Tesseron Cognac Lot № 90 X.O Ovation

Alfred Tesseron is the class‑act owner of the now ever over‑performing Château Pontet‑Canet in the commune of Pauillac in the northern Médoc, Bordeaux as well as Cognac Tesseron over the Gironde river estuary and à travers le bois in Cognac. Tesseron are now bottling an increasing amount of their own production, having cultivated a certain demand for their more pure and classic style of brandy. Produce of a blend of eaux‑de‑vie from the finest terroirs in Cognac, namely Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne and Fins Bois and aged for about ten years, Lot № 90 X.O Ovation owes its freshness and purity to the vivacity of the eaux‑de‑vie, displaying an especially attractive combination of vigour and complexity. Alluring vivid gold in color with subtle and refined aromas suggestive of stick cinnamon, vanilla bean, a subtle sear on crème caramel, orange peel and (the imagination could literally run wild), at last, and overarchingly, the spirit of the grape; supple and fine on the palate, tactile with a sense of sweetness and harmony on the tongue and long remembrance of all that has come before on the finish; oh dear, this is good …

$67.50 the bottle

Delamain Grande Champagne Cognac Pale & Dry X.O.

Delamain Pale & Dry was introduced as Delamain’s standard-bearer in 1920, and today represents some 80% of the firm’s production. The label is a reproduction of a 17th century engraving of the town of Jarnac and its Château by Claude Chastillon. Named after its taste, to reflect its clean, dry purity of flavor, it is blended from a range of Cognacs averaging 25 years of age. True to its name, brilliant pale gold in color, this superb Cognac is distinguished by its remarkable delicacy and refinement; aromas suggest a wisp of vanilla from old wood, cinnamon, clove and notions of candied orange peel and raisin; carries itself elegantly, almost floats onto the tongue with a gentle richness of texture and rondeur and just a whole panoply of complex flavors that burst on the palate and then linger welcome, warm and engaging on the long flavorful finish.

$112.50 the bottle

Armagnac XO Domaine des Cassagnoles Famille Baumann

Produce of a distillate of wine of fruit from 60 hectares of vineyard cultivated sustainably and certified Haute Valeur Environnementale since 2016. Lovely amber in color with alluring and nostril-titillating aromas suggestive of dried orange peel, caramel, holiday baking spices, seasoned wood, fine winegrowing earth and, eventually, the indomitable spirit of the grape; slippery smooth entry onto the palate, then building in intensity and warmth, finishing long, contemplative and flavorful. Splendid value in fine wine brandy, too!

$37.50 the bottle

Louis Roque La Vielle Prune Réserve Brandy

Distillerie Louis Roque have been operating in Souillac in southwestern France from father to son since 1905. The pinnacle of their production — La Vieille Prune (literally "The Old Prune") — is a plum brandy produced from three varieties of fresh plums: Ente (a red plum used for Pruneau d’Agen), Mirabelle (a yellow plum most famous in the Lorraine) and Reine-Claude (a green plum grown all over France). The pits are mostly removed, the plums are crushed and the resultant juice is fermented into a plum wine. The wine is then distilled twice in a copper pot still à la Cognac. After the second distillation, the clear brandy reaches 70% alcohol by volume. The spirit is then placed in 400-liter oak casks; with time, it begins to gain color and lose its alcohol. Little by little, water is added to the spirit to further reduce its alcohol level to 42% by volume. After being aged for a minimum of four years, it is bottled with a cork, and the bottles are then waxed by hand. The finished brandy is light amber in color with deliciously complex aromas of the orchard fruit distilled and cinnamon-stick like spice from the oak aging; slippery smooth on entry, with a gentle and supple texture and then a warmth and presence and remembrance of those orchard fruits transformed along with suggestion of vanilla, orange peel and spices. Simply superb brandy!

$57.50 the bottle

Calvados du Pays d'Auge Fine Réserve Famille Dupont

Located in the very heart of the Pays d’Auge in Normandy, the Domaine Familial Louis Dupont is today run by Etienne Dupont and his son, Jérôme, 3rd and 4th generations, respectively. Since taking over in 1980, Etienne has improved the old orchards and accomplished additional new plantings to reach a total of 30 hectares, which is to say about 67 acres or 9,000 apple trees. Following the traditional methods of producing Calvados, the apples are hand-picked and rest in open wooden boxes called pallox to reach their highest aromatic peak. The juice is slowly extracted under low pressure and kept on its lees for 2 months to prevent any alteration of the cider’s flavor. The apple cider then undergoes a double distillation through a sophisticated Chalvignac copper still. The spirit is aged in 400-litre casks, made from Loire Valley oak, slightly toasted to allow natural vanillin-like aromas to further enhance the finished brandy (the Fine Réserve is aged a minimum of 3 years in these casks). Limpid golden in color with fine, complex and penetrating aromas of apple, apple crisp, pear, vanilla and caramel; round and fresh in the mouth, warming and contemplative; a superb brandy with which to while away the end of a fine evening.

$37.50 the bottle

Rey Campero Mezcal Joven Espadín

While the Maguey Azul plant may be plentiful in Tequila, its analogue Maguey Espadín reigns Rey in Oaxacan Mezcal production. Rey Campero (King of the Countryside) Espadín is excellent, whether sipped on its own or added to impart a powerful flavor to a craft cocktail. One interesting feature of this mezcal is that each batch retains a bit of unique character owing to the fact that some batches are aged. For this reason, it is important to look for the tasting notes on the bottle, which will give you more information pertaining to the batch you’re drinking. ¡ Salud !

$42.50 the 750ml bottle

Belle de Brillet Extra Liqueur Poire Williams au Cognac

This is one of France's great classic liqueurs, an original blend of Brillet Cognac and the essence of Poire Williams. Perfectly matured Bartlett pears are carefully selected, then picked at their peak of ripeness, macerated then blended with fine Brillet Cognac. A most flavorful, contemplative and, to be sure, irresistible liqueur — absolutely delicious!

$37.50 the bottle

Potocki Wódka

Potocki Wódka is created from the highest quality rye grain sourced in fields around the distillery in central Poland. Fresh from the harvest each August, the grain is milled and cooked under pressure. Yeast is then added to start fermentation yielding a low alcoholic strength mash. The mash goes through two slow distillations in a column still. It is regularly tasted until the optimal distillation level is reached. The «head» and the «tail», that is the initial and final ends of the distillate, are discarded to ensure the highest quality. The resulting distillate is then mixed with a pure distilled water to the desired strength of 40% alcohol by volume. No additives, such as citric acid or glycerine, are used. The common process of charcoal filtration is intentionally omitted as this would unnecessarily strip the vodka of its character (and flavor, mind you). We find the end result a most compelling spirit: discernably a distillate of a fine quality rye grain with an alluring warmth and breadth and purity of aroma; smooth and round in texture, a wholly satisfying, engaging and pure eaux‑de‑vie de seigle polonais. Our wine buyer's mentor, Mr. Henry, used to quip that it was the Poles who taught the Russians to make vodka (never mind he was himself Polish). Potocki Wódka lends creedence to his argument. And, no, he wasn't just whistling Górecki. The proof is in the product. We give this fine spirit our very highest recommendation.

$37.50 the bottle

Reisetbauer Axberg Vodka

Axberg is Hans Reisetbauer’s response to the premium vodkas of the world. The name is only too appropriate given the location of the distillery – Axberg. Like with his Blue Gin, Mulan wheat is sourced from the surrounding area, which is then distilled in copper pot stills. Distillation ends after the most pure and clear distillate is attained. Lastly the spirit is filtered to remove any lingering impurities. The high quality Axberg delivers is at least partially due to the use of alpine spring water with a very low calcium and sodium content. Axberg is smooth and clear with a crisp finish, which makes it lovely to sip straight. Its pureness, however, shouldn’t deter you from letting out your inner mixologist.

$52.50 the bottle

Reisetbauer Blue Gin

According to the Austrian eaux-de-vie producer, Hans Reisetbauer, there are three main criteria he strives to check when producing his esteemed Blue Gin. The first is a focus on quality over quantity; his gin is produced only once every year. The second is delicate care shown to the raw materials going into the spirit. And the third is a sense of place reflected in the final product, which can then proudly be stamped «Made in Austria». Blue Gin is crafted using Mulan wheat, which grows in the fields adjacent to the distillery. Through the initial pot-still distillation method Reisetbauer produces the Rohbrand (low wines) with around 40% alcohol by volume. The Feinbrand is attained after a second distillation, which further concentrates the product to 84% alcohol by volume. At this point spices and botanicals are added to the grain alcohol. The specifics of the recipe are of course a trade secret but Herr Reisetbauer does let us in on part of what makes up his Blue Gin. The key ingredient is, of course, juniper, then lemon zest, Angelica root, coriander seeds, turmeric and licorice and more. Herr Reisetbauer uses juniper from the year’s last harvest and likes for it to impart a spicy Mediterranean character. After a final filtration what is left is a clear and refreshing yet lively distillate, a favorite of ours here for the Martini or Vesper.

$52.50 the bottle

Dolin Vermouth de Chambéry Dry

In the 1930s, Chambéry earned the only protected designation of origin for Vermouth in France. Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry is our choice for the most perfect of dry vermouth wines for use in the classic Martini (whatever one's idea of classic might be). It is distinguished by its light, fresh, clean profile, which comes from a delicate white wine base and more than thirty Alpine herbs. From its start in 1821, Dolin Vermouth de Chambéry has been a benchmark for fine French Vermouth. Its fresh and elegant nose, subtle and complex palate is the profile that made the 1 part gin to 1 part dry vermouth Martini famous. Beyond mixed drinks, it is ideal on its own with a twist of citrus peel as an apéritif, as an accompaniment to goat cheese or pesto, Marcona almonds, or more simply with conversation or in quiet contemplation at the end of the day. In cooking, Dolin Dry Vermouth adds depth and an herbal character above and beyond that of a normal white wine.

$14.99 the bottle

View more of our selection of Vermouth wines on the Vermouth page of our website.

Carpano Vermouth Antica Formula

Truly a bartender’s choice vermouth, Carpano Antica Formula is sourced from various grape varietals coming from the Romagna, Puglia, and Sicily regions of Italy. Its rich flavor derives from those grapes being combined with ultra‑high quality botanicals — saffron from the high plains of Iran, vanilla beans from Tahiti, Madagascar, and Papua New Guinea as well as wormwood from the Alps of Piedmont and the Aosta Valley. The high quality of production relies on traditional methods of infusion and extraction, the specifics of which are entrusted to only a very few within the inner sanctum of this venerable producer.

$42.50 the 1-litre bottle

$17.50 the 375ml bottle

Amaro Montenegro Liqueur

Stanislao Cobianchi came up with the recipe for his signature Amaro in 1885. Originally named Elisivir Lungavita, meaning something along the lines of long-life elixir, it was renamed in 1896 in honor of Crown Prince Victor Emmanuel’s bride, Princess Elena of Montenegro. As the original name suggests, its founder conceived of the beverage as an elixir and thus chose an ampoule shape bottle very reminiscent of an alchemist’s potion. Amaro Montenegro continues to be produced in Bologna according to the 40‑botanical recipe concocted by Cobianchi. The recipe contains sweet, citrusy, and herbaceous ingredients. Amaro Montenegro can be enjoyed as simply or as ornately as one wishes. Some will drink it straight, others choose to serve it on the rocks with perhaps a little orange zest, and still others will opt for an Amaro based cocktail. By subbing in Amaro Montenegro for Campari, one can make a Montenegroni. Additional cocktail recipes can be found at Amaro Montenegro Mixology.

$35.00 the 750ml bottle

Everclear^® Grain Alcohol

The original grain alcohol product, Everclear enjoys tremendous brand recognition and a loyal, near cult‑status following. 100% neutral spirits distilled from grain. Everclear — it's no longer just for spiking the punch. From our former spirits specialist, Ms. Lindsay Drew: Everclear has quite a lot of uses both behind the bar and at home. Bartenders use Everclear to make custom ingredients such as tinctures. It can also be used to make house‑made liqueurs like limoncello, moonshine and flavored vodkas. It's worth mentioning that Everclear is what makes a 'Flaming Dr. Pepper' flammable (it also works as a fire starter). If you are making essential oils at home, Everclear is key in making those oils soluble. And, given the pandemic and at 190 proof (95% alcohol by volume) Everclear has obvious utility in cleansing and sanitizing. Our wine buyer uses it both at work and at home in the kitchen to sanitize surfaces, utensils, corkscrews, wine glasses, dishware, silverware, coffee cups, one could go on … Just put it in a 16‑ounce sprayer bottle and go for it.

$22.50 the 1‑liter bottle

Contratto Aperitif Liqueur

You might be familiar with that other quite popular aperitivo which also has a bit of an orange hue and label. The Contratto take on apéritif is rather a favorite of ours here with its emphasis on complexity of flavor and less overt sweetness. Alcohol, water, sugar and extracts from 28 natural botanicals: herbs, spices, roots and seeds (aloe, angelica, wormwood, safflower, cinchona, bitter orange, sweet orange, lemon, mandarin, hawthorn, cloves, cardamom, licorice, juniper, mint, rhubarb, sage, nettle and ginger to name quite a few, and more of which are kept secret), with carrot and beetroot extract for color. The liqueur is produced with a fine crushing of the botanicals with a hammer mill, then a cold extraction following the traditional Piemontese method to keep intact the characteristics of the botanicals. A hydroalcoholic solution irrigates the powders of the botanicals for about 35 days to extract the available aromatic substances. The extract is then mixed with the alcohol and sugar, refrigerated and filtered to remove all solid residues. Finally it is aged in steel tanks for about 40 days. While this fine apéritif could certainly be enjoyed neat or over ice, we suggest using it with sparkling water (or club soda), sparkling wine or both. Our winebuyer is known to quite enjoy a certain spritzer at the end of his day. We've given it a name: The Burnt Orange. It could also be called the delicious thirst‑quenching solvent for taking the edge off of the working day. And, unlike Longhorns football, it can be enjoyed in all four seasons of the year.

$24.99 the 1-litre bottle

The Burnt Orange

In a bowl-shaped (Burgundy) glass: 1 (quite) large ice cube or ice sphere, pour in 6.8 ounces (the entire contents of a 200 ml bottle) of Fever Tree Club Soda, then 4 or more ounces (depending on the sharpness of the edge of the day) Crémant de Bourgogne or other preferred dry sparkling wine, and 1½ to 2 ounces of Contratto Apéritif. Stir gently/briefly. Garnish, if you like, with a nice swath or large twist of fresh orange peel. Et voilà ! Consume with or without a sunset. Guaranteed to refresh all those who would be refreshed.

All bottles are 750ml in size and all cases are of 12/750ml bottles unless otherwise indicated. All orders subject to confirmation. All wines/spirits/merchandise subject to prior sale.

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