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arbeck: Well said! The deception going on in the Rye biz is unacceptable and damaging to the industry in the long run. Spirits writer Chuck Cowdery has written extensively about what's this topic:

http://chuckcowdery.blogspot.com/

another vote for Rittenhouse BIB, it should be on this list. It's not only a world class Rye, it's the best bang-for the-buck in the Rye game. Avoid the Rittenhouse 80 Proof, it's a pale shadow of it's Bonded brother.

1. London Dry Gin such as Beefeater's AND an aromatic gin such as Plymouth or Hendricks
2.Light rum such as Flor de Caña White or Brugal
3.Dark rum like Coruba
4.Jamaican Rum such as Appleton Reserve
5.Aromatic hogo rich Rum Agricole such as La Favorite Vieux
6.Bourbon such as Old Forester Bonded
7.Rye such as Rittenhouse Bonded
8.Sweet Vermouth such Dolin Vermouth de Chambéry
9.Dry Vermouth such as Dolin Vermouth de Chambéry
10.Real Absinthe
11.VSOP Cognac such as Paul Giraud
12.Batavia Arrack such as Van Oosten
13.Cointreau AND Grand Marnier
14. Blended Scotch such as Teachers Highland cream
15. Deluxe Blended Scotch such as Walker Double Black Label
16. Single Malt Scotch such as Highland Park 18 Year
17. Calvados such as Busnel VSOP
18. Various esoteric liqueurs such as Allspice Liqueur, Falernum, Amaro, Amaretto and others
19.Mixing Brandy such as Paul Masson VSOP or Hardy's VS Cognac
20. Bitters of many varieties.

But hey that's just me........

My favorite hot mulled wine is a Victorian punch called Smoking Bishop, which was famously featured in several of Charles Dickens' novels. It's mulled red wine and port, with the addition of sour oranges. Here's an historically authentic recipe from Dickens's Great-Grandson, Cedric Dickens:

http://www.britannia.com/cooking/cedric.html

Dover Sole, hands down. Fluke is great too-and a lot less expensive.

Don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash.