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Ultra-Premium Spirits

These favorites could have you challenging the moderation theory

Updated:

January 24, 2022
A collection of vodka, rums, tequilas, and other spirits.
Ultra-premium spirits Jon Whittle

As we move into the new year, it’s time to celebrate with a mix of new spirits and a few classic favorites. Straight up, on the rocks, or in a legendary cocktail such as Ernest Hemingway’s favorite lime daiquiri, it’s hard to miss with any of these.

Our Rum Picks

Grander Panama Rum

Grander Panama Rum

Grander Panama Rum is a single-origin product that is produced in the Las Cabras distillery in Herrera, Panama, using molasses produced only from locally grown sugar cane, a proprietary yeast strain, local water and barrel aging, nothing more. Jon Whittle
Bacardi Reserva Ocho Años

Bacardi Reserva Ocho Años

Bacardi Reserva Ocho Años is a rare, ­limited-edition rum blend that is barrel-aged from eight to 12 years in American oak barrels before receiving an additional three months in Oloroso sherry casks. This imparts a smooth, velvety texture, deep mahogany color, and tasting notes of caramel, vanilla, orange and walnut. Jon Whittle
Frigate Reserve Rum

Frigate Reserve Rum

With the iconic frigatebird as its logo, Frigate Reserve Rum was born in the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas, and is made to sip with good friends after a day offshore. Available in four ages ranging from eight to 21 years, Frigate embodies the spirit of fine rums from the Caribbean and Central America. Jon Whittle
Papa’s Pilar Spanish Sherry Cask

Papa’s Pilar Spanish Sherry Cask

Papa’s Pilar Spanish Sherry Cask is billed as an ultra-premium 86-proof rum aged in Spanish Oloroso casks, which gives it a slightly sweet, uniquely complex flavor and unparalleled smooth finish. Papa Hemingway would be proud. Jon Whittle
Flor De Caña 25-Year Añejo Rum

Flor De Caña 25-Year Añejo Rum

Named 2017 Best Rum of the Year by the International Rum Conference in Madrid, Spain, this is an ultrapremium, elegant spirit. The aroma integrates vanilla, wood and dark cocoa notes, which mingle smoothly with fruity, nutty and caramel palate notes. Jon Whittle
Ron Zacapa XO Añejo Rum

Ron Zacapa XO Añejo Rum

Crafted in the highlands of Guatemala, Ron Zacapa develops its complex flavor and character in part due to its location, 6,900 feet above sea level. XO is a blend of rums from 6 to 25 years old, with an extra aging step in ex-French cognac oak barrels. The taste is perfectly balanced and very smooth. Jon Whittle
Mount Gay XO Barbados Rum

Mount Gay XO Barbados Rum

An opulent blend of the finest spirits, which are aged from eight to 15 years, XO uses older barrels of double pot distillates that have softened the once-crisp notes into a subtler balance. This offers a true flavor of a top-shelf Caribbean rum. Jon Whittle

Our Tequila Picks

Cincoro Añejo Tequila

Cincoro Añejo Tequila

Cincoro Añejo Tequila is aged 24 to 28 months, and embodies intricate tastes of agave, maple and dark chocolate, with a complex finish. It’s made from 100 percent Weber blue agave grown in the highlands and lowlands around Jalisco, Mexico, which amplifies its unique flavor. Jon Whittle
Herradura Ultra Añejo Tequila

Herradura Ultra Añejo Tequila

This premium tequila is made using a base of Herradura Añejo blended with Extra Añejo, which has been barrel-aged for up to 49 months. Agave nectar is added prior to filtering, giving Ultra Añejo its full-bodied yet smooth taste, with flavors of caramel, honey and vanilla. Jon Whittle
Gran Patron Piedra

Gran Patron Piedra

This premium tequila is made from the finest 100 percent Weber blue agave, and is crafted using the centuries-old tahona process at the famed Hacienda Patrón distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. It is aged in a combination of French Limousin and new American oak barrels for four years. The taste is sweet yet complex, with notes of agave, vanilla and mushroom. Jon Whittle

Our Bourbon and Whiskey Picks

Walker’s Cay Bourbon

Walker’s Cay Bourbon

From King Spirits comes Walker’s Cay Bourbon, inspired by the small yet resilient fishing community in the Bahamas that proudly bears its name. It’s carefully crafted in small batches in Kentucky, aged in new oak barrels, and finished on sherry cask staves. Gamefish artwork by brand ambassador Carey Chen graces the label. Jon Whittle
Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Bourbon

Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Bourbon

Mature in age and exceptional in quality, Michter’s 10-year-old bourbon is aged for a decade in signature American white oak barrels, yielding a bold yet spicy body of nutmeg, fennel and cinnamon, with hints of lemon and grapefruit and a molasses finish. Jon Whittle
Dewar’s White Label Scotch Whisky

Dewar’s White Label Scotch Whisky

From one of the world’s most acclaimed scotch brands, Dewar’s White Label has a subtle sweetness with a curl of peat smoke and Scottish heather. The flavors are rich and warm: fresh vanilla and honey, with a slight fruitiness. Overall, it is well-balanced and satisfying. Jon Whittle
Cask & Crew Blended Whiskey

Cask & Crew Blended Whiskey

This small-batch whiskey is blended from 51 percent 3-year-old Canadian rye and 49 percent barrel-aged Kentucky corn whiskey. This makes for an incredibly smooth blend with a clean nose and a memorable finish, with a satisfying flash of heat. Jon Whittle

Our Vodka Picks

Cape Fear Distillery’s GameFish Vodka

Cape Fear Distillery’s GameFish Vodka

Cape Fear Distillery’s GameFish Vodka is an ­ award-winning spirit produced in southeastern North Carolina. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Cape Fear Distillery Conservation Foundation, which supports coastal ecological initiatives and communities in the US. Jon Whittle
Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

A staple of boat liquor cabinets around the world, Tito’s Handmade Vodka exploded on the scene from Austin, Texas, in the mid-1990s and quickly rose to award-winning acclaim. Today, it’s still on the same land, and made by hand in small batches using old-fashioned pot stills. Jon Whittle

Our Cognac Picks

Remy Martin XO Cognac

Remy Martin XO Cognac

Made exclusively from grapes grown in the Cognac region of France, which are known for their aromatic superiority, Remy Martin XO is one of the finest cognac brands in the world. Under French law, it is twice distilled, and aged in oak barrels for at least two years. It is rich and long on the palate. Jon Whittle
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