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In the spirit of the season

Citizen Staff Writer

TASTE PLUS

We’ve culled from USA TODAY’s annual sparkling wines and spirits gift guide to highlight spirits for giving this season, emphasizing new products that offer good value and/or exceptional quality (retail prices are approximate):

At least 4,000 elixirs are available in the U.S. market, according to USA TODAY. That’s an impressive number, even though at least 700 of them are run-of-the-mill vodkas. (A notable exception: the Herb’s Aromatic Vodka line that comes in fennel, dill, cilantro and rosemary flavors and costs $30 a bottle.)

If you’re shopping for a connoisseur, it says, the most exciting new products in recent years are:

• agricole rums from the Caribbean and South America made from sugar-cane juice (not the cruder molasses)

• rye whiskeys from American distillers

• single-malt Scotch whiskys matured in various types of oak casks

• undiluted “cask-strength” whiskys from Scotland and American whiskeys

Traditionalists who prefer blended whiskey should take note of Crown Royal’s new XR (about $150), the first new offering from the famous Canadian producer in 16 years.

TOP PICKS

Rum

• Oronoco Fazenda Reserva, Brazil, $35

• Depaz Blue Cane Amber Rhum Agricole, Martinique, $40

Rye/bourbon/Canadian whiskey

• 1997 Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon, $25

• Michter’s US1 Small Batch Bourbon, $35

• Van Winkle Family Reserve 13-Year-Old Rye, $40

Scotch whisky

• Dewar’s Aberfeldy Highland 12-Year-Old Single Malt, $40

• Compass Box Oak Cross Malt, $48

• Highland Park 15-Year-Old Single Malt, $60

Ports

• Churchill’s 10-Year-Old Tawny Port, $30

• 2004 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Port, Portugal, $50

• 2004 Fonseca Quinta de Panascal Port, Portugal, $50

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