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Chicago Indie Spirits Awards
Reviews for 2021

December 2021 - Chicago Indie Spirits Awards

December 2021 - Chicago Indie Spirits Awards
This month's feature is the Chicago Indie Spirits Awards

Chicago Indie Spirits Awards Reviews

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Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog Cream Liqueur
94 points
$10
Best Buy
Pennsylvania Dutch
Egg Nog Cream Liqueur
Creamy almond white color. Spicy aromas and flavors of spice egg nog with nutmeg with a creamy, vibrant, sweet medium-full body and an even, appealing, long finish evoking notes of egg nog gelato, horchata, and white chocolate toffee. A richly spiced, creamy and balanced egg nog liqueur that is a delight to drink.
Awards: 2021 Chicago Indie Spirits Awards - Best Liqueur
94 points $10 Best Buy
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Date Tasted:
Western Reserve Distillers 6 Year Old Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel 20-0083
94 points
$43
Western Reserve Distillers
6 Year Old Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel 20-0083
Bright golden amber color. Aromas of violet blossom, hints of caraway, tarragon, dark chocolate, and ground ginger with a velvety, vibrant, fruity medium body and a warming, involved, long allspice, caramel, cinnamon swirl brioche, and dried cherry finish. A very nice Rye whiskey that nails the style; enjoy neat, on the rocks or in your favorite classic cocktails.
94 points $43
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Date Tasted:
Pennsylvania Dutch Pumpkin Spice Cream Liqueur
92 points
$12
Best Buy
Pennsylvania Dutch
Pumpkin Spice Cream Liqueur
Creamy orange pink color. Attractive, spicy aromas and flavors of pumpkin pie with graham cracker crust and whipped cream and gingerbread cookie with a creamy, bright, moderately sweet medium-to-full body and a tingling, complex, long finish that shows accents of pumpkin chai latte, spicy carrot cake a la mode, and banana bread. A wonderfully expressive and balanced pumpkin pie spiced cream liqueur that is sure to be a hit.
92 points $12 Best Buy
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Date Tasted:
Amrut Two Indies Rum Btl No. 9
92 points
$24
Best Buy
Amrut
Two Indies Rum Btl No. 9
Bright gold color. Inviting, funky aromas and flavors of molasses, burnt sugar, roasted mango, chocolate-orange, and sweet pea blossom with a round, lively, fruity light-to-medium body and a warming, nuanced, long finish with nuances of dark chocolate-dipped licorice and bananas foster. A rock-solid pot still-like rum that nails the style; flavorful, well-integrated, and smooth-sipping.
Awards: 2021 Chicago Indie Spirits Awards - Best Rum
92 points $24 Best Buy
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Date Tasted:
Highclere Castle Gin
92 points
$39
Highclere Castle
Gin
Clear color. Aromas and flavors of juniper jelly, lemon zest, candied ginger, cinnamon candies, coriander, and peppercorns with a round, crisp, dryish light-to-medium body and a warming, interesting, long finish with suggestions of lemon custard and coriander marmalade. A classic, boldly spiced gin that delivers a versatile flavor profile for all your cocktail needs.
92 points $39
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Date Tasted:
Tanduay 16 Year and 5 Year Double Rum
91 points
$49
Tanduay
16 Year and 5 Year Double Rum
Copper color. Aromas of brown sugar, cola, sweet lemon, raisins, and ’nilla wafer with a slightly chewy, sweet full body and a warming, medium-length cherry candies and root beer finish. A rich and candied rum that packs a wallop of flavor; great for mixed drinks.
91 points $49
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Date Tasted:
Bartender’s Trading Co. Espresso Martini Ready-To-Drink Cocktail
90 points
$12
Best Buy
Bartender’s Trading Co.
Espresso Martini Ready-To-Drink Cocktail
Brown black color. Roasted aromas and flavors of dark chocolate espresso beans, fresh brewed coffee with hazelnut cream, and honey greek yogurt with a glycerous, vibrant, fruity sweet medium-to-full body and an engaging, medium-long finish revealing accents of toffee and coffee and nut gelato. A very tasty, purely flavored and instantly appealing Black Russian.
90 points $12 Best Buy
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Date Tasted:
Amrut Deluxe Old Port Rum Barrel No. 20
90 points
$19
Best Buy
Amrut
Deluxe Old Port Rum Barrel No. 20
Dark amber color. Aromas and flavors of milk chocolate, cherry concentrate, amaretto, and hints of maple-walnut confection with a round, vibrant, dry-yet-fruity medium-full body and a warming, engaging, medium-long finish with notes of clove and chai latte. A bold, spicy rum with rich flavors of fruit, baking spices and nuts.
90 points $19 Best Buy
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Date Tasted:
Tanduay Gold Asian Rum
90 points
$19
Best Buy
Tanduay
Gold Asian Rum
Gold color. Confected aromas of ginger ale, tropical fruit candies, cherry slushie, and frozen coke with a supple, crisp, fruity medium body and a sleek, compelling, medium-length roasted nuts and caramel cream candies finish. A flavorful, candied rum that will work in lots of tropical cocktails.
90 points $19 Best Buy
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Date Tasted:
Western Reserve Distillers Vodka Batch 005
90 points
$28
Western Reserve Distillers
Vodka Batch 005
Clear color. Toasty aromas and flavors of roasted grain, nuts and coconut, pumpernickel toast, and hint of citrus and fig marmalade with a silky, bright, dry-yet-fruity medium-full body and a tingling, captivating, medium-long finish revealing notes of sunflower and spelt bread toasts and peppered radishes. A fun grain-forward, character-rich vodka for robust cocktails; should appeal to whisky drinkers.
90 points $28
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Date Tasted:
Bartender’s Trading Co. Paloma Ready-To-Drink Cocktail
89 points
$12
Best Buy
Bartender’s Trading Co.
Paloma Ready-To-Drink Cocktail
Salmon red color. Fruity aromas and flavors of ruby grapefruit pulp and zest, toffee, and candied yams with a supple, bright, off-dry medium body and a tingling, appealing, medium-long finish that presents accents of grapefruit sorbet, italian lemon ice and lemonade with extra rind, caramel cream, and pink pepper. A very tasty and balanced Paloma.
89 points $12 Best Buy
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Date Tasted:
Western Reserve Distillers Original Organic Vodka
89 points
$15
Best Buy
Western Reserve Distillers
Original Organic Vodka
Brilliant clear color. Aromas and flavors of coconut water, macadamia nougat, slate, and toasted marshmallow with a satiny, bright, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a sleek, stimulating, long finish evoking accents of sweet cream and radish. A delightfully textured vodka with a lovely hint of tropicality.
89 points $15 Best Buy
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Date Tasted:
Pennsylvania Dutch Peppermint Bark Cream Liqueur
88 points
$14
Best Buy
Pennsylvania Dutch
Peppermint Bark Cream Liqueur
Slivery straw color. Aromas and flavors of vanilla peppermint bark, sweet cream, and hint of clove with a satiny, bright, moderately sweet medium body and a sleek, medium-length finish with notes of candy cane, peppermint ice cream, and hint of cardamom and lavender. A rock solid peppermint cream liqueur that is sure to please at holiday festivities.
88 points $14 Best Buy
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Date Tasted:
Western Reserve Distillers Organic Blanco Agave Spirit
88 points
$32
Western Reserve Distillers
Organic Blanco Agave Spirit
Clear color. Aromas of butterscotch and lanolin with a lean, crisp, bone-dry light body and a tingling, breezy hints of white sugar, chamomile and minerals finish. Herbal, grassy and full of life, this brings an earthy honesty to the table.
88 points $32
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Date Tasted:
Moon’s Best Straight Rye Whiskey Batch 1 Barrel 3 Bottle 206
88 points
$45
Moon’s Best
Straight Rye Whiskey Batch 1 Barrel 3 Bottle 206
Amber color. Aromas and flavors of amarena cherries, hazelnut-chocolate spread, toasted marshmallow, vanilla-bean, nutmeg, and honey with a velvety, vibrant, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a tingling, stimulating, medium-length finish with shades of honey-corn bread, candied aniseed, and apricots in syrup. Enjoy bold aromas of candied cherries and a licorice-like finish in this atypically fruity Rye that instantly accessible.
88 points $45
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Date Tasted:
Ron Cihuatan Jade 4 Year Old White Rum
87 points
$17.99
Ron Cihuatan
'Jade' 4 Year Old White Rum
Clear color. Inviting aromas and flavors of vanilla gelato, hints of spiced corn bread, milk chocolate, and marshmallow with a velvety, vibrant, off-dry medium body and a smooth, stimulating, medium-length finish with notes of vanilla steamer and coconut cream. A creamy, vanilla-centric rum that’s silky-smooth and easy-drinking.
87 points $17.99
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Date Tasted:
Tanduay Silver Asian Rum
87 points
$19
Tanduay
Silver Asian Rum
Pale straw color. Aromas and flavors of cream soda, lemon-lime candies, tropical fruit slushie, and lemon balm with a supple, crisp, dryish light-to-medium body and a tingling, stimulating, medium-long finish with elements of pineapple candies. A fruity, tropical rum that will blend well in warm weather cocktails.
87 points $19
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Date Tasted:
Western Reserve Distillers 3 Year Old Organic Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel 2
87 points
$42
Western Reserve Distillers
3 Year Old Organic Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel 2
Golden amber color. Aromas and flavors of banana bread and hints of licorice with a supple, crisp, dry light-to-medium body and a polished, medium-length finish that shows nuances of honey oats, spiced tea, and hints of fudge. A lighter, malty bourbon that places grain flavor front-and-center.
87 points $42
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Date Tasted:
Waterford Nas Biodynamic Luna 1.1 Irish Single Malt Whiskey
87 points
$123
Waterford
Nas Biodynamic Luna 1.1 Irish Single Malt Whiskey
Gold color. Aromas of dandelion, chrysanthemum, and sourdough crisps with a lean, soft, dry light body and a medium-length raisin bran, allspice, and honey-wheat scone finish. A shy Irish Single Malt that is a nice introduction to the category.
87 points $123
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Date Tasted:
Waterford The Cuvee Nas Irish Single Malt Whiskey
86 points
$101
Waterford
The Cuvee Nas Irish Single Malt Whiskey
Gold color. Aromas and flavors of buttered sourdough, pickled sultana, and hints of coffee with a supple, lively, dry light-to-medium body and a refreshing, medium-long finish that exhibits overtones of honey, roast peach, toothsome pie crusts, and persimmon. An interesting, complex Irish Single Malt that’s a bit demure on the nose, but explodes into a fruity, flavorful spirit on the palate.
86 points $101
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Date Tasted:
Especia Pilipinas Spiced Rum
85 points
$19
Especia
Pilipinas Spiced Rum
Gold color. Aromas and flavors of pumpkin pie, maple-coconut cookies, hazelnut latte, gingerbread, and fig with a round, vibrant, moderately sweet medium body and a seamless, engaging, medium-length finish manifesting accents of egg nog. A festive spiced rum perfect for winter warmer cocktails.
85 points $19
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Date Tasted:
Ron Cihuatan Indigo 8 Year Old Aged Rum
85 points
$24.99
Ron Cihuatan
'Indigo' 8 Year Old Aged Rum
Golden amber color. Candied aromas of cream soda, cake batter, toasted marshmallow, coconut flakes, and dr. pepper with a supple, bright, off-dry medium body and an interesting, medium-length caramel, candied nuts in banana bread, and hints of espresso finish. A sweet, candied and spicy rum that’s an easy-drinker.
85 points $24.99
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Date Tasted:
Ron Cihuatan Cinabrio 12 Year Old Aged Rum
84 points
$34
Ron Cihuatan
'Cinabrio' 12 Year Old Aged Rum
Golden amber color. Aromas of cinnamon, hints of anise, maple, lime leaf, roast plantain, and pickled pineapple with a supple, off-dry medium body and a warming, involved, medium-long orange marmalade, caramelized mango, and cola finish. A complex, palate-pleasing rum that will bring dimension to cocktails.
84 points $34
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Date Tasted:
Western Reserve Distillers Organic Reposado Agave Spirit
84 points
$35
Western Reserve Distillers
Organic Reposado Agave Spirit
Gold color. Aromas of caramel corn, hints of baking spices, and cinnamon candle with an oily, crisp, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a polished, intriguing, medium-length banana candies, butterscotch sauce, and hints of red bean finish. A creamy spirit with sweet oak flavors.
84 points $35
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Date Tasted:
Western Reserve Distillers Organic Silver White Rum Batch 008
83 points
$26
Western Reserve Distillers
Organic Silver White Rum Batch 008
Clear color. Aromas of roasted nuts, bananas, hints of bourbon barrel, candied citrus, and petrol with an oily, vibrant, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a warming, charming, medium-long butterscotch and roasted apples with raisins finish. A character-rich, flavorful white rum with an American Craft philosophy in its heart.
83 points $26
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Date Tasted:
Shortcut: https://www.tastings.com/Calendar-Spirits/Review-2021-12-10-Chicago-Indie-Spirits-Awards.aspx