Chauffe Coeur
Brun Rhum Agricole
(Martinique)
47% abv, $34.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The opening bouquet brims with layers of toffee scents, dry oloroso sherry and fresh honey; aeration stimulates smells of dark caramel, grassy cane, winter holiday spices, and marzipan. The palate entry is silky, zesty, and spicy; by midpalate the flavor includes pipe tobacco, toffee, cocoa butter, and honey. Concludes bittersweet, cocoa-like, and sherried. A Martinique classic. Best Buy.

Murray McDavid Guyana Rum
1991
Distilled at Uitvlught-Port Morant
Syrah Wine Cask Finish
(Guyana)
46% abv, $71./Liter
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
A sophisticated rum perfume that shows clear influences of the Syrah. The palate entry is satiny, medium-sweet and pear-like; the midpalate displays flavors of baked pear, pineapple and grapes that meld to honey sweet tastes of cane spirit. Concludes medium-sweet, very smooth and cake-like.

Chantal Comte Distillerie
Depaz Plantation de la Montagne
Pelée X.O. Rhum Vieux Agricole
(Martinique)
45% abv, $120.
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
A wonderful bouquet full of enticing scents such as cigar box, paraffin, sautéed butter, cinnamon, honey, Sherry, and marshmallow. The palate entry is silky and intensely honeyed; the midpalate flavor displays tastes of vanilla extract, cinnamon, brown sugar and orange zest. The aftertaste is long, concentrated, semisweet, oaky and satiny. Delicious.

Flor de Caña
Centenario Gold
18 Years Old Rum
(Nicaragua)
40% abv, $30.
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
The bouquet offers appealing fragrances of oak, medium-sweet cane, escarole, pine cone and new leather. The palate entry is long and medium-sweet; at midpalate finely layered tastes of cocoa butter, palm oil, oaky vanilla, light honey and almond paste enthrall the taste buds. Concludes silky smooth, mildly sweet and honey-like.

Partida Reposado
100% Agave Tequila
NOM-1454-CRT
(Mexico)
40% abv, $55.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The wonderful bouquet combines elegant scents of sawdust, pine and vegetal agave with aromas of old leather, cigarette ash and pimento. The palate entry is delicate and peppery; midpalate has a honey-like core flavor with supplemental tastes of cocoa, milk chocolate and chili pepper. The finish is long and gently sweet. The new benchmark for reposados.

Cesar Monterrey
Anejo Reserva
100% Agave Tequila
NOM-1486 CRT
(Mexico)
40% abv, $75.
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
The aroma is zesty, acutely peppery and briny with scents of new oak, tobacco leaf and light honey. The palate entry is long, sweet, oaky and slightly honeyed; the midpalate stage boasts a sturdy agave sweetness. Finishes in a honeyed, almost Sherry-like manner that's highly charming.

Corzo Reposado
100% Agave Tequila
NOM-1487 CRT
(Mexico)
40% abv, $50.
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
The bouquet features zesty aromas of green chili peppers and asparagus with touches of vanilla/oak, palm oil and almonds. The palate entry is sweetish and oaky; at midpalate a delicious buttery taste underpins flavors of oak, light spice and sautéed almond. Finish is elegant, long and satiny.

El Diamante del Cielo
Blanco
100% Agave Tequila
NOM-1472-CRT
(Mexico)
40% abv, $45.
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
The opening bouquet is vegetal and peppery; following aeration the aroma smells of fiber and cotton, with traces of parchment and palm oil. The initial dry tastes at palate entry remind me of fiber; at midpalate the flavor turns sweeter and more peppery. The finish shows touches of smoke and oil, with a sweet tail end.

Frida Kahlo
Blanco
100% Agave Tequila
NOM-1479 CRT
(Mexico)
40% abv, $50.

SUPERB / Highly Recommended
The bouquet emits irresistible scents of tar, tobacco leaf and sea salt. At the palate entry a wave of road tar washes across the tip of the tongue, followed by a smoky taste of ash; the midpalate highlights a sweeter side of agave juice that rides atop the tar/smoke/tobacco. Finishes semisweet and a bit industrial-tasting.