2007 Spirit Releases

The Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1969
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Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Scotland $750
www.theglenlivet.com

A bottle of The Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1969 costs about as much as a plane ticket to visit Scotland. However, after spending nearly 40 years aging in casks, it is much smoother than the 14-hour flight would be. Master Distiller Jim Cryle hand-selected each of the ten casks, and the resulting spirit features a velvety texture with flavors of sweet orange and a touch of oak. The woodsy flavor is accompanied by aromas of orange marmalade and ripened fruits, with supporting acts of spices and hazelnut. A splash of water will bring out the natural flavors and aromas acquired after years of maturing in the mountains of Scotland. Thankfully, a 50.8% alcohol content will quickly wash away any memories of how much you actually spent on this bottle of Scotch whisky.

Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka
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Vodka; California $29
www.charbay.com

Instead of lamenting about fruit-flavored vodkas not tasting like real fruit, Marko Karakasevic did something about it, creating Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka. Each year, tree-ripened Meyer lemons are selected and crushed to form the extraction that is integrated into the vodka. The Meyer lemons are a hybrid of a standard lemon and a mandarin orange, providing a smooth initial flavor followed by a subtle zing. Enjoy this vodka on the rocks, in a tart Charbay Meyer Lemon Drop, or use it to add a little extra zing to your next Bloody Mary.

Martin Miller's London Dry Gin
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Gin; England and Iceland $28
www.millersgin.com

After a dispiriting dinner party experiment involving some lackluster gins, antique aficionado Martin Miller resolved to make a classic artisanal gin. He began by choosing an antique still, known as “Grandma,” created by John Dore & Company in 1903.  He then carefully selected the botanical elements to be distilled: juniper, cassia bark, Florentine Iris and coriander. The distillate is then shipped to Iceland, where it is blended with glacial water that’s been filtered through lava formations.  The smooth, complex gin displays flavors of citrus, juniper and peppercorn, and makes an excellent martini.

The Macallan Fine Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 17 Years
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Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Scotland $120
www.themacallan.com

Created in small, uniquely shaped stills designed to concentrate the flavor, only the finest distilled spirit (typically 16% or less) is selected to continue in the Macallan Scotch process. After selection, the spirit is triple aged in European oak casks that lend flavors of dried fruits, spice and chocolate orange, American casks that add notes of lemon, coconut and toffee, and bourbon-seasoned American casks that contribute floral aromas and flavors of fruit and vanilla. The end result is smooth, with a lingering finish of orange zest. Enjoy it straight.

Square One Organic Vodka
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Vodka; California $33
www.squareonevodka.com

Eco-chic invaded the spirits world in 2006 with this environmentally friendly organic vodka. Allison Evanow, founder of the primarily female-run operation, wanted to create a vodka that reflected the social consciousness she and her friends practice in everyday life, leading to the birth of Square One. Made from 100% organic rye and water from the Snake River watershed, even Square One's fermentation process is entirely organic. The result is a smooth vodka whose taste will appeal to more than just tree-huggers.

Highland Park 18 Year Old
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Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Scotland $80
www.highlandpark.co.uk

Highland Park's new bottle design takes cues from Celtic, Gaelic, Pictish and Viking art styles. Don't expect anything too strange, though, as most of the influence can be seen in the new "h" logo etched on the new oval-like bottle. While the packaging may be updated, the tradition of Scotch whisky-making at Highland Park has been around since 1798. The 18-year-old Single Malt shown here falls in the middle of five other ages. It offers a toffee-like sweetness and a mouthwatering, smoky finish.

Partida Blanco Tequila
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Tequila; Mexico $50
www.partida.com

In 2001, marketer and brand builder Gary Shansby (who worked with Famous Amos Cookies and Vitamin Water) decided to build a new premium spirit brand. He came upon the Partida family's 5,000-acre blue agave estate in Jalisco, Mexico, and after an extensive three-year development process, the Partida Añejo, Reposado and Blanco tequilas were born. The latter is floral with notes of citrus, fresh herbs and tropical fruit. It is well-balanced with a natural, pure agave flavor that lingers gently on the palate.

GranGala Liqueur
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Orange Liqueur; Italy $20
www.grangala.com

From Trieste, Italy, comes this liqueur made from sweet Sicilian orange peels infused with Italian V.S.O.P Stock '84 brandy. This produces a velvety flavor that combines the sweet succulence of the orange peels with the brandy's silky, complex texture. It can be included in a variety of cocktails (like margaritas), but GranGala is frequently used for cooking food and desserts as well.

Cabana Cachaça
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Cachaça Brazilian Rum; Brazil $35
www.cabanacachaca.com

Like all cachaças, Cabana is a rum made from pressed sugarcane, but its double distillation process in copper pot stills sets it apart from the rest. This assures a pure spirit and limits the amount of undesirable alcoholic compounds for optimum palatability. In addition to being the key ingredient in the Caipirinha and other tropical cocktails, Cabana can also be enjoyed on the rocks or in certain martinis instead of vodka. Visit Cabana's website for cocktail recipes.