Spirits of the Month.

Summer Spirits: Vodka, Tequila, Rum, & Scotch.

These are the spirits that we are featuring for the summer season. Please stop in or call to see our entire collection. We carry many unique brands.

Roth Vodka
For those who thought vodka has gone about as far as it can go, think again. It's just gone further into a whole other alcohol segment, sort of. Beam Estates, A Fortune Brands subsidiary known for California Wines such as Clos du Bois, Geyser Peak and Buena Vista Carneros, has just launched Roth Vodka, a California vodka distilled from 100 percent California wine grapes.

Corzo Tequila
Aged in small white oak barrels for additional smoothness and flavor, Corzo Reposado combines the elegance of Corzo Silver with hints of oak and honey. To best savor the full flavor of this carefully crafted tequila, we recommend sipping it neat.

Pyrat Rum
Whatever you may say about Pyrat Rums, one thing is certain - nobody presents their product better. Whether you've acquired their top-of-the-line Cask 23, or if you've selected their more affordable XO Reserve, in either case you get a glorious handblown bottle - complete with cork, ribbons, and a medallion of Hoti (the god of bartenders.) This is how rum was meant to be packaged, and I've yet to find another that comes even close.

I haven't had the opportunity to taste Cask 23 and XO Reserve side-by-side, but it strikes me that they're extremely similar (excepting, of course, the phenominal price difference.) Like Cask 23, XO Reserve smells sweet and musky. When drinking it neat, it has a slight heaviness as it tingles across the tongue. But it's on the rocks that this rum truly blooms, transforming the subdued heaviness into a sharper, almost citrusy sensation.

If you're a fan of rum&cokes, Pyrat XO Reserve might be a nice trade-up for you. When served on ice, its sweetness is very reminiscent of rum&cokes, but more complex and "grown up."

Bunnahabhain Single Malt Scotch
Bunnahabhain has been operating as a distillery since 1881. They currently produce a modest range of 12 year old, 18 year old, and 25 year old with a couple of Special Malts the 1971 vintage and the Pedro Ximenex Finish. There are others around at specialist retailers. At this point I've tried the 12, 18 and 25 year olds. Bunnahabhain is an unusual Islay Malt. Water is an important component in the flavouring of Malt Whisky. Islay is a heavily peated area so as a general rule Islay malts are very peaty (almost smoky) in smell and taste. If you don't like peat you tend not to like Islay Malts. Indeed Islay Malts generally tend to be a bit of an acquired taste. I, personally, think they are great. Bunnahabhain is different. All its' Water is Margedale Spring water. It comes through rock, limestone, and is piped to the distillery. Consequently it is much less peaty than other Islay Malts. There is a peatyness about it but it is only faint smell, making it a much more palatable whisky and a nice introduction to Malts more generally.