E&J XO Brandy

E&J XO Brandy

Yes, it's a $14 brandy. By all accounts it should be terrible, but either I'm a broken person or there's a lot of value and comfort here. 
Overall Rating: ★★☆

St. George Terroir Gin

St. George Terroir Gin

Think gin tastes like drinking a Christmas tree? Imagine if a gin was made from actual Christmas trees. Now imagine the stuff being jaw-droppingly good.  Overall Rating: ★★★

Bernheim 7-year Wheat Whiskey

Bernheim 7-year Wheat Whiskey

It's close to a bourbon, but not quite: it's a wheat whiskey. There aren't many of them, and if Bernheim is representative of the category, it's a shame there aren't more.  Overall Rating: ★★☆

The Dimple Pinch 15

The Dimple Pinch 15

Weirdo triangular bottle notwithstanding, the Dimple Pinch 15 is pretty underwhelming. Sure, it was Walter White's favorite pour, but look where that got him.  Overall Rating: ★☆☆

Highland Park 18

Highland Park 18

You put yourself on an island when you pick your favorites, but so be it: I think the Highland Park 18 is one of the most exceptional scotches I've had the pleasure of consuming.  Overall Rating: ★★★

Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky

Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky

Nobody really expects anything from this spartan-looking bottle. Until they take a sip and have to hunt around on the floor to see where their jaw went. A favorite of mine and a future favorite of yours.  Overall Rating: ★★★

Tito's Handmade Vodka

Tito's Handmade Vodka

Tito's might be questionable with respect to whether it's handmade or not. It's unquestionably a good mixer at a price point that makes it a no-brainer when it comes to choosing a house vodka.  Overall Rating: ★★☆

El Silencio Espadín Mezcal

El Silencio Espadín Mezcal

Mezcal is pretty polarizing. If you've wanted to dip your toe into the water, the El Silencio black bottle is a good starting point, but it's certainly not for everyone.  Overall Rating: ★★☆

Don Felix Añejo Tequila

Don Felix Añejo Tequila

A stupendous tequila that most have never heard of. If you've never had a "good" tequila you could enjoy neat and want your mind blown, this should be a mandatory starting point. 
Overall Rating: ★★★

Pendleton Canadian Whisky

Pendleton Canadian Whisky

Unless something worse comes along, this is the biggest stinker of maybe 300-some odd whiskies I've tried. Let me lead you by the hand into an explanation of why Pendleton is simultaneously terrible and ponderously dumb. 
Overall Rating:   

Belvedere Vodka

Belvedere Vodka

Maybe being a vodka for gin drinkers is something of a dubious selling point, but I buy Belvedere because it's actually distinctive. If you're normally dismissive of the spirit category, this is a good product that could lead to a difference of opinion.  
Overall Rating: ★★☆

Atlantico Private Cask Rum

Atlantico Private Cask Rum

A rum you've probably never heard of at a quality and price point that will make you take notice. Thanks, Dominican Republic! 
Overall Rating: ★★☆

Glenlivet 15 French Oak Reserve

Glenlivet 15 French Oak Reserve

A lot of people (unfairly) pass over the entire Glenlivet range figuring the distillery is too big to be good. Those people would be missing out on the 15. 
Overall Rating: ★★☆

Benromach 10

Benromach 10

An extraordinarily big scotch from an itty-bitty distillery that might have otherwise escaped your notice.  
Overall Rating: ★★★

Lagavulin 16

Lagavulin 16

Though the joke might be wearing thin, Ron Swanson most definitely isn't wrong on this one. It's a whisky that manages to be refined in spite of how ubiquitous it is in the world. 
Overall Rating: ★★☆

Benriach Solstice 17

Benriach Solstice 17

Sometimes I have people over who have never tasted whiskey before, and if they make it through whatever I have on hand that's encouraging and delicious to expert and fresh palates alike, I typically reach for something that's a real powerhouse for the second or third glass.  Overall Rating: ★★★

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt

It's always surprising to me that Japanese whisky has such a huge following when the name of the game is subtlety.  Overall Rating: ★☆☆