Best Spirits

Testing booze under the guise of research is almost criminal - but hey, someone's got to do it! So without any further ado, here are some certified BEST-tested libations.

The Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1964
Only 800 bottles of this single-malt Scotch whiskey, matured for two decades in sherry and traditional oak casts, are available in the United States. Master distiller Jim Cryle leaves the Scotch in full-cask strength, forgoing the filtering process that dilutes the whiskey. The result: a rich, spicy Scotch whiskey that lingered long after we finished our Cubans. Each bottle comes with a collectable wooden box. ($2,000; www.theglenlivet.com/society)

Jameson 18-Year Old Master Selection
This smooth Irish drink comes from a blend of three different whiskeys hand-selected by master blender Barry Walsh. Each variety has matured 18-23 years separately in Spanish Oloroso sherry barrels. The trio of whiskeys is then combined for six months in bourbon barrels for a soothing finish without the bite of traditional Irish whiskeys. ($65: www.jameson.ie)

Grand Havana Rum Reserva Excelencia
This boutique distillery uses a century-old family recipe to create a remarkable premium sipping rum. The rum ages up to seven years inside 100-year-old charred sherry casks from Spain. But what separates it from the mass-produced pack, is its blend of several vintages that, in combination with the casks, give Grand Havana a rich flavor reminiscent of a European cognac. Each bottle comes in a decorative alligator-skin-like case and is handnumbered according to batch number and recorded at the distillery. ($26; www.grandhavanarum.com)

Wyborowa Single Estate Vodka
The Museum of Modern Art-style bottle, specially designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, houses equally impressive single-rye vodka from the Wyborowa (pronounced BROH`vah) Estate in Poland. The nearly 200-year-old estate is one of few that grows its own grain and distills in-house. The result is clean tasting vodka certain to please both martini lovers and interior decorators. ($30; www.wyborowa.at)