1 | Spirits | $20 to $50, 1.75 L

"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.

"The no-nonsense bouquet opens up with marshmallow, light toffee and light honey. Early taste is sweet and molasses-centric, then at midpalate there’s a spiced honey flavor that gently guides you to the creamy, cake frosting finish. I liked this affable spiced rum when I first reviewed it 12 years ago and I still like it." 85-89 pts.

"The quintessential London Dry bouquet features notes of cedary juniper with subtle notes of citrus and minerals. The palate entry is creamy, smooth, substantial and bracing; tastes of lemon/orange peel add a perfect touch of astringency to the velvety texture at midpalate. Finishes round and full. A distilling masterpiece and the gin category’s benchmark." 96-100 pts.

"Deep golden amber color. Buttery caramel and golden raisin aromas. A soft entry leads to a dryish light-to-medium of honeyed grain and bread dough flavors with a delicate peppery slate accented fade."

A new vodka from the Lonestar State, truly hand-crafted in a single pot still. Double Gold at the World Spirits Competition, whose elite panel of judges included our nationally recognized Spirits Specialist Joe Congiusti.

"ABSOLUT VODKA is made exclusively from natural ingredients, and unlike other vodkas, it doesn’t contain any added sugar. In fact ABSOLUT is as pure as vodka can be. Still, that purity has a certain taste: Rich, full-bodied and complex, yet smooth and mellow with a distinct character of grain, followed by a hint of dried fruit."

"A lovely, sophisticated bourbon bouquet comprising fruity, cornmeal aromas which are followed by a red fruit scent, all underpinned by an oaky vanilla quality. Entry is reserved, gently sweet and toffee-like; the midpalate features succulent tastes of light caramel, honeywheat bread, caramel corn and toasted almond. Concludes fruity and corny. The best value American whiskey in the marketplace." Best Buy. 85-89 pts.

"The base aroma is buttered corn-on-the-cob with aeration bringing additional scents of vanilla and cinnamon. The palate entry showcases sweet breakfast cereal grain; at midpalate the corn dominates so thoroughly that you know that this could only be one of the best straight bourbons from Kentucky. Ends spirity and heated. One of America’s benchmark spirits." 90-95 pts.