1797 | Spirits, $20 to $50 | Page 5

"First aromas make me think peaches and blood oranges; later sniffings detect cotton candy and fabric. The gently fruity entry taste pleases the taste buds; at midpalate the peach component becomes more apparent as the orange element recedes. Finishes herbal, slightly honeyed, and more bittersweet than flat out sweet. Best Buy." 85-89 pts.

"Aroma includes honey, sherry, dried fruit, spearmint and nougat, black tea, cocoa butter and tropical fruit. Palate offers bittersweet chocolate, brown sugar, honey-coated peanuts, melon, Sherry and nougat. A modern-day classic. Best Buy." 96-100 pts.

"Rich, amber color. Malty, caramel aromas have a sour cream pastry edge. A round, rich entry leads to an off-dry medium-to full-bodied palate with sweet toffee, brown spices, leather, and robust exotic peppercorns. Finishes with a long sherried fade of caramel, pepper, and salty roasted nuts."

"The bouquet features charred paper smells of toasted walnuts, roasted chestnuts, paraffin, cardboard, parchment, dry grain and herbs. Entry is grainy sweet and moderately oily; the midpalate stage is loaded with grainy breakfast cereal flavors and, at times, even comes off like oatmeal. Ends well on an oily, satiny note." 85-89 pts.

"A bright nose suggestive of ripe lemon zest. The palate is clean with fresh lemon notes and subtle fruitiness, indicative of the floral zestiness of the fruit"

"Clear as rainwater. The bouquet doesn’t reach up and grab you as much as it seduces you with gentle waves of mild spirit and grainy richness. The palate entry offers mild spiciness and cereal sweetness. Finishes marvelously long, doughy, round, subtly citrusy and moderately sweet. Classy, complex and multilayered." 90-95 pts.

"Clear. Polished aromas of fresh citrus, herbal juniper, flower petal and cucumber follow through on bright, silky entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body with violet, lavender, and pink peppercorn notes resonating brightly. Finishes with a delicate sweet citrus custard pastry, spice, potpourri, and mineral fade all in fine balance. A delightfully fruity, floral nouveau gin for artisan cocktails."

"Chocolate-covered crushed hazelnuts and almonds aromas with a deft touch of mint and coconut. A rich, satiny entry leads to a plush, moderately sweet medium-full body of toasted coconut, delicate marzipan, mint leaf, and creamy nougat flavors. Finishes effortlessly with roasted walnuts and a breath of whisky. Remarkable texture and smoothness. A classic cream liqueur."

"The first sniffings unearth a soft, slightly sour and vegetal aroma; more time adds minor scents of ash and unsmoked cigarette. The bittersweet palate entry taste flashes on cocoa bean and sap; at midpalate toasty, sooty flavors of tobacco leaf, wood smoke, wood resin and vanilla are found. Ends up semisweet, succulent and roughly spirity." 85-89 pts.