BRANDY

Colombia's national alcoholic beverage is Aguardiente. Antioqueno is the best-selling Aguardiente in Colombia and in the world for that matter. Beginning with the very first sniff and all the way until the crisp concise finish, the tasty anise is the star. Drifting across the taste buds in soft clean rum, it has a creamy, light mouth-feel. Aguardiente is typically taken as a shot, but may also be utilized as a creative ingredient in many beverages; it would also pair fantastically with grilled meat, fried bread, tropical fruits or hard cheese.

Asbach Uralt is Germany's most famous brandy, and it is plain to see why. Made with expert attention to detail and dedication to the highest quality standards since 1892, the wines are multi-column distilled and the resulting eau de vie is then aged in Small Limousin Oak barrels until the cellar master deems them worthy to become part of the final brandy. On the nose there are plum, apricot, almond and vanilla notes that resolve into a harmonious, sweet, inviting aroma. On the palate the flavor begins mild and candied and lingers to develop into a lovely, well-articulated depth. There is a restatement of the beautiful fruits that were implied in the nosing which then burst brightly into a warm, vibrant finish. This saporous Brandy would work excellently with desserts, neat or in a wonderful cocktail.

Made from fine plums from Croatia, produced by means of traditional method of distilling fresh and ripe plums. This fresh plum distillate is then aged in wooden casks made of Slavonian Oak.

BERTA BRIC del GAIAN GRAPPA BRANDY 90PFD-1994 B-2004SPECIAL ORDER

Aptly named "blossom of the apricot” (Blume Marillen), this glorious eau de vie captures the lovely bouquet and taste of an apricot orchard and amplifies it almost to perfume or essence. The delicate floral redolence is long and graceful; shimmering with just ripe apricot, and blossoms, and leaves in clean air-- it reeks of purity and skill, inviting us to drink. The flavors are soft, subtle ripe apricot- meat, stone, and flowers- explosively saporous, evocatively perfumed, and bone dry. The aroma is so intense and the gusto is so stark it seems that you are biting into a perfectly ripe apricot, whose sugar has been sacrificed. Blume Marillen would make an amazing after-dinner drink, or serve with tea, or cakes.

Founded in 1825, Calvados Boulard has been family-owned and managed for five generations. Boulard VSOP is a Calvados from Pays d'Auge. Using only ciders made in the Appellation d'Origine Controlee, Calvados Boulard VSOP is a mix of different Pays d'Auge Calvados from 4 to 10 years old blended to show excellent fruit tones, creamy oak nuance and intricate wood spice. Aromas of rich, stewed apples are juxtaposed against fresh cut tart apples with vanilla, delicate wood, nutmeg, toasted nuts and Hawaiian sweet bread serving as a back drop and assuring you that the master blenders have achieved their intended goal. The palate elegantly demonstrates a congruous symmetry between all the lovely aromas displayed as flavors with much more spice to balance the sweet. The finish begins with a slight burst of spice and then elegantly lingers with delicate fruit and vanilla to the very last. This is excellent Calvados; try neat.