordable, non-age statement, single malt is perfect for those wishing to try out the wonderful whiskies that come from the Miyagikyo distillery.