95 Wine Enthusiast

Created by master distiller Brent Elliott to mark the distillery’s grand reopening, this Bourbon is the first permanent addition to the portfolio since 2006. This is a concentrated sip—even with plenty of water—showing warm, toasty vanilla, sugar cookies and buttery brioche, finishing extra-long and drying, accented by plenty of baking spice. It’s a real lip-smacker. —K.N.

92 Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute)

Hazy chartreuse yellow color. Fresh lemon zest and honey aromas with a silky fruity sweet medium-to-full body and a lemon pepper, raw sugar, lemon talc, and lemon pith finish. Great vibrancy and purity of lemon flavor. (tasted on Sep-08-2012)

93 Wine Enthusiast

Made from blue weber agave, this vodka has a distinctly fruity scent, gently plush texture, and lightly sweet flavor that hints at butterscotch. Use for drinks where a bit of sweetness is desired, like a White Russian or Espresso Martini. — Kara Newman

94 Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute)

Deep amber copper color. Aromas of cashew brittle, buttercream, leather and salty spiced nuts with a satiny, fruity medium-to-full body and a long, complex and vibrant finish with layers of dried fruits, spice, mineral, and cream vanilla. A rich and delicious bourbon that will be fantastic neat, in Manhattans, or with desserts. International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal

93 Wine Enthusiast

Pour this single-barrel Bourbon some time in advance to allow it to open up and reveal crème caramel aromatics while you eye the rich topaz color in the glass. Sweet and smooth, this whiskey finishes with dry espresso, dark chocolate and black-tea notes. Mix into classic cocktails. — K.N. (7/1/2013)

93 Malt Advocate

Straw-gold color. On the nose, sweet toffee, citrus notes, seaweed, and spice complement a powerful peat smoke infusion. In body, it is thick and oily. On the palate, a somewhat sweet maltiness up front is run over by a powerful peat smoke locomotive. Again, the whisky is enriched with citrus and pear notes, spice, and seaweed. The finish is powerful, long, and warming. The smoke lingers for minutes, if not hours. If you like your Ardbeg to go to a phenolic extreme, you will cherish this one. This big, powerful whisky makes no apologies for its Islay roots. And the fact that this whisky is bottled at 46% ABV just makes this big whisky even bigger.

93 The Whisky Advocate

A whisky so aromatic that peat lovers will likely smell an open bottle within 10 miles. On the nose there are kiwi, pine needles, fennel seeds, hot asphalt, lemon lozenges, iodine, peppery herbal notes, and briny aromas. Sweet and smoky with intense spicy heat on the palate, there’s honey, lemon, shortbread, and maltiness, though water yields sweeter citrus flavors, candied lemon, cinnamon, nutmeg, toffee, and molasses, with a finish of butterscotch, menthol, eucalyptus, and salty seaweed. Darn good.

93 The Whisky Advocate

Wild Turkey’s oldest rye release to date has a fragrant nose that offers fresh lemon, apricot, peach cobbler, strawberries, fresh grains, and plenty of heat. The well-textured palate is filled with flavorful dark chocolate, cinnamon, and Concord grape jelly, balanced nicely with chile powder and aged oak. The mid-length finish is full and tasty and has depth and balance, with vanilla frosting, cinnamon ice cream, grape, and rye spice.