Review: Puerto Angel Blanco Rum
Puerto Angel Blanco Rum was launched in the US the summer of 2015. It is crafted at a distillery founded in 1938 by the Krassel family. The family also grows their own sugarcane in the Oaxaca Mountains of Mexico. The hand harvested cane sugar is delivered by donkey down the mountain side to the distillery. The cane is immediately pressed. Fermentation with wild yeast begins within 24 hours of harvest. The spirit is small batch double distilled in copper pot stills, and aged for six months in oak casks. Read more 
Review: Two Brothers Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
Two Brothers Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur is made from Two Brothers Coffee Roasters Cold Brew of Central and South American coffees, and Two Brothers Artisan Vodka. Two Brothers roasts their coffee beans in a 77 pound eco-friendly roaster in Warrenville Illinois at Two Brothers Brewing Company. The signature cold brew is brewed separately for 24 hours before blending with their vodka. Extensive experimentation went into crafting a cold brew that would compliment their spirits. They created a dozen cold brews before selecting this one. Read more
Review: Barr Hill Vodka
Barr Hill Vodka was introduced in 2012. Todd Hardie, Caledonia Spirits Founder spent over 40 years as a beekeeper before deciding to craft spirits from his raw organic Vermont honey. The Caledonia Spirits Distillery is located on the banks of the Lamoille River in Hardwick Vermont. In late summer each year the distillery takes delivery of hundreds of barrels of pure raw honey. It takes 4-5 pounds of raw honey to craft one bottle of vodka. The honey is cold fermented for over 3 weeks and small batch distilled, first in a pot still and then in a custom column still. Their recipe depends on two simple principles, they never heat the honey prior to distillation, and they never distill more than twice. Read more
Review: Cantinero Blanco Tequila
Cantinero Blanco Tequila was released in the US in 2018. It has been available for some time in Mexico. Cantinero is produced at Tequila Orendain de Jalisco, and named for the distilleries founder, Don Eduardo Orendain’s beloved bull. An image of the bull is embossed on the bottle. It is made from 100% Weber Blue Tequilana agave, estate grown and hand harvested and trimmed at its flavor peak. The agave is split in half and cooked for 18 hours at temperatures up to 105C. The pina’s are shredded to extract the juice and then fermented with yeast for 72 hours before a double distillation. Read more
Review: Blood Sweat and Tears Vodka
Blood Sweat and Tears vodka was recently released. The name represents origin, blood; work ethic, sweat; and the struggle of all triumphs and tribulations, tears. Brand creator Umberto Luchini, is a former Campari America Marketing VP who previously worked on Espolon Tequila. Blood Sweat and Tears Vodka is triple distilled in Eugene Oregon by Ben Green from locally grown Pacific Northwest winter wheat and pure Cascade water. They mash, ferment, distill, freeze filter, and hand bottle everything out of a repurposed old laundromat. The matte black glass bottle features artwork depicting Oregon landmarks including Benson Footbridge and Lost Lake. Benson Footbridge traverses Multnomah Creek between the cascades of Multnomah Falls. Lost Lake is a lake in Sisters Oregon that disappears down a hole every spring. Read more
Review: Sobieski Cytron Vodka
Sobieski Cytron Vodka was released in the US in 2009. Sobieski is the number one selling vodka in Poland. The brand is named for King Jan III Sobieski. At one time Sobieski produced eleven flavored vodka’s for the US market. They now have four, including Orange, Vanilla, and Raspberry. Each flavored vodka is crafted with Dankowski rye and crystalline water from Oligocene springs. The vodka is distilled in a continuous column still. Natural flavors are then infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: The Quiet Man Traditional Irish Whiskey
The Quiet Man Traditional Irish Whiskey was launched June 2015 along with The Quiet Man 8 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey. The Quiet Man, or An Fear Ciuin in Gaelic, is named to honor brand founder Ciaran Mulgrew’s father, who spent 50 years as a barman in the pubs of Belfast. A bartender sees a lot and hears a lot of stories but his father told no tales. It was The Barman’s Code. The whiskey is currently sourced, and said to have a high malt component, while their own distilled whiskey matures. It is triple distilled and matured in first fill American oak bourbon casks for 4 years. The Quiet Man is blended and bottled in Derry Ireland. Read more
Review: Kilbrin Irish Whiskey
Kilbrin Irish Whiskey is a private label brand owned and produced by Quality Spirits International. It is imported by Saranty Imports. The brand was established in 2017. Kilbrin Irish Whiskey, and Kilbrin Single Malt 10 Year Old Irish Whiskey are sold at Total Wine and More stores. The name was inspired by the lore of treasure hidden in the parish of Kilbrin. KIlbrin is triple distilled, and made by blending rich malt whiskey, produced from malted barley, with the finest grain whiskey in Ireland. The whiskey is sourced from unknown distilleries, and no age statement appear on the bottle. Read more
Review: Libelula Tequila Joven
Libelula Tequila Joven is as the name suggests a blend of different tequilas. In May 2016 the CNI Brands team visited Mexico with one goal, to create the best possible tequila for a Combier Margarita. Combier is an orange liqueur also produced by CNI brands. After visiting several distilleries, blending many samples, and tasting about 80 margarita’s they created Libelula. Libelula has been on our radar for some time now, but distribution is limited. The bottle we are reviewing is a blend of 75% blanco and 25% Reposado tequila and was distilled and blended at NOM 1592. I say the bottle we are reviewing, because Libelula is currently crafted at NOM 1604 with a blend of 80% blanco and 20% Reposado tequila. We hope to source the currently produced Libelula and compare the two. The firefly labeled bottle’s look identical, so check the back to identify which version you are holding. Read more
Review: Kavanagh Finest Irish Whiskey
Kavanagh Finest Irish Whiskey is a blended Irish whiskey. Our contacts believe the whiskey is distilled and sourced from Kilbeggan Distillery. It is aged for 4 years in ex-bourbon barrels and is currently sold at Total Wine and More stores. If you are not familiar with Total Wine and More, they currently have over 160 stores in 23 states, with more on the way. Total Wine and More also sells Kavanagh Single Grain Irish Whiskey, Kavanagh Single Malt Irish Whiskey, and Kavanagh Irish Cream Liqueur. Read more