The holiday season is fast approaching, and that means those who entertain are stocking up their home bar carts with the latest in smooth and complex spirits to be enjoyed. For any that are planning to give their home bartender skills an upgrade in the coming months, here’s some new and soon-to-launch spirits that are especially exciting.
Martell Chanteloup XXO Cognac
Cognac is as elegant as one can get and this one is as good as it gets, a blend of 450 very old eaux-de-vie drawn from the four finest terroirs of Cognac, France: Borderies, Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne and Fins Bois. The result is a sensual amber that is as smooth as it is complex, with flavors of peach, honey, and even nutty figs, for a flavor that will capture even more beautiful essence with each and every taste. Martell Chanteloup XXO will rolling out worldwide currently, with US release coming at a date not yet announced.
Desert Door Oak-Aged Texas Sotol
Desert Door Texas Sotol is right now the only domestically produced sotol and the oak-aged variation is coming just in time for fall. This is 100-proof and aged in new American charred white oak barrels, for a taste that is spiced with notes of vanilla and cedar and cinnamon, along with an infusion of dusty cherry, beeswax, allspice, and pine nuts. It’s going to be perfect to enjoy on a chilly fall evening.
Starward Nova Australian Whisky
Starward Australian Whisky is a whisky unlike all others because it benefits from the unique climate of Australia. It’s matured in Australian red wine barrels for 3 years. The barrels are sourced from local wineries that previously held Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, which lends a lot of flavor and color to the final results, as well as a long and spicy finish.
Tod & Vixen’s Dry Gin 1651
This gin from The Vale Fox Distillery is made by macerating botanicals like juniper, angelica root and rooibos tea. This brings out their smooth but vibrant flavors for a well-balanced gin that works great in martinis.
Dewar’s 8 Year Old Caribbean Smooth Rum Cask Blended Scotch Whisky
This new expression from Dewar’s is a gorgeous blend of the Caribbean and Scotland via Caribbean Smooth, a premium 8-year-old Scotch that is double-aged and finished in Caribbean rum casks. The result is super smooth with a rather tropical feel, with notes of apple, as well as dark brown sugar and tropical fruit. As it launches in the US on October 1, it’ll be perfectly timed for holiday get togethers.
Highclere Castle Gin
This gin is from the real Downton Abbey, and has nothing to do with the TV series or movie, it’s just a rather nice gin made from botanicals around the estate. The interesting twist is that it’s got less juniper than usual, but includes oats grown around the castle so it’s really smooth.
Macallan Edition No. 5
The Macallan is as known as Scotch whisky gets, and this one is a whole new frontier as its made handpicked American oak casks. These oak casks help to create the super full flavor of this single malt that has a barley color and intense smooth flavor with notes of caramel and fresh fruit mixed with oak spices.
Boodles Gin— Rhubarb & Strawberry
Gin is a classic spirit but this one is a whole new road to travel, as it is Infused with fresh rhubarb and juicy strawberries, giving the flavor an essence that is both sweet and tart. That makes it both a great introductory gin and one that is easy to drink, on its own or in cocktails.
Rampur Double Cask Whisky
The Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky Non-Chill Filtered is beautiful expression, matured in American bourbon barrels and European oak sherry casks. It has flavors of balsamic vanilla along with caramel and dried dark fruits.
Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Premium Whiskey
This whiskey launched over the summer and is aged 7 years with a proof of 93. It’s a premium, small batch offering that is lighter bodied than Uncle Nearest’s other expressions, allowing it to be sipped by those who prefer a lower proof. This whiskey is inspired by the first African-American master distiller on record in the US, Nearest Green. For this new release, each batch is curated by a different descendant of the legendary master distiller with the back label of each bottle signed by the descendant created that batch. The first bottles that hit shelves are curated by Victoria Eady-Butler, great-great-granddaughter of Nearest.
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