Review: Fortress Vodka
Fortress Vodka is produced at Fort Hamilton Distillery in Brooklyn New York. Alex Clark and his wife Amy Grindeland opened their distillery in the Industry City Complex, and started barreling whiskey in 2016. Industry City opened in 2013, and the 6 million square foot complex houses 550 companies in the former Bush Terminal. Construction of Bush Terminal began in the 1890’s and continued into the 1900’s. It was the largest multi tenant industrial property in the US. Fortress Vodka is made from 100% New York grown corn neutral spirit sourced from upstate New York, proofed with pristine water from the snow capped peaks of the Catskills Mountains. The spirit is carbon filtered over activated charcoal then bottled at 80 proof. Read more 
Review: Mijenta Cristalino Tequila Reposado
February 20, 2024 Mijenta announced the release of Mijenta Cristalino Tequila Reposado. It is the fourth tequila expression in the Mijenta product line. Former Bacardi CEO Mike Dolan partnered with Maestra Tequilera Ana Maria Romero Mena and Destiladora de Los Altos and they launched Mijenta Blanco in 2020. Mijenta Cristalino is made from 100% agave grown at high elevation in the microclimate and red soil Highland region of Arandas Jalisco Mexico. The hand selected agave is slow roasted in stainless steel autoclaves. The extracted juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks, double distilled and then fermented in symphony barrels made using American oak staves from forests in Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Virginia for 8 months. Each wood variety leaves its own flavor DNA based on the characteristics of the wood grain and the terroir of the oak. Once mature the tequila is blended and charcoal filtered to remove the color before bottling additive free. Read more
Review: Farm House Vodka
Farm House Vodka was launched November 2023 by Anytime Spirits which was founded by Maddy Rotman and Taylor Lanzet. They previously introduced Anytime Spritz April 2023. Farm House is the first vodka distilled from 100% single varietal regenerative organic Warthog hard red winter wheat. The wheat grown by Breathe Deep Farm in Hudson New York is stone ground, mashed, fermented and distilled from scratch on site at McClintock Distilling in Frederick Maryland. Read more
Review: Sprinter Vodka Soda
Kylie Jenner is releasing Sprinter Vodka Soda Nationwide tomorrow, March 21, 2024 in a four flavor eight can mix pack. Sprinter is made with premium vodka, sparkling water, real fruit juice, and natural flavors. Kylie worked with Chandra Richter a female beverage development expert with more than 20 years of beverage industry experience. Chandra is Head of Product Development and Operations for Sprinter. After over a year of taste testing they selected Grapefruit, Lime, Peach, and Black Cherry to launch the brand with. Each 12 oz. slim can weighs in with 4.5% alcohol and 100 calories with no added sugar. Read more
Review: Asesinato Tequila Anejo Cristalino
Asesinato Tequila Anejo Cristalino is one of three tequila expressions released by Danny Worsnop lead singer of Asking Alexandria, and fellow musician Cory Williams. They spent 2 years developing the brand. Asesinato translates to Murder. As someone who listens to Octane on Sirius Radio I’m very familiar with Danny’s music. Asesinato is distilled at Destiladora Del Valle de Tequila, also known as Casa Maestri. This distillery produces tequila for 122 brands including Casa Maestri, Sparkle Donkey, Los Azulejos, Nosotros, Hussongs, Aquamiel, and Cincoro. The tequila base of Asesinato is made from 100% agave grown in both the highland and lowland region. The agave is slow roasted in traditional brick ovens and double distilled in a copper pot still. The spirit is then barrel aged for 12 months in American oak then carbon filtered before bottling additive free. Read more
Review: Fercullen Falls Small Batch Irish Whiskey
Furcullen Falls Irish Whiskey is crafted at Powerscourt Distillery. The story begins when Gerry Ginty and Ashley Gardiner presented a proposal to build a whiskey distillery on Powerscourt Estate to the Slazenger Family. They accepted and soon after Mike Peirce and his son Alex Peirce joined the venture. They started building their 22,000 square foot distillery complete with custom built Forsyths stills, and in June 2018 they started distilling whiskey. Fercullen is the old Celtic territory of land that stretched from Dublin across the Wicklow Mountains. The Powerscourt Waterfall, located on the estate is Irelands largest waterfall. The land and waterfall are the inspiration for the Fercullen Falls name. Fercullen Falls Small Batch was the first release from the Powerscourt Distillery using whiskey distilled on site. It is made from a 50/50 blend of malt and grain whiskey. The malt whiskey is aged in first fill ex-bourbon barrels. The grain whiskey is aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and new heavy char oak casks. Read more
Review: Onda Tequila Blanco
Onda Tequila Blanco was recently released. This is the follow up to Onda Tequila Seltzer which was launched July 2020 by Noah Gray, Max Dworin, Kelli Adams, and Shay Mitchell. Onda Tequila Seltzer was made with tequila distilled at Destiladora del Valle de Tequila. For Onda Tequila they partnered with Grupo Solave. Grupo Solave also produces 818, Astral, and Superbird Tequila. Onda is made from 100% agave grown in the valley region of Amatitan. The hand selected pinas are trimmed and cut in half then slow cooked in steam ovens at a temperature of 90 degrees celsius. The cooked agave is milled with a traditional volcanic stone tahona. The juice is open air fermented and exposed to the natural yeasts in the Amatitan air in stainless steel tanks. The spirit is then double distilled in handmade copper pot stills prior to bottling. Read more
Review: Minke Irish Vodka
With six days left until St Patrick’s Day I thought I would pick up a couple bottles of Irish spirits, one Irish vodka, and one Irish whiskey. Today’s selection is Minke Vodka. On Friday we will post our Irish whiskey review. Minke Irish Vodka is crafted at Clonakilty Distillery, a family owned distillery founded by Helen and Michael Scully. They opened March 2019. The Scully family has farmed this coastal land for 9 generations. The Minke Whale that swims in the Atlantic off the coast of Clonakilty Ireland was the inspiration for the name. They currently produce 3 Irish Whiskies, a gin, and Minke vodka. Clonakilty is a grain to glass distillery that grows most of the barley used to craft their Irish whiskey on their family farm. The balance is sourced within 15 km of the distillery. The whey, a bi-product of dairy and milk production, used to distill their vodka and gin comes from milk produced on their family farm. Minke Irish Vodka is distilled on their copper pot stills and bottled onsite. Read more
Review: RumChata Pineapple Cream
RumChata Pineapple Cream was just released. It joins Original RumChata, RumChata Limon, Coconut Cream, Pumpkin Spice, and Peppermint Bark. It all started when after 35 years in the liquor business Tom Maas retired from Jim Beam in 2005. He soon became bored and started formulating Agave Loco a tequila steeped with sweet and hot peppers. RumChata made with Caribbean rum, Wisconsin dairy cream and Mexican spice followed. Tom sold his first case of RumChata October 2009. It is now the second best selling cream liqueur in North America, only trailing Bailey’s Irish Cream. In 2021 Tom Maas sold to E&J Gallo instead of higher offers because they agreed to acquire his Midwest Custom Bottling plant and retain his 35 employees. E&J also acquired his Tippy Cow and Holly Nog brands in the deal. While no ingredient list is provided we know RumChata Pineapple Cream is made with 5 times distilled light Caribbean rum, Wisconsin dairy cream, and pineapple flavors. Read more
Review: Lockhouse Vodka
Lockhouse Vodka is crafted at Lockhouse Distillery in the historic Cobblestone district of Buffalo New York. Lockhouse was founded by Chad Vosseller, Jon Mirro, Niko Georgiadis, Thomas Jablonski, and Cory Muscato. They opened their doors September 2015. This was the first distillery in Buffalo New York since Prohibition. In addition to vodka their website shows they currently produce 4 Gins, Coffee Liqueur, Amaro, and Ibisco Bitter liqueur. A look at their Instagram page shows a Top Secret Toasted Coconut Caramel Coffee liqueur, and a Bourbon Toffee Coffee liqueur. Lockhouse Vodka is triple distilled on a multifunction 80 gallon still from grapes grown on the Niagara wine trail. Once distilled the spirit rests for 1 week in a stainless steel tank prior to bottling. Read more