Lovingly handcrafted and aged in Kentucky, Pinhook Bourbon was established in 2014 and has produced several small-batch bottlings in their newly restored Castle & Key distillery in Frankfort, KY, to much critical acclaim. What makes their line unique is the brand's three distinctive characteristics: its limited availability, mass appeal, and strong ties to Kentucky's legacy of horse racing. Each release of Pinhook Bourbon is named after a thoroughbred owned by Bourbon Lane Stable. The label also features the horses racing records on their brand's website. Every fall Pinhook features an annual vintage of Pinhook Bourbon and Pinhook Rye, each of which is inspired by a thoroughbred horse. Each blend is as unique as the horse on the label. "Pinhooking" refers to an old Kentucky term for purchasing young thoroughbreds, holding them until they mature, and selling them when they are ready to run. Successful pinhooks much like whiskey are made on instinct, experience, an appreciation of quality, and a little luck. Pinhook bourbons and ryes are handcrafted to reflect the richness of the Kentucky soil and the character of its beautiful horse country. The 2020 rye expression is Pinhook Tiz Rye Time 4YO Vertical Series, a straight rye whiskey that is crafted from a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. Bottled at 97 proof, it's the first of a new annual-release series. "It will be exciting to follow the maturation of both rye and bourbon over the course of 9 years and understand how each style of whiskey progresses individually as well as in comparison to the other," says Master Blender Sean Josephs. "The 4 Year old rye at 97 proof is already showing great complexity, depth and structure and I am fascinated to go on this whiskey journey which will culminate with a 12 year old rye in 2028."

Mount Gay Distillery is located in Barbados. The brand dates all the way back to 1703 and is said to be one of the oldest rum houses in the world. The distillery, initially named Mount Gilboa, was renamed at the turn of the 19th century, adopting distillery manager Sir John Gay Alleyne's namesake. Today the distillery produces high-quality rum using the best ingredients, which includes coral-filtered water, a combination of naturally-occurring yeast and their proprietary strain. They employ a combination of pot and column stills, blending together the intense aromas and flavors of the first with the smoothness of the second. Over the past 4 decades, they have had 4 Master Blenders, the current one being Trudiann Branker. The spirit matures in American Whiskey, Bourbon, and Cognac oak casks, with others being brought in for various special editions. Mount Gay is home to the largest stock of aged rum in Barbados. The Mount Gay XO Triple Cask Blend expression is the successor to their famous hit, the XO. The XO Triple Cask Blend is a small-batch reserve rum that is distilled using a traditional column and double retort pot still. It's a blend of a handful of meticulously selected mature rums that is matured in American whiskey, bourbon, and cognac casks. While they used to be aged 8 to 15 years, the numbers now stand between 5 and 17 years. It's a well-rounded and complex rum that fills its predecessor's shoes with ease, and then some.

Girolamo Luxardo moved to what is today known as Zadar, Croatia in 1817 as a consular representative of Sardinia. It was his wife that became enamored with the local Dalmatian liqueur, the Rosolio Maraschino. In 1821 Girolamo opened a distillery and soon after received a certificate from the emperor of Austria that acknowledged its exceptional quality. Their liqueurs became known far and wide along with their growing and impressive range which included the Original Maraschino Cherries, Limoncello, and a cherry liqueur. By 1913 the company had grown considerably, opening a new state-of-the-art distillery. The operation along with the Luxardo bloodline barely made it through the Second World War, but a new distillery with its very own cherry orchards thrives today in Torreglia, the Veneto region of Northeast Italy. It employs traditional copper-pot stills while constantly upgrading and investing to stay at the forefront of the industry. The company remains family-owned and is ran by the fifth, sixth, and seventh generations of the Luxardo family. Their flagship Maraschino liqueur and a range of award-winning products are a cocktail staple, along with cherries, syrups, wines, brandies, and many others. The Premium Italian Sour Cherry Gin is a London dry style gin with an infusion of the fruit that is at the core of Luxardo the marasca cherries. The fruitiness of the tart cherry juice goes incredibly well with the juniper-forward gin, and a dash of spice rounds it all up. A total of 9 botanicals are used in the recipe, including iris, licorice, cinnamon, cinchona, and bitter orange. These are left in an alcoholic infusion for one day, before being distilled and infused with the cherry juice and sweetened lightly.

Girolamo Luxardo moved to what is today known as Zadar, Croatia in 1817 as a consular representative of Sardinia. It was his wife that became enamored with the local Dalmatian liqueur, the Rosolio Maraschino. In 1821 Girolamo opened a distillery and soon after received a certificate from the emperor of Austria that acknowledged its exceptional quality. Their liqueurs became known far and wide along with their growing and impressive range which included the Original Maraschino Cherries, Limoncello, and a cherry liqueur. By 1913 the company had grown considerably, opening a new state-of-the-art distillery. The operation along with the Luxardo bloodline barely made it through the Second World War, but a new distillery with its very own cherry orchards thrives today in Torreglia, the Veneto region of Northeast Italy. It employs traditional copper-pot stills while constantly upgrading and investing to stay at the forefront of the industry. The company remains family-owned and is ran by the fifth, sixth, and seventh generations of the Luxardo family. Their flagship Maraschino liqueur and a range of award-winning products are a cocktail staple, along with cherries, syrups, wines, brandies, and many others. Luxardo Maraschino Originale is made according to the 1821 recipe, using Luxardo marasca cherries. After they are harvested, they are placed in alcohol together with some leaves and branches and left in vats for 3 years. After that, both the liquid and solid parts are distilled with only the heart of the distillate going into ash-wood vats to mature. The final step is the addition of simple syrup, which transforms the distillate into a liqueur and brings the proof down to 64. It's perfect as a digestif, an invaluable cocktail ingredient, and goes particularly well with gelato or fruit.

Girolamo Luxardo moved to what is today known as Zadar, Croatia in 1817 as a consular representative of Sardinia. It was his wife that became enamored with the local Dalmatian liqueur, the Rosolio Maraschino. In 1821 Girolamo opened a distillery and soon after received a certificate from the emperor of Austria that acknowledged its exceptional quality. Their liqueurs became known far and wide along with their growing and impressive range which included the Original Maraschino Cherries, Limoncello, and a cherry liqueur. By 1913 the company had grown considerably, opening a new state-of-the-art distillery. The operation along with the Luxardo bloodline barely made it through the Second World War, but a new distillery with its very own cherry orchards thrives today in Torreglia, the Veneto region of Northeast Italy. It employs traditional copper-pot stills while constantly upgrading and investing to stay at the forefront of the industry. The company remains family-owned and is ran by the fifth, sixth, and seventh generations of the Luxardo family. Their flagship Maraschino liqueur and a range of award-winning products are a cocktail staple, along with cherries, syrups, wines, brandies, and many others. Luxardo Bitter Bianco marks the return of the world's first clear Italian liqueur. Made using the signature recipe from the 1930s it contains the same infusions of botanicals as the Luxardo Bitter Rosso (rhubarb, thyme, bitter orange), except that they are distilled before blending, resulting in a higher proof. The clear liquid brings a lighter twist to cocktails such as the Bianco Negroni or Bianco Spritz.

A relative newcomer in the agave spirits world, Avilas have been produced exclusively in Morelos, Mexico for the past 30 years using the unique production method of both smoking and steaming the agave piñas.

Revel, the first Avila to come to market in the US, is made from 100% pure Blue Weber agave using zero additives or sweeteners.

Size: 750ML

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Origin: Mexico

Detailed Description:

Revel’s triple-distilled Reposado is a multi-award-winning Avila - most notably being named 2018's "Reposado of the Year" by the San Francisco International Spirits Competition. This wonderfully layered Avila has been aged for 12 months in charred oak, giving it a burnished gold hue and notes of cooked banana and Sandalwood. Serve it neat, on a large rock, or in a simple, spirit-forward cocktail like an Old Fashioned.

Tasting Notes:

Nose Smooth smoky oak.

Palate: Notes of black-peppered toffee and spicy sandalwood.

Finish: Fresh agave and grained tannins.

Du Nord is the brainchild of Chris Montana, who decided to open a distillery in his home city of Minneapolis in 2013. It's a family-run operation that combines Chris' city-smarts with Shanelle Montana's country spirit. The craft spirits company has since grown considerably from a garage-type distilling project and works to bring minorities and members of underrepresented communities into their family. They offer tours of the Du Nord distillery and operate a Du Nord Cocktail room on the premises. Their lineup currently consists of the Du Nord L'Etoile sipping vodka, Fitzgerald Gin (a London dry and old world style hybrid), Apple Du Nord apple liqueur, Caf Frieda coffee liqueur, and Du Nord Mixed Blood Blended Whiskey. Each and every one of these has garnered awards from some of the most prestigious spirits competitions. Du Nord L'Etoile Vodka takes its name from Minnesota's motto which translates to "The Star of the North". Made from Minnesota sugar beets and corn from Shanelle Montana's family farm, it goes through 2 stills and 20 rectifying plates, before being charcoal filtered. The vodka was crafted with sipping in mind but works particularly well with citrusy cocktails as well. It has won several awards, including a Triple Gold at the MicroLiquor Spirits Awards and a Bronze Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

100% malted grain from a single distillery, this whisky incorporates a European style grain bill with an R6 twist: peated malt, distiller’s malt, chocolate malt, and coffee malt.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Smoked Coffee and Chocolate
Palate: Smoky and Slightly Sweet with Subtle Undertones
Finish: Warm, Dark Coffee

The story of the R6 Distillery begins with one Rob Rubens becoming disillusioned after nearly a decade of working in corporate America. After taking a tour of the Old New Orleans Rum Distillery he was captivated by the idea of starting a small and family-owned distillery and bringing quality spirits to Los Angeles. This is how the R6 Distillery and Speakeasy, situated in LA's suburb of El Segundo, came to be. Rob turned to his family history for inspiration. The name "R6" comes from six Ruben brothers, Rob's ancestors, who opened the Rubens Rialto Theatre in Joliet, Illinois in 1926. This entrepreneurship that runs in the family, as well as the stories he heard of the theatre operating in the Roaring Twenties and during the days of The Prohibition, played a great part in his decision to start R6. Today they produce over a dozen craft spirits, continuing Rob's vision of striving for greatness. R6 Carmela is named for Carmel, California. Bottled at 66 proof, it features an intense and flavorful caramel-forward profile with corn and rye spice in the background. Adorned with an attractive graphic on the label, the flavored whiskey won a Bronze Medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Following the end of the American Civil War, the Ripy Brothers returned to their native state of Kentucky and together, opened a distillery on the slopes of a hill in Lawrenceburg. The distillery operated continuously for nearly fifty years until the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale of alcohol in the United States, was ratified. Following the end of Prohibition, the Ripy Brothers Distillery was reopened and a distillery executive named Thomas McCarthy took samples of maturing whiskey from the distillery on a turkey hunt with a group of friends. The next year, his friends asked him to bring "some of that wild turkey whiskey" on their next hunt, giving birth to the distillery's new name. Today, Wild Turkey Distillery is stewarded by Master Distiller Jimmy Russell and his son Eddie Russell (together, the pair have over 90 years of experience producing bourbon). "I was born and raised in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky," says Jimmy, "which was a small community when I was growing up, but there were four bourbon distilleries here, and you had families working all the distilleries. You wanted to get in the business. My grandfather and my father, me, and now my son, we've all been in the business." Wild Turkey Master's Keep series explores the premium end of American whiskey. Master's Keep 17 Year Old Bottled in Bond holds a special place in their lineup as the oldest whiskey they have on offer. Only the second expression with the bottled-in-bond designation from the producer, this 100-proof whiskey was hand-selected by Master Distiller Eddie Russell in order to create a truly big and bold expression. "We took the historic process and protocol of aging for four years to the next level and allowed the liquid to rest for 17 years. We aged and perfected this rare, 17-year-old bourbon in Wild Turkey's Camp Nelson rickhouses," says Russell. 

Born in December 1839, William Grant became a cattle herder at the age of 7 to supplement his family's income. As a teenager, Grant apprenticed as a cobbler and a clerk, and in 1866, he joined Mortlach Distillery as a bookkeeper. For the next two decades, Grant managed the affairs at the distillery, while secretly learning the art of distillation. In 1886, he resigned from his position as distillery manager and, together with his seven sons, two daughters, and one sporadically working stonemason, built his family distillery in Scotland. William Grant & Sons is now a behemoth that is among the largest producers of Scotch in the world and is home to several massively successful labels. Yet it is still family-owned, run by Grant's descendants, and independent. Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Girvan Grain, Tullamore, and several other distilleries operate under them. With the release of Fistful of Bourbon in 2018, William Grant & Sons entered into the world of bourbon whiskey. It's a blend of 5 straight bourbons, aged 2 years and up in new charred oak barrels, before being bottled at 90 proof. The blend was crafted by Master Blender Brian Kinsman and Kelsey McKechnie to balance sweetness and spice, and have 5 distinct flavors: A balanced sweetness, green and floral notes, spice and nutmeg, buttery toffee, and a touch of cinnamon and licorice.

The Crystal Rain Distillery is located in Lake Forest, Illinois. It is there that the premium Kristone Handmade Vodka is produced using the finest organic winter wheat and water that has been purified using reverse osmosis to remove any contaminants and pollutants. This means no pesticides or toxins and ultra-clean water with no impurities. The exceptional smoothness of the spirit is owed to carbon, silver, and platinum filtration. The award-winning vodka is distilled using a unique hand-made copper-pot still that is custom-made specifically for vodka production. It's a twin-column design with a whopping 24 plates. Each batch is slowly distilled 6 times, ensuring the ultimate smoothness, before being filtered through silver and platinum filters for a perfectly balanced profile, delicate aroma, and balanced profile. The folks behind Kristone vodka realize how important the environment is, which is why their product is non-GMO and certified organic. This exceptionally crisp and pure wheat vodka has won a Silver Medal at the 2020 edition of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

On the Rocks Premium Cocktails was launched in 2016 by Andrew Gill, Patrick Halbert, and Rocco Milano in Dallas, Texas with the idea to bring the cocktail bar experience into the comfort of your home. They produce premium craft ready-to-drink cocktails using the finest natural ingredients and proper spirits. Their aim is to bring the whole experience of having a consistently perfect cocktail, without the need for multiple ingredients and equipment, and without sacrificing taste. No preservatives are added and the range is sweetened with cane sugar only. After securing several partnership deals with airlines and hotels that recognized the quality of the product the list includes Four Seasons, Hyatt, Hilton, and Hawaiian Airlines the company took off in a big way. "My focus was to create bar-quality cocktails that had balance and subtlety of character making cocktails that have layers of complexity rather than being overly sweet, boozy, or otherwise. We operate under the belief that good is the enemy of great. We kept working on our drinks until we had great drinks," says co-founder and mixologist-in-chief Rocco Milano. After Beam Suntory joined to provide quality branded spirits for their cocktails, the road was paved for a smash hit. "We couldnt be happier to have gained a partner like Beam Suntory. Their partnership will help us grow our business much faster, and our collaboration will mean that our hand-crafted, quality cocktails will also include some of the world's finest premium spirits," said Halbert of the partnership. Right now their lineup consists of The Old Fashioned, The Aviation, The Mai Tai, The Cosmopolitan, Jalapeo Pineapple Margarita, and The Margarita. On the Rocks The Mai Tai is built on a pillar of 4 different light and dark rums, blended into a strong foundation for the perfect ready-to-drink cocktail. The rums come from Cruzan Rum distillery on the island of St. Croix in the Caribbean. The blend is crafted to work perfectly with the orange, pineapple, orgeat, and coconut flavors, creating a tropical explosion.

On the Rocks Premium Cocktails was launched in 2016 by Andrew Gill, Patrick Halbert, and Rocco Milano in Dallas, Texas with the idea to bring the cocktail bar experience into the comfort of your home. They produce premium craft ready-to-drink cocktails using the finest natural ingredients and proper spirits. Their aim is to bring the whole experience of having a consistently perfect cocktail, without the need for multiple ingredients and equipment, and without sacrificing taste. No preservatives are added and the range is sweetened with cane sugar only. After securing several partnership deals with airlines and hotels that recognized the quality of the product the list includes Four Seasons, Hyatt, Hilton, and Hawaiian Airlines the company took off in a big way. "My focus was to create bar-quality cocktails that had balance and subtlety of character making cocktails that have layers of complexity rather than being overly sweet, boozy, or otherwise. We operate under the belief that good is the enemy of great. We kept working on our drinks until we had great drinks," says co-founder and mixologist-in-chief Rocco Milano. After Beam Suntory joined to provide quality branded spirits for their cocktails, the road was paved for a smash hit. "We couldnt be happier to have gained a partner like Beam Suntory. Their partnership will help us grow our business much faster, and our collaboration will mean that our hand-crafted, quality cocktails will also include some of the world's finest premium spirits," said Halbert of the partnership. Right now their lineup consists of The Old Fashioned, The Aviation, The Mai Tai, The Cosmopolitan, Jalapeo Pineapple Margarita, and The Margarita. On the Rocks The Old Fashioned keeps the recipe simple when creating their take on this timeless classic. It contains a generous amount of high-rye Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey, bitters, cane sugar, orange, cherry, and lemon zest. At 70 proof it's the strongest of all their offerings and is made to retain its strength when ice is added, letting the whiskey shine throughout. Grab a bottle today!

On the Rocks Premium Cocktails was launched in 2016 by Andrew Gill, Patrick Halbert, and Rocco Milano in Dallas, Texas with the idea to bring the cocktail bar experience into the comfort of your home. They produce premium craft ready-to-drink cocktails using the finest natural ingredients and proper spirits. Their aim is to bring the whole experience of having a consistently perfect cocktail, without the need for multiple ingredients and equipment, and without sacrificing taste. No preservatives are added and the range is sweetened with cane sugar only. After securing several partnership deals with airlines and hotels that recognized the quality of the product the list includes Four Seasons, Hyatt, Hilton, and Hawaiian Airlines the company took off in a big way. "My focus was to create bar-quality cocktails that had balance and subtlety of character making cocktails that have layers of complexity rather than being overly sweet, boozy, or otherwise. We operate under the belief that good is the enemy of great. We kept working on our drinks until we had great drinks," says co-founder and mixologist-in-chief Rocco Milano. After Beam Suntory joined to provide quality branded spirits for their cocktails, the road was paved for a smash hit. "We couldnt be happier to have gained a partner like Beam Suntory. Their partnership will help us grow our business much faster, and our collaboration will mean that our hand-crafted, quality cocktails will also include some of the world's finest premium spirits," said Halbert of the partnership. Right now their lineup consists of The Old Fashioned, The Aviation, The Mai Tai, The Cosmopolitan, Jalapeo Pineapple Margarita, and The Margarita. On the Rocks The Aviation is a ready-to-drink cocktail that is made with real Larios Dry Gin, a juniper-forward and citrusy Mediterranean gin that uses Mediterranean lemons and oranges in its recipe. The cocktail has dry cherry, lemon, and violet flavors that make up its floral, citrusy, and refreshingly sweet profile. 

On the Rocks Premium Cocktails was launched in 2016 by Andrew Gill, Patrick Halbert, and Rocco Milano in Dallas, Texas with the idea to bring the cocktail bar experience into the comfort of your home. They produce premium craft ready-to-drink cocktails using the finest natural ingredients and proper spirits. Their aim is to bring the whole experience of having a consistently perfect cocktail, without the need for multiple ingredients and equipment, and without sacrificing taste. No preservatives are added and the range is sweetened with cane sugar only. After securing several partnership deals with airlines and hotels that recognized the quality of the product the list includes Four Seasons, Hyatt, Hilton, and Hawaiian Airlines the company took off in a big way. "My focus was to create bar-quality cocktails that had balance and subtlety of character making cocktails that have layers of complexity rather than being overly sweet, boozy, or otherwise. We operate under the belief that good is the enemy of great. We kept working on our drinks until we had great drinks," says co-founder and mixologist-in-chief Rocco Milano. After Beam Suntory joined to provide quality branded spirits for their cocktails, the road was paved for a smash hit. "We couldnt be happier to have gained a partner like Beam Suntory. Their partnership will help us grow our business much faster, and our collaboration will mean that our hand-crafted, quality cocktails will also include some of the world's finest premium spirits," said Halbert of the partnership. Right now their lineup consists of The Old Fashioned, The Aviation, The Mai Tai, The Cosmopolitan, Jalapeo Pineapple Margarita, and The Margarita. On the Rocks The Cosmopolitan is their take on the mega-popular cosmopolitan cocktail. It's crafted with the premium Effen Vodka, a Dutch carbon-filtered wheat spirit. Along with cranberry, triple sec, lemon zest, and lime, it makes for a super fresh and exciting cocktail that is one step away from a perfect cocktail. Add ice and you're good to go.

On the Rocks Premium Cocktails was launched in 2016 by Andrew Gill, Patrick Halbert, and Rocco Milano in Dallas, Texas with the idea to bring the cocktail bar experience into the comfort of your home. They produce premium craft ready-to-drink cocktails using the finest natural ingredients and proper spirits. Their aim is to bring the whole experience of having a consistently perfect cocktail, without the need for multiple ingredients and equipment, and without sacrificing taste. No preservatives are added and the range is sweetened with cane sugar only. After securing several partnership deals with airlines and hotels that recognized the quality of the product the list includes Four Seasons, Hyatt, Hilton, and Hawaiian Airlines the company took off in a big way. "My focus was to create bar-quality cocktails that had balance and subtlety of character making cocktails that have layers of complexity rather than being overly sweet, boozy, or otherwise. We operate under the belief that good is the enemy of great. We kept working on our drinks until we had great drinks," says co-founder and mixologist-in-chief Rocco Milano. After Beam Suntory joined to provide quality branded spirits for their cocktails, the road was paved for a smash hit. "We couldn't be happier to have gained a partner like Beam Suntory. Their partnership will help us grow our business much faster, and our collaboration will mean that our hand-crafted, quality cocktails will also include some of the world's finest premium spirits," said Halbert of the partnership. Right now their lineup consists of The Old Fashioned, The Aviation, The Mai Tai, The Cosmopolitan, Jalapeo Pineapple Margarita, and The Margarita. Jalapeo Pineapple Margarita is made with Tres Generaciones Plata Tequila, pineapple, triple sec, and a natural jalapeo extract that ensures the perfect amount of heat is in the drink each and every time. It's sweet and spicy the perfect cocktails for chili-heads.

The ready-to-drink cocktail has struck Gold at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2018 and Silver at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2017.

On the Rocks Premium Cocktails was launched in 2016 by Andrew Gill, Patrick Halbert, and Rocco Milano in Dallas, Texas with the idea to bring the cocktail bar experience into the comfort of your home. They produce premium craft ready-to-drink cocktails using the finest natural ingredients and proper spirits. Their aim is to bring the whole experience of having a consistently perfect cocktail, without the need for multiple ingredients and equipment, and without sacrificing taste. No preservatives are added and the range is sweetened with cane sugar only. After securing several partnership deals with airlines and hotels that recognized the quality of the product the list includes Four Seasons, Hyatt, Hilton, and Hawaiian Airlines the company took off in a big way. ""My focus was to create bar-quality cocktails that had balance and subtlety of charactermaking cocktails that have layers of complexity rather than being overly sweet, boozy, or otherwise. We operate under the belief that good is the enemy of great. We kept working on our drinks until we had great drinks,"" says co-founder and mixologist-in-chief Rocco Milano. After Beam Suntory joined to provide quality branded spirits for their cocktails, the road was paved for a smash hit. ""We couldnt be happier to have gained a partner like Beam Suntory. Their partnership will help us grow our business much faster, and our collaboration will mean that our hand-crafted, quality cocktails will also include some of the world's finest premium spirits,"" said Halbert of the partnership. Right now their lineup consists of The Old Fashioned, The Aviation, The Mai Tai, The Cosmopolitan, Jalapeo Pineapple Margarita, and The Margarita. Every Margarita cocktail needs a good tequila base to work, and the folks at On the Rocks realize that. Their The Margarita is made with premium 100% pure agave Hornitos Plata Tequila, a smooth and agave-forward spirit that comes straight from Jalisco, Mexico. To that they added a dash of tartness with lime flavors, as well as some triple sec for its signature bittersweet orange twist. Grab a bottle today!

Girolamo Luxardo moved to what is today known as Zadar, Croatia in 1817 as a consular representative of Sardinia. It was his wife that became enamored with the local Dalmatian liqueur, the Rosolio Maraschino. In 1821 Girolamo opened a distillery and soon after received a certificate from the emperor of Austria that acknowledged its exceptional quality. Their liqueurs became known far and wide along with their growing and impressive range which included the Original Maraschino Cherries, Limoncello, and a cherry liqueur. By 1913 the company had grown considerably, opening a new state-of-the-art distillery. The operation along with the Luxardo bloodline barely made it through the Second World War, but a new distillery with its very own cherry orchards thrives today in Torreglia, the Veneto region of Northeast Italy. It employs traditional copper-pot stills while constantly upgrading and investing to stay at the forefront of the industry. The company remains family-owned and is ran by the fifth, sixth, and seventh generations of the Luxardo family. Their flagship Maraschino liqueur and a range of award-winning products are a cocktail staple, along with cherries, syrups, wines, brandies, and many others. Amaretto is an incredibly popular Italian liqueur and a classic cocktail ingredient. Originating from Saronno, Italy, its first iterations were based on bitter almonds. Modern variants use many different stones from fruits including apricots, peaches, and almonds to achieve the liqueur's signature nuttiness. It's sweet with a mild bitterness its name translates to "a little bitter." Popular as a standalone drink, the liqueur has become an invaluable part of countless cocktails and has many culinary applications as well, as it goes well with ice cream, coffee, desserts, and savory dishes. Luxardo Amaretto Di Saschira, naturally, gets their typical cherry twist. It gets its almond flavor from the essential oils that are found in the pits of cherries, peaches, and apricots. The super-high-quality almonds come from southern Sicily and everything is natural, non-GMO, vegan, and kosher to boot.

The Merlet & Fils Distillery hails from Saint-Sauvant in the Cognac region. The family-owned brand has been making cognac since 1850, but were producing wine some 50 years before that. Firmin Merlet was the first to set up a still, but it wasn't until his successor Edouard got in the business that Merlet began selling their eaux-de-vie to large cognac houses such as Hennessy. It was in 1973 that Giles Merlet took over during a tough period for cognac. Planting vines was no longer an option, so Giles turned to blackcurrants. The fruit proved to be exceptional so in 1983 he ended up developing his very own Crme de Cassis de Saintonge, a blackcurrant liqueur. With it, the Merlet brand was born and a range of other acclaimed liqueurs followed. The brand grew exponentially, fueled by Giles' entrepreneurial spirit. After 2005, Giles' sons Pierre and Luc joined the operation. With them, the family business entered into its fifth generation. After distilling for large cognac houses for 160 years, Merlet finally ventured out to develop their own cognac in 2010, named the Merlet Brothers Blend. They have continued producing several award-winning spirits and liqueurs since. The Trois Citrus Triple Sec Liqueur is Merlet's take on the famous orange liqueur. The family teamed up with renowned bartender Tony Conigiaro to develop this exquisite cocktail ingredient. It is made with three citrus fruits: bitter orange, blood orange, and lemon. The peels are macerated in alcohol, before being distilled and blended with parts that didn't get distilled. A small amount of sugar is then added and the liqueur is bottled at a high 40% alcohol volume.