Buy It Now
Our Buy It Now category digests wine and spirits which you can purchase directly through one of our affiliates. You’ll find the “buy it now” link after the rating and price of the product.
We did a rare experiment tonight and put Gran Gala to blind test vs. the liqueur it’s designed to imitate: Grand Marnier. This Italian liqueur even has the red ribbon and circular wax seal, just like Grand Marnier, and it promises it’s blended from “triple orange essence from the choicest oranges from Sicily.” So, how’d…
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Few liquor brands are as heralded as Jack Daniel’s, but it’s never been a favorite of mine. Too harsh for sipping and lacking character even in a Coke, Jack has just not been a big winner for me. And not for lack of trying. You can’t go to a bar or a party without being…
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Patron enthusiasts, you’re on notice: There’s better stuff out there… but yes, it will cost you. Tonala is a pottery town in the state of Jalisco… and they also turn out a mighty fine tequila, too. Tonala’s Añejo is a subtle, not-overly-oaky golden amber sipper, as smooth a tequila as I can remember. With just…
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You’ll know it by the little horse and rider on the stopper and the grenade-shaped bottle. At $45 a bottle, you’ll often find this in the lockup at your local liquor store. As bourbons go, it’s unique: All bottles are single-barrel bottlings, which means that a glass will vary from state to state and store…
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Finally got to sample Partida’s new, full line of tequilas today. Color me impressed. No, seriously. Here’s how they shake out. Tequila Partida Blanco (2007) – This is a peppery but very clean silver tequila, perfect for mixing and even for sipping straight in a pinch. Among the best tequilas I’ve tried. A- / $40 [BUY…
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The name may sound like a gangsta rapper, but this premium gin isn’t something you’ll want to be mixing with OJ. Made in France and distilled from grapes, this is not your father’s Tanqueray. The juniper flavor, a requirement of all gins, is there, but it’s substantially mellowed in G’Vine. In fact it’s lemon peel…
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I love the Bulleit guys. I have honestly never met friendlier people in the course of my travels. Gracious, honest, and plain spoken, I’d drink Bulleit even if it tasted like swill just because I think it would make me a better person. Fortunately, Bulleit’s “Frontier Whiskey” is plenty good going down the hatch. Bulleit…
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This is a classic sipping bourbon. Once you get through the alcoholic heat (splash some water in the glass; at 100 proof it needs it), you’ll find a rich, oaky flavor, some maple syrup, some vanilla, and a nicely sweet finish. The vague herbal notes are interesting, and picking them out — sage? rosemary? it’s…
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God bless Sobieski Vodka. The company’s goal is to “overthrow overpriced vodka.” Sobieski comes at a suggested retail price of $11, and if you can find it, you can probably get for even less. So, how’s it tasted? Distilled in Poland from rye, it had the most interesting flavor of the three vodkas I tried,…
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I got a little misty eyed when I heard about Blue Ice Vodka: It’s an old-fashioned spirit distilled from potatoes. It’s also made right here in the U. S. of A., in, where else, Idaho. Spuds give Blue Ice a strong, traditional flavor. If I didn’t know better I’d think I was drinking Russian vodka.…
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