Every map eventually wears a crease where it's been folded most. That fold line tells you something — it marks the route someone keeps coming back to, the terrain they trust enough to cross repeatedly. In spirits and wine, these are the processes, the vineyards, the mash bills, and the barrel programs that producers revisit not out of habit, but because they haven't yet exhausted what the path can teach them.
Today's eight selections all come from traditions with deep grooves — producers who've walked their particular road long enough to know it by feel. What they bring back from each pass is the thing worth tasting: the subtle shift in a familiar silhouette, the detail you missed the first hundred times through.
This issue's aroma selections trace the spectrum from raw and funky to clean and floral. Pay particular attention to how muscovado, tropical fruit, and mineral notes differ across spirits and wine — and how oak aging shapes each one distinctly.
Don’t see your special bottle? Request a review at reviews.schoolofwineandspirits.com/request-review — we’ll get to it. See every bottle we’ve reviewed to date at reviews.schoolofwineandspirits.com.
Bourbon Benchmark Top Floor Bourbon Whiskey
Distilled at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Kentucky, Benchmark represents the distillery's commitment to making honest bourbon at an accessible price, using the same limestone-filtered water and copper stills that produce their most celebrated expressions.
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brand: Benchmark
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Light amber with golden edges
MSRP: $12–$18
Mash Bill: Mash Bill #1
Barrel Type: New charred oak
Nose: Clean corn sweetness with faint vanilla and a touch of caramel. There's a light breadiness beneath, with gentle oak and a whisper of cherry.
Palate: Thin but honest. Corn and wheat softness lead, followed by mild butterscotch and a brief flash of brown spices. The mouthfeel is light, but it doesn't feel hollow.
Finish: Short, clean, with lingering corn sweetness and a dusting of oak.
Cocktail — Bluegrass Highball — 2 oz Benchmark Top Floor · 4 oz chilled ginger ale · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · Build over ice in a Collins glass, garnish with a lemon wheel.
Pair with: The bourbon's corn sweetness and mild oak balance the sweet-smoky glaze on pulled pork, while the light body keeps pace with soft brioche buns and pickled slaw.
Scotch Whisky Glen Moray 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Founded in 1897 on the banks of the River Lossie in Elgin, Glen Moray Distillery was once a brewery before converting to whisky production, and its emphasis on clean, approachable Speyside character has remained consistent across three centuries of ownership.
Classification: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brand: Glen Moray
Distillery: Glen Moray Distillery
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: 12 Year
Color: Pale gold with warm straw highlights
MSRP: $30–$42
Region: Speyside
Mash Bill: 100% malted barley
Distillation: Double pot still distillation
Maturation: Ex-bourbon American oak casks, minimum 12 years
Cask Type: Ex-bourbon American oak
Peat Level (PPM): Unpeated
Chill-Filtered: Yes
Nose: Fresh and malty with green apple and honey. Gentle vanilla from the ex-bourbon casks, underlined by a light floral rosewater note and a hint of peach.
Palate: Soft and approachable. Honey and malt dominate the midpalate, joined by buttery shortbread, a gentle coconut creaminess, and a flicker of orange peel. Nicely balanced for its age.
Finish: Medium length with lingering honey and a clean, malty fade.
Cocktail — Lossie Sour — 2 oz Glen Moray 12 · 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.5 oz honey syrup · 1 egg white · Dry shake, then shake with ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a lemon twist.
Pair with: The whisky's honey-malt profile mirrors the glaze while the gentle fruit and vanilla complement the richness of the fish, especially alongside roasted asparagus and wild rice.
Irish Whiskey Bushmills 14 Year Old Single Malt Causeway Collection
Old Bushmills Distillery, licensed since 1608 on Ireland's north coast, triple-distills its single malt in copper pot stills fed by water from the River Bush, and the Causeway Collection showcases the distillery's finest aged stocks.
Classification: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Brand: Bushmills
Distillery: Old Bushmills Distillery
Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
Age: 14 Year
Color: Rich amber with copper edges
MSRP: $100–$130
Mash Bill: 100% malted barley
Distillation: Triple pot still distillation
Maturation: Ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, minimum 14 years
Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered
Nose: Deep dried fruit — figs and raisins — alongside a warm clove spice and toasted almond. Behind it, a layer of cocoa and subtle vanilla oak. There's complexity here that unfolds slowly.
Palate: Full-bodied for an Irish whiskey. Rich malt forms the foundation, layered with honey, dried apricot, and a distinctive earthy note that grounds the sweetness. Clove and cocoa develop through the mid-palate with excellent integration.
Finish: Long and warming, with lingering dried fruit and a gentle woody spice that fades into clean malt.
Pair with: The whiskey's cocoa and dried fruit character resonates beautifully with bittersweet chocolate, while the sea salt lifts the honey notes and emphasizes the malt backbone.
Tequila Siembra Azul Reposado
Founded by Philadelphia restaurateur and agave activist David Suro-Piñera, Siembra Azul channels proceeds toward the Tequila Interchange Project — a nonprofit dedicated to preserving sustainable agave farming and the bat pollinators that keep the plant genetically resilient.
Classification: Tequila Reposado
Brand: Siembra Azul
Distillery: Vivanco family distillery
Proof: 80 proof (40% ABV)
Age: Aged approximately 6 months
Color: Pale straw gold with light amber highlights
MSRP: $55
Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave (Agave tequilana Weber), mature plants sourced from the lowlands around El Arenal, Jalisco
Cooking Method: Slow-cooked in traditional brick ovens (mamposteria), crushed using a combination of tahona and roller mill, open-air fermentation with native yeasts, double-distilled in copper pot stills, then rested approximately six months in ex-bourbon American oak barrels.
NOM: NOM 1416
Additives Free: Yes
Nose: Cooked agave leads with brown sugar sweetness, followed by soft vanilla, dried orange peel, and a whisper of white pepper. Faint notes of buttered pastry and damp earth linger underneath.
Palate: Silky and medium-bodied, opening with roasted agave and honeyed caramel. Mid-palate brings baked apple, cinnamon stick, and toasted oak, balanced by a bright citrus lift and gentle mineral undertone.
Finish: Medium-long and warming, with lingering vanilla, cracked pepper, and a return of cooked agave sweetness that fades into subtle herbal grass.
Cocktail — The Bat's Path — 2 oz Siembra Azul Reposado, 0.75 oz fresh lime juice, 0.5 oz agave nectar (lightly diluted 2:1 with water), 0.25 oz mezcal (for aromatic lift), 2 dashes orange bitters. Shake with ice, strain over a large cube in a rocks glass, garnish with a grapefruit twist expressed over the surface.
Pair with: Grilled achiote-marinated pork with charred pineapple salsa, or aged Manchego with quince paste.
Awards: Consistently recognized in tequila enthusiast circles; recipient of positive scores from Tequila Aficionado and inclusion in various critic 'best of' reposado roundups.
Gin Tanqueray Lovage London Dry Gin
Inspired by a recipe from Charles Tanqueray's original 1830s notebooks, Tanqueray Lovage reintroduces the lovage herb — a botanical once common in English gardens — to a modern London Dry gin framework.
Classification: London Dry Gin
Brand: Tanqueray
Distillery: Cameronbridge Distillery
Proof: 94.6 (47.3% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Crystal clear
MSRP: $55 - $65
Style: London Dry Gin
Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, angelica root, liquorice, lovage
Base Spirit: Neutral grain spirit
Distillation: Single-shot pot distillation using Tanqueray's iconic Old Tom still
Nose: Herbaceous and savory, leading with celery-like green notes and a bright burst of juniper. Lemon citrus and coriander seed emerge, with a subtle angelica root earthiness grounding the lift.
Palate: Crisp and focused. The lovage botanical — a celery-like herb — gives this an unusual vegetal character that's complemented by juniper pine, black pepper warmth, and dry lemon peel. The texture is lean and mineral, with excellent clarity.
Finish: Medium-dry with persistent herbaceous notes and a peppery, juniper-forward fade.
Cocktail — Garden Collins — 2 oz Tanqueray Lovage · 1 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.75 oz simple syrup · 3 oz soda water · Shake gin, lemon, and syrup with ice, strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice, top with soda, garnish with a celery stalk.
Pair with: The gin's savory, herbaceous character echoes the green, vegetal notes in the soup, while the juniper and pepper add complexity against the cool creaminess.
Rum Clairin Communal Sajous Ansyen 49 Mois
Michel Sajous cultivates and harvests his own native sugarcane varieties on his farm in Saint-Michel de l'Attalaye, Haiti, then ferments and distills on-site using traditional copper pot stills, creating a clairin that is a direct expression of his land.
Classification: Clairin Ansyen (Aged Haitian Rum)
Brand: Clairin
Distillery: Michel Sajous
Proof: 100.6 (50.3% ABV)
Age: 49 Months (Approximately 4 Year)
Color: Deep golden amber
MSRP: $120 - $140
Base Ingredients: Fresh sugarcane juice (native Haitian varieties)
Distillation: Single distillation in copper pot still
Nose: Wild and funky — overripe tropical fruits, banana, and a distinct muscovado sugar richness. Behind the fruit, there's leather, a touch of coffee, and a savory, almost fermented quality. Oak tames things just enough without domesticating the spirit.
Palate: Texturally bold with a waxy, oily mouthfeel. Tropical fruits and banana lead, followed by caramel from the oak, dried fruit, and a persistent earthiness. There's a coffee-bitter note in the mid-palate and a gentle spice that emerges on the second sip.
Finish: Long and layered with lingering tropical fruit, muscovado, and a faint smoky leather note.
Pair with: The rum's funky, tropical character and muscovado richness pair beautifully with Haiti's national dish of twice-fried pork shoulder, while the spicy pickled vegetable relish echoes the spirit's peppery warmth.
Red Wine Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir Estates 2021
Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman founded Domaine de la Côte in 2013 on limestone-rich soils in the western Sta. Rita Hills, farming biodynamically and producing whole-cluster-fermented Pinot Noir that channels Burgundian transparency through a California lens.
Classification: Red Wine — Pinot Noir
Brand: Domaine de la Côte
ABV: 13.0%
Primary Varietal: Pinot Noir
Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
Vineyards: Estate vineyards across the Sta. Rita Hills AVA
Maturation: Whole-cluster fermentation, native yeasts, minimal intervention, aged in French oak
Color: Translucent ruby with garnet rim
MSRP: $55–$70
Nose: Bright cherry and wild strawberry with dried rose petals and a subtle minty lift. A faint woodland-floor earthiness and a whisper of cedar emerge with air. Elegant and restrained.
Palate: Silky and precise. Red cherry and berry fruit are layered over fine-grained tannins. A violet floral note weaves through the mid-palate, and there's a pleasant green herbal quality — not unripe, just alive. Excellent acidity provides tension and length.
Finish: Medium-long with lingering cherry, violet, and a mineral, almost chalky close.
Pair with: The wine's red fruit and silky tannins complement the richness of duck, while the cherry gastrique mirrors the wine's core fruit character and the mint-cedar undertones cut through the fat.
White Wine Domaine Weinbach Riesling Grand Cru Furstentum 2022
The Faller family has tended Domaine Weinbach's vineyards in the shadow of Kaysersberg's medieval castle since 1898, farming biodynamically and producing some of Alsace's most expressive single-vineyard Rieslings from their Grand Cru holdings.
Classification: White Wine — Alsace Grand Cru Riesling
Brand: Domaine Weinbach
ABV: 13.5%
Primary Varietal: Riesling
Blend: 100% Riesling
Vineyards: Grand Cru Furstentum, Kientzheim, Alsace
Vinification: Hand-harvested, whole-cluster pressed, fermented and aged in traditional Alsatian oak foudres with extended lees contact, biodynamic farming
Color: Brilliant pale gold with green-tinged highlights
MSRP: $70 - $75
Nose: Intensely aromatic with white peach, Meyer lemon, and honeysuckle. Beneath the fruit, a striking mineral-slate note and a hint of smoky flint. There's a touch of green herb — almost like fresh thyme — that adds lift.
Palate: Rich but tightly wound. Citrus and stone fruit meet a persistent, chalky minerality on the mid-palate. Honey sweetness is present but balanced by bracing acidity that drives the wine forward. The texture is oily and generous without losing focus.
Finish: Long, saline, and mineral-driven, with a final echo of citrus and a gentle smoky note.
Pair with: The wine's rich texture and honey-citrus character mirror the caramelized edges of the scallops, while the saline mineral finish echoes the seafood's natural brininess and the brown butter adds a toasty bridge.
Train Your Nose: Today's Aroma Spotlight
This issue's aroma selections trace the spectrum from raw and funky to clean and floral. Pay particular attention to how muscovado, tropical fruit, and mineral notes differ across spirits and wine — and how oak aging shapes each one distinctly.
Each product in today's lineup connects to a specific aroma profile you can train with your kit. Whether it's the charred oak of the bourbon, the coastal brine of the scotch, or the agave earthiness of the tequila — your nose is the instrument. Use the kit references below to isolate each aroma before your next pour, then see if you catch it in the glass.
Today's Kit Reference
| Today's Product | Key Aromas | Train With |
|---|---|---|
| Benchmark Top Floor Bourbon Whiskey (Bourbon) | Corn, Vanilla, Butterscotch, Oak, Cherry | Bourbon Kit |
| Glen Moray 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Scotch Whisky) | Honey, Malt, Vanilla, Coconut, Peach | Whisky Kit |
| Bushmills 14 Year Old Single Malt Causeway Collection (Irish Whiskey) | Dried Fruit, Clove Spice, Cocoa (Dark), Honey, Malt, Almond | Whiskey Kit |
| Siembra Azul Reposado (Tequila) | Agave (Cooked), Vanilla, Caramel, Citrus (Lemon, Lime, Orange, Grapefruit), Pepper, Oak | Tequila Kit |
| Tanqueray Lovage London Dry Gin (Gin) | Juniper (Pine), Lemon, Peppery, Angelica, Coriander | Gin Kit |
| Clairin Communal Sajous Ansyen 49 Mois (Rum) | Tropical Fruits, Banana, Muscovado, Leather, Coffee, Oak | Rum Kit |
| Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir Estates 2021 (Red Wine) | Cherry, Violet, Floral (Rose), Mint, Cedar | Wine Kit |
| Domaine Weinbach Riesling Grand Cru Furstentum 2022 (White Wine) | Citrus (Generic), Honey, Apple (Green), Floral (Rose), Toasted | Wine Kit |
Explore the School of Wine and Spirits
Train your nose alongside today's selections with the School of Wine and Spirits Aroma Kit, designed to isolate and identify the exact aromas found in each category. Our Aroma Masterclass Kits are designed to teach it to you, one aroma at a time.
Our books on Amazon go deeper into the science and history behind every sip — from America's Spirit, Scotland's Spirit, Ireland's Spirit, The Ultimate Northern Italian Wine Journey, The Tequila y Mezcal Revolution, Chablis, and Côte d'Or pocket guides.
Explore our Aroma Masterclass kits and books at schoolofwineandspirits.com
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The crease in the map isn't damage — it's evidence of return, proof that some routes only get more interesting the more often you travel them.
Know someone who'd love this? Forward this newsletter or share the link — and reply with your own tasting notes. We read every one.
Until tomorrow's pour — cheers.
Robert R. Mohr, CPA, CGMA, WSET Level 3, WSG Certified Spirits Specialist — author of America's Spirit, Scotland's Spirit, Ireland's Spirit, The Ultimate Northern Italian Wine Journey, The Tequila y Mezcal Revolution, The Definitive Pocket Guide to Chablis, The Definitive Pocket Guide to the Côte d'Or, and Strategic Tuning. Published author of the Aroma Academy Tequila/Mezcal and Distiller's training kits.
The Still & The Vine is a daily publication of the School of Wine and Spirits.
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