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AMERICAN SCENIC: Forbidden Secret American Cream Liqueur ($24.99) R ecently released Forbidden Secret American Cream Liqueur is a crowd- pleaser—delightfully aromatic and fi end- ishly delicious. It's made on a base of fresh cream from Galloway Dairy in Wisconsin, to which dark chocolate, robust espresso coffee and premium Jailers Tennessee Whiskey are added. "When the distilling laws changed in Tennessee a few years ago, my partners and I saw a huge opportu- nity to offer a premium, 86-proof Tennessee whiskey," says Bob Reider, partner in Capital Brands/Tennessee Spirits Company. "At the same time we came up with the recipe for an extraordinary cream liqueur." The velvety new liqueur has the same irresistible coffee/chocolate aroma as a mocha cappuccino, with a palate best described as a creamy mocha blend. The fi nish is laced with the subtle fl avor of dark chocolate and fi ne Tennessee whiskey. Great sipped slightly chilled, but maybe even be better mixed with hot coffee or poured over ice cream. This one won't be a secret for long! CAPITAL BRANDS/TENNESSEE SPIRITS COMPANY A STUDY IN THE EXOTIC: Mandarine Napoléon ($37.50) M andarins from China were fi rst introduced in Europe at the end of the 18th century, and they quickly became a favorite of Napoléon Bonaparte. The Emperor even went so far as to eat mandarin peels soaked in cognac, a practice that provided the creative spark for Mandarine Napoléon Grande Cuvée Liqueur. Produced in Brussels since 1892, the liqueur is made from tangerines grown in Sicily and the coast of Spain, macerated in fi ne spirits for weeks to fully capture their essence. Those spirits are distilled three times with a mix of seven herbs and spices before being aged in French oak barrels for two years, then blended with well-aged cognac and bottled at 76 proof. Mandarine Napoléon has an enticing fresh citrus and fl oral bouquet and bathes the palate with an array of tangerine, spice, vanilla and brandy. The fi nish is warm and persistent—another reason the elixir is a highly sought-after ingredient in cocktails. ROYAL DUTCH DISTILLERS Dancing Pines Chai ($40) Handcrafted in Loveland, Colorado, this liqueur is made with a blend of whole leaf black tea and fi ve spices. Dancing Pines Chai is richly fl avored and loaded with creative applications behind the bar. The range also includes the equally impressive Dancing Pines Espresso. Top-notch. DANCING PINES DISTILLERY Dimmi Liquore di Milano ($60) An ultra-suave liqueur made from organic winter wheat spirits and grappa di Nebbiolo that are infused with herbs and fruit, including assenzio gentile, anise, vanilla, rhubarb, ginseng and bitter orange. A second fl oral infusion of delicate peach and apricot blossoms adds a delightful aromatic component to the liqueur. Brilliant! DOMAINE SELECT HARLEM Kruiden Liqueur ($19.99) HARLEM is a blend comprised of fresh herbs, spices and a modicum of mandarine. The liqueur has a lavish bouquet of fresh citrus, sarsaparilla, mocha and classic earthy notes. It's balanced with surgical precision into a thoroughly satisfying, well-integrated taste sensation. NOLET SPIRITS USA RumChata ($20) Who wouldn't crave horchata-laced cream liqueur infused with Caribbean rum? RumChata is delicious and devoid of the cloying fi nish that plagues some cream liqueurs. If you can't have fun with RumChata behind the bar, perhaps you're no longer breathing. AGAVE LOCO BRANDS march 2012 / the tasting panel / 107 Essential New Elixirs Agwa de Bolivia ($32) An emerald-green liqueur made in Amsterdam from handpicked coca leaves grown in the Andes Mountains. A proprietary process removes narcotic compounds in the leaves before they are blended with 36 herbs, a mix that includes guarana, ginseng and yerba mate. Delicious and intriguing are an unbeatable combination. BABCO IMPORTS Becherovka ($24) Long a mainstay on European backbars, Becherovka is now making a run at the American market. The liqueur has been produced in Carlsbad in the Czech Republic since 1805 from a closely guarded recipe of local herbs and botanicals. It is highly aromatic and loaded with the fl avors of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ginger, menthol and cardamom. Marvelously complex. PERNOD RICARD USA Charbay Nostalgie Black Walnut Liqueur ($75) Made by Master Distiller Miles Karakasevic at his family's small Napa winery and distillery, the highly acclaimed liqueur is made in small batches from Black, English and Carpathian walnuts, a secret mix of herbs and spices and triple- distilled copper pot brandy from Pinot Noir. Absolutely in a class of its own. CHARBAY DISTILLERY