Review: Western Son Big Stripe Watermelon Vodka
Western Son Big Stripe Watermelon Vodka is one of eight flavored vodkas created at the Western Son Distillery in a former panty factory in Pilot Point Texas. Believe it or not there are over 1200 cultivars of watermelon. Big Stripe is a member of the Crimson Sweet Watermelon family and is commonly grown in Texas. It has a light green rind and darker green stripes. The flesh is red and sweet with large black seeds. The Western Son vodka base is made from yellow corn, and is distilled ten times through a 20 foot column still and filtered four times. Water filtered through reverse osmosis is blended to reduce to proof. Natural watermelon essence and natural flavors are blended with the original vodka base before bottling at 60 proof. Read more 
Review: Dulce Vida Pineapple Jalapeno Tequila
Dulce Vida Pineapple Jalapeno Tequila was just released. It joins a flavored tequila lineup that includes Grapefruit and Lime. Dulce Vida is produced in the Village of San Ignacio Cerro Gordo with 100% Organic blue agave grown for eight years to a height of about 5 foot tall. The pinas weighing up to 200 pounds are chopped and slow roasted for 20 hours in steel auto claves. After cooking, the pinas are milled and rinsed. The by-product of the milling, is a sweet liquid called “must” or honey water. A proprietary yeast strain is added and a slow open air fermentation follows. Master Distiller Carlos Jurado double distills the tequila. Real pineapple, jalapeno, and natural flavors are infused with the tequila base before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Smirnoff Sourced Watermelon Vodka
Smirnoff Sourced Watermelon Vodka was just released. It joins their Sourced Vodka lineup that includes Pineapple, Ruby Red Grapefruit, and Cranberry Apple flavors. Smirnoff Sourced Watermelon is made from a vodka base of Smirnoff Recipe 21 vodka. Real fruit juice from concentrate and natural flavors are added. Unlike several flavored vodka’s on the market today, no high fructose corn syrup is added. Real fruit juice flavored vodka is a product category also occupied by the Shady Fruit, Stoli Crushed, and E&J Gallo owned, High Noon brands. Read more
Review: Ciroc French Vanilla
Ciroc French Vanilla Vodka was just released. This is Ciroc’s eighth flavored vodka. Since 2007 Sean Diddy Combs has handled marketing and promotion of the Ciroc brand. In February, DJ Khaled and French Montana became Brand Ambassadors of Ciroc Vodka. Ciroc French Vanilla is French Montana’s first Ciroc flavor release. Ciroc French Vanilla is made with vodka distilled five times from fine French grapes in the Charente-Maritime Region of France. The spirit is infused with natural flavors, and a distinctive blend of vanilla flavors from multiple sources including Madagascar vanilla. Read more
Review: New Amsterdam Raspberry Vodka
New Amsterdam Raspberry Vodka was just released. This is New Amsterdam’s ninth flavored vodka. New Amsterdam Lemon was also recently introduced. These two flavors should not be confused with New Amsterdam Citron made with Lemon and Lime flavor, or New Amsterdam Red Berry made with Blackberry, Strawberry and Raspberry flavor. New Amsterdam Vodka is part of the growing line of spirits produced by E&J Gallo, that includes New Amsterdam Gin, Shellback Rum, Rum Haven Coconut Rum, Familia Camarena Tequila, and E&J Brandy. New Amsterdam Raspberry Vodka is made from the finest grains. It is distilled 5 times and filtered 3 times. Natural Raspberry flavors are infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: St Patricks Irish Cream Liqueur
St Patricks Irish Cram Liqueur is produced by The Galloway Company of Neenah Wisconsin. Galloway has been supplying an American made cream liqueur base for over ten years. Their customer base includes companies blending this base with bourbon, rum, vodka, and wine. RumChata is one of their customers. St Patricks Irish Cream is contract produced at the Minhas Distillery in Monroe Wisconsin. It is made with Irish Whisky, real Wisconsin dairy cream, and natural flavors. Read more
Review: New Amsterdam Lemon Vodka
New Amsterdam Lemon Vodka was just released. This is New Amsterdam’s eighth flavored vodka. A Ninth, Raspberry will arrive next month. New Amsterdam Vodka sales grew by 36% in 2016 and now exceed 5 million cases per year. This makes them the second largest domestic vodka brand, trailing only Smirnoff. Not bad for a vodka first introduced in 2011. New Amsterdam Lemon starts with a vodka base made from the finest grains. It is distilled 5 times and filtered 3 times. Natural lemon flavors are infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Jim Beam Vanilla
Jim Beam Vanilla was just released. It joins a flavored whiskey lineup that includes an Apple, Honey, Black Cherry, Maple and their Cinnamon Flavored Kentucky Fire Whiskey. The bourbon base of Jim Beam Vanilla is made with a secret mix of corn, rye, and barley malt. Limestone filtered water and some “set back” up to 40% of the old mash from the previous distillation, is added to the 10,000 gallon cooker. Since Prohibition ended over 75 years ago the same strain of jug yeast is added. This yeast is used in the fermentation process once the mash is cooked and cooled. It is distilled in a 65 foot tall column still, and then distilled a second time in a doubler, similar to a pot still. The bourbon is aged in brand new charred oak barrels. While no age statement is provided for Jim Beam Vanilla, Jim Beam Original is aged for 4 years. Madagascar Vanilla Liqueur is blended with the bourbon base before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Feria de Jalisco Blanco Tequila
Feria de Jalisco Blanco Tequila is made at Grupo Tequilero Weber Distillery by Hugo Yerenas, son of Luis Yerenas a 40 year career Master distiller for Casa Cuervo’s super premiums including 1800. Feria De Jalisco is made from 100% single estate agave, grown for 7-8 years in the Lowland Region. The pinas are slow baked in a traditional stone oven. Once extracted the agave juice is naturally fermented for 72 hours. A Stainless steel/ Copper Alembic double distillation follows. Read more
Review: Western Son Vodka
Western Son Vodka was first produced in Carrollton Texas at a distillery built in 2011. Growth has exceeded that distilleries capability and Western Son is now made at their new distillery that once housed a former panty factory in Pilot Point Texas. They also create six flavored vodka’s and three whiskeys. Like their better known Texas neighbors Tito’s, and Deep Eddy, Western Son Vodka is made from yellow corn. It is distilled ten times through a 20 foot column still and quadruple filtered. Water filtered through reverse osmosis is blended with the vodka to reduce to 80 proof. Read more