Menthol, citrus and light ammonia on the nose. Mint, herbs and some astringency on the palate. It felt at home mixed in a gin and tonic category and we felt it would pair well with salty, vinegary or citrus-forward foods. An interesting building block for mixology.

Strong tequila, margarita nose. We found the spice/burn builds, warming the throat. Some found the level of heat too strong, others found it ideal. This didn’t disappear into the margarita cocktail. We found this to be a solid tequila alternative. Note: our panel tried a previous version of this spirit. The above notes refer to the updated recipe.

Our panel found this to have a pleasing aroma and a delicate flavor. We mixed it into a classic daiquiri, where it performed nicely although we added slightly more product in order to not be overpowered by the citrus notes.

A unique cocktail that we found grew on us. Camphor, eucalyptus, and briquets (smoke) on the nose. When mixed with tonic. Not at all sweet. An herby, somewhat minty, lingering flavor and an astringent texture. We thought it might mix well in a spiced cocktail that can stand up to the smoke.

A subtle, clear spirit with warming spice. Our panel found it complex, bright, and interesting while some said it was too subtle.

A unanimous panel favorite. Cloudy color with a slight anise, root beer nose, almost medicinal. Our panel noted balanced flavors including citrus/bitter grapefruit, wintergreen, and anise.

A subtle herbal character that is nice on the rocks. Gentle buttery notes and bitterness. We suggest a splash of ginger beer and the company suggests mixing with gingerale and an orange slice.

A unique dark spirit that isn’t trying to be anything but itself. Made in Scotland from locally sourced ingredients, we found notes of black tea and herbs. Suggested pairings include ginger beer and complex cocktails.

A smokey nose suggestive of tequila. Enjoyed neat it was reminiscent of a sippable tequila but we enjoyed it in a margarita and tasted vanilla notes with some smoke and a subtle, lingering burn. We suggest adding a bit more than you would a traditional tequila to punch up the flavor of a margarita.

A unanimous panel favorite. Floral forward with strong geranium and rose notes which were balanced enough to appeal even to floral-averse panelists. A light tonic brought out a delicate complexity. We thought this would also be excellent in lemonade.