Fruit liqueurs — especially as made and marketed in the United States — have a tendency to veer toward sugar to the point of being unpalatable. No such trouble with the newly released Sevilla, by J. Carver of Waconia. This whiskey-based spirit is aged for a year in barrels along with fresh orange peel and vanilla beans, and it clocks in at a full 80 proof. The flavors added to the whiskey are clean and strong without tasting of chemicals or overwhelming the palate.
The addition of a tasteful amount of sugar brings this spirit into the realm of liqueurs, but not aggressively. The balance between vanilla, orange, whiskey, and sweetness is deft, and the liqueur could comfortably be served on the rocks or used as a base or complementary spirit in a craft cocktail. There are, no doubt, some fierce Champagne punches, vanilla margaritas, and Old Fashioneds waiting to be created with Sevilla in a meaningful supporting role.