welcome to the fifty best spirits of 2006

                 Presents

Page 4  - RUM, TEQUILA  & GIN

Best Rum     Best Cigars    Best Wines    Best Cheeses

Best Champagne Cocktails     Toronto Restaurants    Zurich Restaurants

Cognac / Armagnac  |  Scotch Whisky  |   American & Canadian Whiskey  |  Vodka  |  Liqueurs

Depaz Blue Cane
Rhum Agricole
(Martinique; Kobrand Corporation, New York, NY)
45% abv,  $42. 
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The compellingly complex and multilayered bouquet includes fragrances of nutmeg, oak, wet grass, rubber pencil eraser, white pepper and carnations. The palate entry has flavors of herbs, caney sweetness and flower garden; the midpalate features elements of smoke, tobacco leaf, black pepper, cinnamon, vanilla bean, nut paste and honey. Stupendous.

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English Harbour
5-Year-Old Aged Antigua Rum
(Antigua; Preiss Imports, Ramona, CA)
40% abv,  $26. 
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The bouquet sparkles with notes of bark, oak, brown sugar, bacon fat, sautéed banana and maple. The palate entry is creamy, toffee- like and silky; the midpalate offers flavors of p a s t r y, chocolate fudge, nougat, chestnut and honey. Finishes harmoniously with the sweet flavor gracefully melded to the texture. A perfect oakaged molasses rum. Best Buy

Rhum Clement Cuvée Homère Rhum
Vieux Agricole Hors d’Age
(Martinique; Clement USA Inc., New York, NY)
44% abv,  $85. 
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The bouquet is wonderfully nutty and buttery with scents of black pepper and potent spirit. The palate entry is delicate, compellingly oily and spicy; the midpalate showcases the oak and the sugarcane in perfect balance. Finishes refined, world-class and slightly honeyed.

Cuba Libre
21-Year-Old
El Dorado Demerara Rum
(Guyana; Demerara Distillers (USA) Inc., Miami, FL)
40% abv,  $100. 
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
Aeration allows aromas of oak, winter holiday spice and vanilla cake frosting to emerge. Supple palate entry, moderately honeyed; midpalate highlights include the buttery/ creamy texture and tastes of cocoa, fiber, ash and beans. Sophisticated and world-class.

Rhum J.M. Réserve
Spéciale Rhum Agicole
(Martinique; Clement USA, New York, NY)
45% abv,  $50. 
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
The first nosing passes find intensely grassy-vegetal notes; following aeration delicate notes of Christmas spices and treacle are added. The palate entry is semisweet, properly grassy and just a bit spicy; by midpalate the oak emerges and eclipses the spice and cane, giving the taste profile a vanilla-like succulence. Concludes elegantly and sweetly.

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1800 Colección
100% Agave Añejo Tequila
(Mexico; Jose Cuervo International, New York, NY)
40% abv,  $1,800. 
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
An extra aged Tequila. The many aromatic levels in this bouquet feature notes of asparagus, dill, pickle brine, slate, vinyl and fresh herbs. The palate entry is mildly sweet in an oaky- woody, slightly smoky-pipe tobacco manner; at midpalate the off-dry taste features deep herbal, vegetal and spice flavors. Ends dry and complex.

Don Julio Blanco
100% Blue Agave
NOM 1449 CRT
(Mexico; Diageo Americas, Stamford, CT)
40% abv,  $50. 
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
This is how blanco Tequila should smell with unadorned, raw, but fetching peppery/dill-like aromas, scents of lanolin, palm oil, sand, minerals and slate. The palate entry is semidry, intensely sap-like and honeyed; at mid- palate the taste profile displays a satiny texture and a robust, herbal, mildly salty flavor.

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Plymouth
English Gin
(England; Absolut Spirits Co., New York, NY)
41.2% abv,  $23. 
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The full-bodied, spicy aroma offers delicate notes of juniper berry oil, citrus, orris, coriander and caraway seed. Palate entry is mildly peppery, floral and fruity; at midpalate the flavor profile focuses more on oils and juniper. A unique and great gin.
Best Buy.

Tanqueray
London Dry Gin
(England; Diageo North America, Norwalk, CT)
47.3% abv,  $22. 
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The quintessential London Dry bouquet features notes of cedary juniper with subtle notes of citrus and minerals. The palate entry is creamy, smooth, substantial and bracing; tastes of lemon/orange peel add a perfect touch of astringency to the velvety texture at midpalate. Finishes round and full. A distilling masterpiece and the gin category’s benchmark. Best Buy.

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Cognac / Armagnac  |  Scotch Whisky

American & Canadian Whiskey  |  Vodka  |  Liqueurs

Best Spirits of 2005   |   Best Spirits of 2006

Revised: 01/15/08.
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