The Booze Wars - Honorable Mentions
Hey guys, Joe A. here with another one for ya'! As tight as The Booze Wars lineup is, narrowing it down to just 32 fragrances wasn’t easy and a few absolute heavy hitters were in the mix right up until the final cuts. These honorable mentions weren’t excluded because they lack quality, performance or boozy character, but because the brackets demanded balance, clarity and well-defined roles. If anything, these scents prove just how deep the boozy category really is and why building a focused war means ole Joe A.'s gotta make some tough calls... --- Roja Enigma Pour Homme Cologne --- Enigma is one of Roja Dove’s most recognizable signatures, blending rich cognac, wet tobacco, sweet vanilla, spices and citrus into a plush, polished boozy profile that straddles classic perfumery and modern indulgence. Where it would’ve fit: The Drinker or The Barrel, but it overlaps heavily with the “boozy authority” lane already represented. Why it missed: not due to quality, but because that specific role was already filled by stronger archetype fits. --- Navitus Parfums Raised Spirits --- Raised Spirits was designed from the ground up as a rum-forward boozy gourmand, layering dark rum, caramel, brown sugar, tobacco, oak and vanilla into a rich, dessert-like fragrance with clear alcohol intent. Where it would’ve fit: The Drinker, with a secondary pull toward The Barrel due to its oak and tobacco backbone. Why it missed: the Drinker bracket already leaned heavy into sweet boozy indulgence, and this one lost out on redundancy rather than merit. --- Plume Impressions Royal Bourbon --- Royal Bourbon leans into a rum-and-tobacco gourmand style, opening with spice and sweetness before settling into caramel, vanilla, amber and woods that emphasize warmth and comfort.