1. Little Book
During the advent of American whiskeymaking, the budding spirit was distinguished by notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak, and the latest installment of Freddie Noe’s Little Book series pays tribute to those roots. For the 121.8-proof Chapter 9, dubbed None for Granted, Noe, the eighth-generation master distiller at Fred B. Noe Distillery, blended seven- and eight-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys with an eight-year-old Kentucky straight rye whiskey, resulting in layers of apple, butterscotch, and baking spice.
SRP: $159.99 per 750-ml bottle
littlebookwhiskey.com
2. Souleil
Just before fermentation, a gentle maceration lends the 2024 vintage of Souleil Vin de Bonté Le Rosé a distinctively summery pale pink sheen. Made with organically farmed Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault from Southern France, its white cherry and citrus peel notes complement tapas and charcuterie plates.
SRP: $16.99 per 750-ml bottle
souleilwines.com
3. Alois Lageder
In 2024, Alto Aldige winery Alois Lageder completed its conversion to organic and biodynamic certification, and Misto Mare reflects this poignant transition. Although it’s a white wine, it flaunts a blend of 14 white and red grape varieties that put forth delicate flower and lemon zest flavors. The extremely lightweight bottle is adorned with a striking label by Finnish artist Klaus Haapaniemi.
SRP: $19.99 per 750-ml bottle
aloislageder.eu
4. Citadelle
Swayed by memories of the preserves his grandmother prepared from scratch with orchard fruit, Maison Ferrand’s Alexandre Gabriel was spurred to create the sweet and tart Citadelle Gin Rouge. The infusion of fresh red fruits—cranberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackcurrant, and rhubarb—buoy Citadelle’s signature roster of 19 botanicals and work especially well in a refreshing Bramble.
SRP: $29.99 per 700-ml bottle
maisonferrand.com
5. The Bitter Truth
Germany’s Bavaria region is the inspiration behind Hazy Hops, The Bitter Truth’s latest innovation. Melding Caribbean rums and other spirits, as well as citrus peels, dried fruits, botanicals, and of course hops, the bitters are an ode to The Bitter Truth’s production home, where hops have been cultivated for over 1,000 years. Grassy, smoky, and citrusy, they are ideal for elevating classics like the Negroni and Daiquiri.
SRP: $22.99 per 200-ml bottle
the-bitter-truth.com
6. Diplomático
Diplomático has launched the limited edition Single Vintage 2013. For the first time, the Venezuelan rum brand has brought together all three of its distillates—pot still, column, and batch kettle. The novel blend, distilled back in 2013, was then matured for a decade in former whiskey casks, building up to a rich spirit that mingles notes of dark chocolate, cherry, and raisin.
SRP: $120 per 700-ml bottle
ron.diplomatico.com
7. Château Gassier
Summer’s bounty of seafood dishes is even more inviting when accompanied by a light, fresh wine like Château Gassier’s Côtes de Provence rosé 2024. A combination of lightly pressed, organic Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Vermentino grapes, it opens with aromas of peach, nectarine, and Corsican clementine.
SRP: $24.99 per 750-ml bottle
gassier-provence.fr
8. Good Distillations
Portland, Oregon-based Good Distillations kicks off its earth-friendly range of spirits with Weekender Wheat whisky. Made in small batches from soft red winter wheat and aged for a minimum of four years in toasted and charred American white oak barrels, the easy-to-drink, 84-proof spirit is ambitiously packaged in a 100 percent recycled paperboard bottle. Five times lighter than glass, it contains an interior liner to protect the liquid.
SRP: $59.95 per 750-ml bottle
gooddistillations.com
9. Curious Elixirs
For a decade now, Curious Elixirs has been turning out alcohol-free beverages infused with adaptogens. Its newest addition is Curious Zero, a zero-proof craft lager centered on maca root to nurture vitality and lion’s mane to boost cognitive function, but the beer is also enlivened with roasted barley, Yakima hops from the Pacific Northwest, American oak, clarified lime, sea salt, and golden apple.
SRP: $79 per 12-pack of 340-ml bottles
curiouselixirs.com
10. Koloa Rum
A rush of hot cinnamon underpinned by subtle spice floods the palate in Koloa Cane Fire rum. Distilled from pure cane sugar in a vintage 1,210-gallon, steam-powered copper pot still, it incorporates filtered water from ancient Mount Wai’ale’ale and is slowly macerated with cinnamon grown at OK Farms in Hilo, on Hawaii’s Big Island.
SRP: $32.99 to $35.99 per 750-ml bottle
koloarum.com
11. Gérard Bertrand
Gérard Bertrand’s Trouble wines are organic, vegan, and unfiltered. Pairing Syrah and Grenache from the South of France, the unclarified rosé is decidedly rustic and cloudy. Evocative of the Mediterranean, it’s a fruity, citrusy companion to the season’s vegetable-topped pizzas and grilled chicken salads.
SRP: $24.99 per 750-ml bottle
gerard-bertrand.com
12. Eagle Rare
Buffalo Trace Distillery’s recently unveiled expansion project was pivotal in creating the 95-proof Eagle Rare 12 bourbon. Now a permanent addition to the lineup, which also includes Eagle Rare 10, Double Eagle Very Rare, Eagle Rare 25, and Eagle Rare 17, it showcases Buffalo Trace’s classic lowrye Mash Bill #1, aged for a minimum of 12 years. The whiskey’s almond aromas pave the way to vanilla and toasted oak on the palate, culminating in a toffee finish.
SRP: $49.99 per 750-ml bottle
buffalotracedistillery.com
