Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/931490
122 / the tasting panel / january/february 2018 BEST SUMMER SPIRIT Seersucker Southern Style Gin ($25) Seersucker's 84-proof Southern Style Gin is far from a traditional London Dry-style spirit with its botanical lineup of juniper, citrus peel, coriander, carda- mom, clove honey, and mint. Even so, it's the perfect option to serve as a base spirit in refreshing gin cocktails—especially if you're looking to put a flavorful twist on a Gimlet, Gin and Tonic, or French 75. The gin is slow distilled in copper pots, resting before being cut with water to ensure a high- caliber small-batch product. Azar Family Brands produces Seersucker, and its Founder/ Master Distiller Trey Azar says that "the driving force behind Seersucker Southern Style Gin was a desire to create a spirit that is approachable, easy to mix, and honestly, just great tasting." "We worked for more than a year to accomplish the perfect flavor profile that is light on the palate and has recognizable Southern flavors, yet still maintains the nuances that a gin drinker appreciates," Azar adds. You can drink Seersucker all year round, but we're voting it as our favorite spirit of the summer! A refreshing gin for hot, humid days below the Mason- Dixon line . . . or anywhere else. Smooth citrus nose; lush and generous with soft texture and lovely balance. 92 —A.D.B., July 2017 AZAR FAMILY BRANDS MOST QUIXOTIC Don Q Rum Don Q can trace its conception to 1865, when Don Juan Serrallés expanded his father's Puerto Rican sugarcane planta- tion to produce the family's first cases of rum. Since that moment 153 years ago, the brand's subsequent quest to make the perfect rum would seem idealistic to the point of unre- alistic if it was not reinforced by a legacy of success. Don Q's undeniable dedication to quality encapsulates why we've named it the year's "Most Quixotic" brand. With a commitment to the environment made evident by innovative waste reclamation processes, as well as a fierce loy- alty to community of Ponce, Don Q continues to create a delicious range of rums while never losing sight of the vision of Don Quixote himself. Don Q 2007 Signature Release Single Barrel ($40) A handsome hue of deep amber, the spirit's aromas of wheat bread, burnt orange, toffee, and peach tart zoom out of the glass. The unblended rum aged in American white oak offers body and structure with a curvy roundness. Apricot and butterscotch, meanwhile, add depth to a nectar-like mouthfeel. The touch of spice on the finish melds with orange peel and brown sugar. 95 —M.M., June 2017 Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum ($30) Made with three-year-old rum, nutmeg and allspice tickle the nose along with notes of orange pekoe tea and English toffee. On the palate, the smooth nature of this elegant creature sends up flavors of walnut, pears, honeyed toast, and ripe papaya. It's compelling and multi-layered, and gives you an entrée to the distin- guished yet sippable side of rum. 94 —M.M., June 2017 Don Q Gran Añejo Rum ($60) Warm cinnamon and mandarin notes lead from dry to sweet, while clove, cherry, coffee, vanilla, and roasted hazelnuts coat the palate. So rich and vigorous: add two ice cubes and you're sailing. 93 —M.M., September 2017 YEARBOOK