United States
Nicolas-Jay 2016 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 750 mL
Black cherry and plum lead, accented by violet, dried herbs and bay laurel. The palate is dense and focused, with brilliant red and black fruit framed by impressive tannins and racy acidity. Olive, savoury herbs and a saline edge bring definition through the middle. The finish is long and energetic, retaining bright fruit, mineral tension and a composed, structured feel.
Scholium Project 2014 The Sylphs Guman Vineyard Chardonnay 750 mL
Full and rounded, the palate is disciplined rather than overtly fruity, with layered secondary and tertiary character carrying through its considerable length. The texture is broad yet controlled, shaped by subtle tannic grip and an unhurried sense of development. Complexity builds gradually across the middle. The finish remains balanced and quietly persistent, leaving savoury, mature detail rather than simple sweetness.
Ashes & Diamonds 2015 Grand Vin No. 2 A&D Vineyard Oak Knoll Red Blend 750 mL
Fresh red and blue fruit lead with measured spice and herbal tones. The palate favours finesse over weight, combining supple berry fruit with bright acidity and a poised, elegant texture. Subtle savoury depth emerges through the middle while fine tannins keep the blend composed. The finish is persistent and balanced, returning to red fruit, herbs and restrained oak detail.
Ashes & Diamonds 2017 Cabernet Franc No. 4 Napa Valley 750 mL
Red cherry and raspberry open with violet, bay leaf, graphite and crushed rock. The palate is medium-bodied and naturally restrained, balancing bright fruit with fresh acidity, light tannins and an earthy herbal line. Subtle power builds without sacrificing aromatic finesse. The finish is clean and mineral, lingering on red fruit, dried herbs and cool stony detail.
Signorello Estate 2004 Padrone Napa Valley Red Blend 750 mL
Cedar and tobacco frame plum, blackberry and dark cherry, with floral, peppery and coriander notes adding lift. The palate is rich, round and full-bodied, its concentrated fruit carried by smooth-grained tannins and a clear mineral thread. Earthy and coffee-toned detail builds through the middle. The finish is long and generous, returning to dark fruit, spice and savoury oak.
Reservoir Distillery Hunter & Scott Virginia Bourbon
Warm caramel and vanilla lead a generous aroma, with toasted grain, orange peel and baking spice adding lift. The palate is smooth and balanced, combining rounded corn sweetness with rye-derived spice and a firm but measured oak frame. A subtle cocoa note appears through the middle before the texture turns dry and composed. The finish is warming and persistent. Serve neat, over a large cube, or in an Old Fashioned.
Kings County Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey 375 mL
Corn, hay and peppery spice shape a direct, aromatic opening. The palate is richly textured, bringing cinnamon, dark chocolate and molasses into balance with toasted oak and firm barrel spice. A high-malt grain character keeps the sweetness structured, while the finish is warm, deep and persistent. Serve neat, with a little water, or in a restrained Old Fashioned.
Ground Breaker 99 Light Gluten-Free Lager Tall Can
Clean and crisp, with a light malt centre and a measured hop edge. The palate stays lean and refreshing, offering gentle grain sweetness, a faint citrus lift and lively carbonation before a dry, tidy finish. Its modest flavour intensity is deliberate rather than thin, making it an easy, well-balanced lager for warm afternoons, casual meals or simple snacks. Serve well chilled.
Little Book Chapter 7 In Retrospect Blended American Whiskey
Caramel, vanilla and mature oak lead a layered American whiskey blend, followed by baked apple, dark fruit and a quiet thread of smoke. Rye spice and toasted nuts give the palate movement, while older whiskey components add leather and firm wood structure. The finish is warm and persistent, balancing brown sugar with dry oak and spice. Pour neat, add a few drops of water, or serve beside roasted pecans.
Three Magnets Old Skook English Barleywine 473 mL
Caramel and vanilla lead into a concentrated palate of fig, plum and raisin, supported by toast, biscuit and a light sherry-like depth. The texture is smooth and full without losing definition, while a modest hop bitterness keeps the rich malt and dark-fruit sweetness in check. Toffee and a gentle warming note linger through the finish. Serve cool in a small glass with blue cheese, roast beef, fruitcake or pecan tart.
Three Magnets More Reverb American IPA 473 mL
A mellow, balanced American IPA with grassy and pine-led hops over a lightly biscuity malt base. The palate is fresh and measured rather than aggressively aromatic, with soft carbonation, a subtle mineral edge and restrained bitterness carrying the finish. Its deeper golden-rust colour hints at a little more malt presence than a very pale IPA. Serve cool with grilled chicken, fish tacos, sharp cheddar or herb-forward dishes.
Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Apricot and ripe pear lead the aroma, followed by roasted grain, vanilla and gentle baking spice. The palate is smooth and approachable, with charred American oak bringing structure beneath the fruit and a light caramel sweetness rounding the centre. A measured pepper note and dry oak carry the finish without becoming severe. Serve neat, over a single large cube, or in a restrained Manhattan or Old Fashioned.
St. George Bruto Americano
Vibrant citrus leads the aroma, backed by cinnamon, sandalwood and fresh fir. The palate opens with decisive gentian bitterness before moving into an herbaceous, woodsy centre shaped by Seville orange, balsam fir and California buckthorn. Light, dry and layered rather than sweet, it closes with a lingering bitter-citrus finish. Serve over ice with soda and orange, or use in a Negroni, Americano or spritz for a distinctly botanical edge.
Rebel 100 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
A sweet opening aroma gives way to a fuller, more forceful palate, with caramel and vanilla at the centre. Wheat softens the grain profile, but the higher proof brings clear warmth and definition rather than simple sweetness. The finish turns dry, leaving caramelized sugar, vanilla and gentle spice behind. Serve neat, with a few drops of water or over a large cube; it also has enough structure for an Old Fashioned or a bourbon-forward Manhattan.
Logsdon Farmhouse Ales Szech ‘n Brett Saison 750 mL
Lemon and peach lead the aroma, joined by dried apricot, white flowers and a distinctive thread of earthy peppercorn. The palate is light and highly effervescent, with Brettanomyces adding dry hay and gentle farmhouse funk rather than heaviness. A firm, spicy finish keeps the fruit bright and refreshing. Serve cool with roast chicken, grilled sausages, washed-rind cheese or Sichuan dishes that echo its peppery lift.
Kings County Distillery Moonshine 375 mL
Bright and grain-led, with sweet corn at the centre and a clean malted-barley edge. The unaged style keeps the spirit vivid and direct, while careful distillation gives the palate a smooth, polished texture and a clear, warming finish. Serve chilled, over a large cube or in a spirit-forward cocktail; it also works well in a savoury Martini-style drink with dry vermouth and olive brine.
Jim Beam White Label Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Half Bottle
Golden amber in the glass, with light floral notes, citrus, vanilla and spice over a gently toasted grain character. The palate is medium-bodied and approachable, moving through caramel and vanilla before oak and char bring a clean, balanced finish. Serve neat, over ice or lengthened with soda; its easygoing sweetness and measured spice also work well in a classic whiskey sour or highball.
Jim Beam Old Tub Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
Floral honey, oak and clove open the aroma, sharpened by lemon and orange zest. The palate is warm and full, bringing brown spice, caramel and grain together with a fresh citrus accent, while the unfiltered style gives the texture satisfying presence. Serve neat, with a splash of water or over a large cube; it also has the structure for an Old Fashioned or whiskey sour.
Hopworks Abominable Winter Ale
Caramel malt gives the palate a rounded, toasty core, framed by spicy hops and a clear citrus lift. It is generous without feeling heavy, with firm bitterness bringing structure and leaving the finish fresh, dry and gently resinous. Serve well chilled with roast pork, smoked cheddar, grilled mushrooms or a winter stew; the balance of malt richness and bright hops handles deeply savoury flavours with ease.
Everclear 151 Proof Grain Alcohol
Clean, neutral and deliberately understated, this high-proof grain spirit is designed to carry other flavours rather than impose its own. Its clear, dry profile makes it particularly effective for measured cocktail use, house-made liqueurs, extracts and fruit or botanical infusions. Treat it as a concentrated ingredient rather than a sipping spirit, dilute carefully, and use a restrained hand when building drinks.