Fortified wines continue to be underappreciated considering how value driven and downright delicious they can be. One of 2018’s fortified wine entries to Ultimate Wine Challenge with a high score of 94 Points was Claque-Pepin Pommeau de Normandie.
American brandy tends to take a back seat to European expressions, but things are changing. The Argonaut line from California exemplifies just how capable the United States is of producing world class brandy. With high scores of 95 and 92 Points, these are a sign of what is to come from the domestic brandy market.
Amari are bitter liqueurs, traditionally from Italy, that combine plant botanicals into a sweet-bitter elixir. Originally developed to aid the digestion, they are now a prominent part of beverage programs across the world, beloved for their layers of complex flavor. Each product is unique, often boasting undisclosed ingredients in order to keep proprietary recipes secret. These are the top scoring amari from 2018’s Ultimate Spirit Challenge.
Not all flavored vodkas are created equal, and while the thought of flavored vodka may conjure up unpleasant memories for some imbibers, there are some truly delicious spirits from this category. Scoring 90 Points or above in the 2018 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, these 7 top scorers range in flavors from savory black pepper and cucumber to sweet chocolate and raspberry.