Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/49694
Sunniest Disposition Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Italy ($35) Like the chipper cheerleader with a smile on her face no matter how much homework or how early her class, some spirits are just plain ol' sunny. Keeping that bright perspective but without a drop of Pollyanna-style blind optimism is Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, a Sicilian-produced tipple that's made from premium Sanguinello blood oranges, which give the spirit a bright, sun-kissed fl avor that's rounded out by a touch of bitterness to give it that serious personality we love. Small-batch distilled and blended, Solerno is art-in-a-glass, with a designer Venetian glass-inspired bottle that features a beautiful color fade reminiscent of the most romantic sunset you've ever seen, and with a mixable character that's as at ease in a cocktail as on the rocks, Solerno can do it all, with fl are and a smile. WILLIAM GRANT & SONS The Bella Politan ◗ 1½ oz. Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur ◗ 1½ oz. Prosecco ◗ ½ oz. Lillet Blanc ◗ ¾ oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice ◗ ½ oz. Funkin Pomegranate ◗ 2 dashes orange bitters Best Bad-Boy Rudo Reposado Tequila, Mexico ($38) Since the dawn of time, good girls have been inexplicably drawn to bad boys. Enticing men and women alike with its so- bad-it's-good charm is Rudo Reposado. Rudo is half of a lucha libre–themed tequila duo that proudly and colorfully displays Mexican wrestling's favorite villains on the bottle (the other half, Técnico, depicts the sport's noble heroes). Although that bad-boy attitude is fi rmly emblazoned on the bottle, the tequila inside reveals that this scoundrel has a heart of gold; made from 100% hand-selected blue agave from the highlands of Los Altos, the Reposado is aged four months in used bourbon barrels, resulting in an outstanding super-premium sipper that's really as good as it gets. With a nose of cinnamon-spiced lime chiffon, this reposado had us at fi rst sniff. At its core, a lean mineral-driven agave stays in the ring, while pepper and peppermint linger on and on with its one-two punch. This is a robust, well-constructed tequila that keeps consistent on the palate. DOUBLE EAGLE IMPORTS Most Tenacious Numanthia 2008 Toro, Spain ($60) Like a determined brainiac who never met an AP course he or she didn't want to take on, Bodega Numanthia has a deep-rooted tradition of looking adversity in the eye and say- ing, "Bring it on." The winery's estate is on land that was once defended to the last by locals facing Roman invasion, and there's nothing easy about growing vines on its dry, rocky soils, where extreme weather is the norm. But the tough vines of tenacious Tempranillo clone Tinta de Toro and determined vintners have persevered, and today's Numanthia 2008 is an elegant end result after so many struggles. Dark, ripe cassis, blackberry and black plum; rich and dense with notes of vanilla, spice, licorice and chocolate; stunning and intense with a long fi nish. MOET HENNESSY USA Biggest Overachiever Redemption High-Rye Bourbon, USA ($27) Every class has one: the eager student, sitting in the front row, arm waiving wildly overhead at every question the teacher poses, begging for extra credit. If you're a bourbon, that extra-credit seeking overachiever is Redemption, a really-rye American gem that tiptoes as close as it can get to the allowable rye content in a bourbon mash (the mashbill is 38.2% rye/60% corn, with barley rounding out the remainder). Made from premium rye packed with spicy, bold fl avors that balance out the natural corn-y sweetness we've come to expect in bourbon, the high-rye content adds a level of complexity that has us swooning. A true perfectionist, Redemption crosses every t and dots every i, hand-numbering each bottle and batch as a fi nal way of saying, "Yup, I'm better (and rye-er) than you." Fragrant to the nose; medium amber color; silky and spicy with lovely white oak and corn sweetness with added rye complexity; smooth and showing dried fruits, orange peel and mellow fl avors; rich and complex with a long, delicious fi nish. BARDSTOWN BARREL SELECTIONS 114 / the tasting panel / december 201 1