Review: Hanson of Sonoma Organic Boysenberry Vodka
Hanson of Sonoma Organic Boysenberry Vodka was introduced in 2013. It is one of six vodka varieties crafted by the Hanson Family in Sonoma California. Each of their flavored vodka’s start with their original vodka base. This vodka base is small batch distilled with organic Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, French Colombard Grapes, and pure artesian well water in a pot and column still that has 50 distillation plates. A proprietary seven stage filtration follows. Fresh wild boysenberry’s are immersed in the vodka, infusing and naturally coloring the vodka. Read more 
Review: Dos Armadillos Plata Tequila
Dos Armadillos Plata Tequila is crafted at Premium de Jalisco in the Village of Mazamitia, 7220 feet above sea level. It is made from 100% Blue Agave grown for a minimum of 8 years in Amatitan. Once harvested the pinas are split into four pieces and slow cooked with steam in a stainless steel autoclave. The temperature is gradually increased to 198 degrees over a period of several hours. Steam is generated and injected into the oven. The pinas are washed to remove the bitter honey, waxes, and agave cuticles that give the juice an unpleasant taste. The pinas are chopped into small pieces and than crushed by very heavy rollers to extract the juice. After fermenting for seven days with a unique yeast strain the tequila is double distilled in small batches. The tequila is immediately poured into handcrafted crystal bottles featuring two green tinted armadillos. Read more
Review: 8 Degree Cucumber Vodka
8 Degree Cucumber Vodka is made from grain. It is distilled eight times in the Netherlands. Pristine spring water is added to reduce to proof. After arriving in California, the Levecke Corporation adds cucumber flavor before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Decada Silver Tequila
Decada Silver Tequila is produced at Tequila Quiote S.A. de C.V. This distillery has been owned and operated by the same family for over 150 years. Decada Silver Tequila is made from 100% Blue agave grown for 10 years in brick red soil, 10,000 feet above sea level on a single 1000 acre estate. Once harvested the agave are steam roasted in steel ovens for 8-11 hours. The pinas are slow crushed and shredded to extract the juice. The agave juice is fermented with yeast from the leaves of the agave in stainless steel vats for 3-5 days. The tequila is twice distilled in copper pot stills. A 60 hour aeration follows where pure oxygen is circulated through the tequila. Pure water filtered through reverse osmosis is blended to reduce to 80 proof. The tequila then rests for 48 hours in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling in their distinctive X shaped . Read more
Review: Bacardi Major Lazer Rum
Bacardi Major Lazer Rum was recently released. Bacardi hired DJ and Producer Jillionaire of the musical act Major Lazer to serve as the companies Minister of Rum. Major Lazer is an Electronic Music Trio who’s members include Diplo, Jillionaire, and Walshy Fire. They are probably best know for their mega hit Lean On. Jillionaire who grew up in Trinidad where rum is a big part of life, traveled to the company’s distillery in Puerto Rico and worked alongside Maestro de Ron Manny Oliver in developing this Limited Edition rum. It is made from a blend of 3 and 4 year old amber rums filtered before and after tropical aging. Read more
Review: Veil Watermelon Vodka
Veil Watermelon Vodka was recently released. It is one of 26 flavored vodkas made by Distiller Sales in Princeton Minnesota. This brand can be found at Total Wine and More. If you have been to a Total Wine and More store you may have noticed Veil and several other brands also produced by Distiller Sales including Decadent, Truestone, Drake, Luxus, Starr Blu, Ice Cap, and Red Medal Vaatka. Veil Watermelon is made from premium grains and pristine water. The vodka base is distilled five times and charcoal filtered. Watermelon flavor is added before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Adelaides Dreamsicle
Adelaides Dreamsicle is a cream liqueur made from Orange wine, natural flavors, and real dairy cream. This is one of three new liqueurs recently released by Carr Spirits. What is orange wine? There are actually two types of orange wine. One is made from white wine grapes that are left to macerate with their skins on. This wine originated in the Republic of Georgia and about five years ago some wineries in the US started making it here. The orange wine used in crafting Adelaides Dreamsicle is made from the other orange wine, which is made from fruit. These orange wines are commonly used in RTD brands including Tekeen and BeatBox. Like the previously reviewed, and home kitchen created Adelaides Coconut, and Adelaides Caramel Mocha Mojo, Adelaides Dreamsicle is made from genuine ingredients with no artificial flavors added. Read more
Review: Prairie Organic Cucumber Vodka
Prairie Organic Cucumber Vodka was released in 2013. It is made from organic #2 yellow corn grown by a co-op of 900 farmers in Central Minnesota. After harvest the corn is brought to a farmer owned co-op where it is ground up and put into a mash where it ferments. The mash is then delivered to the Prairie Distillery and distilled in a copper still. The vodka is distilled in small batches to taste rather than a set number of times. Water, sugar, natural flavor and salt are blended with the vodka base to create Prairie Organic Cucumber Vodka. Read more
Review: FrappaChata Iced Coffee
FrappaChata Iced Coffee was recently released for sale in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. National distribution will soon follow. It is made from a blend of RumChata and dark roast coffee. RumChata is a blend of five times distilled Caribbean rum, Wisconsin dairy cream, and cinnamon, with natural and artificial flavors. FrappaChata Iced Coffee is currently available in 1.75 liter and 100ml mini sample bottles. Read more
Review: DesMaDre Blanco Tequila
DesMaDre Blanco Tequila was launched January 2016 by company founder Marcos J Higareda. It is crafted at the Casa Ramirez Distillery by the father and son team of Rosendo Ramirez Gamirio, and Rosendo Ramirez Falcon. This is the same distillery that created the original Deleon Tequila. Deleon was sold in 2014 to Diageo and Sean Diddy Combs. Deleon is now produced at NOM 1535. DesMaDre Blanco is made from non GMO Highland grown agave that is hand harvested. The agave is cooked slowly in a pressure steam autoclave using pure spring water. It is fermented in stainless steel tanks with a proprietary yeast. A double distillation in stainless steel pot stills with a copper lining follows. The tequila is chill filtered before bottling unaged. Read more