'Tis the season for toasting

For some of us, any season is right for trying new cocktails, but for others, it needs to be a holiday or special occasion to break out the bubbly. Whatever category you may fall into, here's a sampling of some of the best the season has to offer:

From Moet Hennessy USA, New York, comes 10 Cane Rum, the first super premium brand in this category. We certainly weren't surprised that the makers of Moet & Chandon and Dom Perignon would produce such a light and smooth luxury rum, but we did raise an eyebrow to learn that it comes from Trinidad instead of one of the traditional islands. Yet, it seems Trinidad, with its rich, volcanic soil and abundance of sun, is the perfect place to grow sugar cane. Using only first press cane, the pure juice is distilled in small batches in pot stills imported from France and then aged in French oak barrels. The superior taste elevates any cocktail, including the Cuba Libre (rum and coke) and classic daiquiris, or can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or mixed with soda or tonic. For more information on 10 Cane Rum ($34.99, 750 ml), visit www.10cane.com.

With a history dating back more than 200 years, The Glenlivet distillery has grown from an illicit bootleg operation into a business that produces thousands of gallons of Scotch whisky each week. The newest addition to their acclaimed portfolio is The Glenlivet Nadurra, a small batch, single malt Scotch whisky bottled at natural cask strength--114.4 proof--making it more concentrated than most whiskies. After aging for a minimum of 16 years in first-fill American oak bourbon casks, Nadurra--meaning "natural" in Gaelic--has a round, honeyed taste. Since it is not chill filtered, the drink will develop a slight haze with the addition of water or ice. Imported by Pernod Ricard USA, White Plains, N.Y., The Glenlivet Nadurra retails for $60 for 750 ml.

A new taste in Russian vodka comes your way via SV Supreme, known as The Silk Vodka, from Soyuz-Victan, the third largest vodka marketer in the world. Combining hundreds of years of Russian vodka heritage with modern distilling techniques, SV Supreme is filtered 14 times to achieve its extraordinary purity and unparalleled natural smoothness. Pristine water sourced from 400-feet deep Artesian wells is filtered through a four-stage process and then a series of mountain crystals and silver ions to remove any remaining impurities. The water is blended with Luxe grade spirits--the highest quality as determined by the Russian government--and passed through natural mountain crystals yet again, resulting in a silky mouth feel and exceptional finish. For more information on SV Supreme ($26.99, 750 ml), visit www.svvodka.com.

For toasting life's special moments, Ballatore Cellars, Modesto, Calif., has two delicious, yet distinct sparkling wines that make them the perfect base for festive cocktails using traditional seasonal flavors. Made in the tradition of Spumantes from Italy's Asti region, but with the contemporary taste of California's grapes, Gran Spumante is delicate, with sweet melon flavors, while Rosso Red Spumante, with its vibrant, ruby color, offers the well-balanced flavors of raspberries and cherries. Combine equal parts cranberry juice and Rosso Red Spumante with a splash of orange liqueur in a champagne flute to create the classic holiday Poinsettia. For a Spiced Pear Tart-tini, combine pear liqueur, a splash of brandy, pear nectar, and lemon juice in a cinnamon-sugar rimmed martini glass. Top off with Gran Spumante and you've got a terrific holiday spirit! Ballatore Spumantes are priced at $7.99 for 750 ml bottles.

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