|
|
Top 10 Spirits 2003
High-Profile Tipple
By Chris Rubin
Nothing
warms the body and soul in the cold winter months like fine
spirits. Whatever your tipple of choice, you'll find a suggestion
below for the perfect bottle, whether as a gift or a new
experience for yourself. These nine spirits and one fortified
wine all represent high quality, good value—and maybe
something that will be new and exciting to you.
 |
VODKA
___________________________
Ultimat, $58
A
unique vodka from Poland, Ultimat uses rye, wheat
and potatoes, fermenting and distilling them separately,
and then blending for what they consider the ultimate
in body, flavor and complexity. It's undeniably rich
and creamy in the mouth, with a hint of vanilla in
the finish. And it comes in a strikingly attractive
cobalt blue Polish crystal decanter.
|
|
GIN
___________________________
Tanqueray
No. TEN, $30
Vodka
has pretty much wiped gin off the map, but if more
people had a sip of Tanqueray's No. TEN, the tables
might be turned. Tanqueray uses fresh, whole fruit
botanicals, and it's all distilled in "Tiny Ten,"
the small batch still that lends its name to the product.
|
|
 |
COGNAC
___________________________
Pierre Ferrand Selection Des Anges $100
The
"angels' share" is the French term for the
portion that evaporates during the aging process,
and that poetic phrase is the source of the name for
this fabulous bottle. Well aged, it's subtle and delicate,
with all the flavors and aromas you'd expect in a
top quality Cognac.
|
|
ARMAGNAC
___________________________
1973 Baraillon Armagnac, $165
Cognac's
rustic cousin has its partisans, who prefer its stronger
flavors and fiery warmth. And, unlike Cognac (with
rare exceptions), Armagnacs are vintage dated in particularly
good years. 1973 was one of those, and this bottle
represents the brandy at its best.
|
|
|
CALVADOS
___________________________
Coeur de Lion Calvados Pomme Prisonniere, $80
It's
a bit of a gimmick, but there's no denying the beauty
of the apple inside ("imprisoned," as the
name says) this bottle of Calvados, the apple brandy
of Normandy. The brandy itself is first rate.
|
TEQUILA/MEZCAL
___________________________
Don Julio 1942. $125
Shaped like a leaf from the agave plant used to make
tequila, the 1942 is a top-of-the- line, limited edition
anejo bottling, named for the year Don Julio
established his first distillery. It's a personal favorite
of Steve Wallace, owner of Wally's, a man who knows
his stuff when
it comes to fermented and distilled agave juice. |
|
WHISKEY
___________________________
Midleton Very Rare, $150
A
fabulous whiskey from across the pond is no surprise
but this one's from Ireland, not Scotland. It's triple-distilled,
aged and blended by John Jameson & Sons Master
Distiller, who signs every bottle. One sip will forever
change the way you think of Irish whiskey.
|
|
|
PORT
___________________________
Warre's Port Otima, 10 Year Old Tawny, $26
A
perfect gift, whether for the Port lover or the Port
novice. The 500 ml bottle is lovely, and the contents,
while priced at entry level, are far more sophisticated.
|
|
|
RUM
___________________________
Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Anõs, $40
How
many rums do you find that have been aged for more
than 20 years? This Guatemalan product is dark, rich
and full, with just a hint of sweetness.
|
|
GRAPPA
___________________________
Araujo Grappa (Pomace of Cabernet Sauvignon), $100
Maybe
it takes a California winery to make a delicious,
relatively smooth grappa, and that's what Araujo does
with cabernet grapes.
|
 More Spirit Reviews
All Top
10 Lists
Sparkling Wine
and Champagne Reviews
| P120604 |
(Updated:
03/28/11 BH) |
|
|
|
|
