Review: Ketel One Botanical Peach and Orange Blossom
Ketel One Botanical Peach and Orange Blossom is one of three new Botanical vodka’s just released by Ketel One. The other varieties include Cucumber and Mint, and Grapefruit and Rose. Each variety starts with the Original Ketel One vodka which is made from 100% GMO Free European Wheat. The Ketel One base is redistilled with the Nolet Family’s botanical recipe in small batches through traditional copper pot stills. After distillation, the liquid is infused with the natural fruit essence specific to each variety. In this case Peach and Orange Blossoms. No artificial flavors, sugars or carbs are added before bottling at 60 proof. Each 1.5 oz. serving has 73 calories. This is 40% less than a 5 oz. glass of white wine. Read more 
Review: Adictivo Plata Tequila
Adictivo Plata Tequila is produced by Gildardo Partida at Tequilas Gonzalez Lara. Gildardo is the Grandson and son of world famous Tequileros. The hand selected 100 % blue agave is crushed with a Tahone stone to extract the juice which is slow cooked in stone brick ovens and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. The spirit is double distilled in stainless with copper coil stills and then aged for three weeks in French oak barrels. The spirit is then filled and hand labeled in a very unique bottle. Read more
Review: Heeet Hot Cinnamon Vodka
Heeet Hot Cinnamon Vodka was the first product made by MerryGo Spirits which was founded in 2016 by entrepreneur Marc Goldberg. It is distilled and bottled by Citrus Distillers in Riviera Beach Florida. The vodka base is small batch distilled six times in 250 gallon batches and carbon filtered. Natural flavors are infused before bottling at 68 proof. Read more
Review: Cenote Blanco Tequila
Cenote Blanco Tequila is an ultra premium 100% Weber blue agave recently launched by SPI Group, the parent company of Stoli Vodka, Bayou Rum, Kah Tequila, and Kentucky Owl Bourbon. Cenote is named for the natural swimming holes formed by the collapse of porous limestone bedrock which revealed a secret subterranean world of crystal clear fresh water. The Mayans revered and named cenotes, meaning sacred well. Master Distiller Arturo Fuentes and Master Blender Alejandro Garcia Perez manage the entire process at Fabrica de Tequilos Finos. This is the distillery that also produces Dos Manos, El Diamante Del Cielo, Kirkland Signature, and Kah tequila. Cenote is made from 100% blue agave grown for a minimum 6-7 years before harvesting from the Lowland Region. The water used to craft Cenote is sourced from an artesian well located at the distillery. The water is further filtered through reverse osmosis and carbon filters with silver ions. Cenote is double distilled using a combination of copper and stainless steel pot stills. After distillation the tequila is mellowed in American oak barrels for 3 weeks before bottling. Read more
Review: Mezan XO Jamaican Rum
Mezan XO Jamaican Rum is made in small batches of 5000 bottles from rums produced by several different Jamaican distilleries. While no age statement is published on the bottles label or the companies website, several reliable sources claim these rums are aged from 4-23 years. Three of the distilleries said to produce rum for this blend include Monymusk, Worthy Park, and Hampden. These casks are shipped to England where the Master Blender carefully selects and blends these rums and then re-casks the rum in bourbon barrels to encourage the marriage of flavors. The rum is unsweetened, uncolored, and only lightly filtered before bottling at 80 proof. Read more
Review: Bushmills Red Bush Irish Whiskey
Bushmills Red Bush Irish Whiskey was released in the US March 2017, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. It is a blend of triple distilled Irish single malt whiskey made from 100% malted barley and water drawn from Saint Columbs Rill, a tributary of the River Bush, and Irish grain whiskey. Bushmills Red Bush is matured exclusively in first fill bourbon casks for a minimum of four years. This contrasts to Bushmills Black Bush which is matured in Oloroso sherry casks. Read more
Review: Powers Signature Release
Powers Signature Release is a single pot still Irish whiskey matured mainly in American oak barrels with a subtle inclusion of first fill Oloroso sherry casks. Powers Signature was introduced in the US September 2013. It followed the launch of John’s Lane Release a single pot still whiskey matured for no less than 12 years. No age statement is provided for Powers Signature Release. The whiskey is non chill filtered before bottling at 92 proof. While no other distillery currently sells a single pot still Irish whiskey, Irish Distillers produces several including the previously reviewed Red Breast, and Green Spot. They will not be alone for long as several new distilleries are producing single pot still Irish whiskey that is maturing in casks at this moment. Single pot still Irish whiskey was once the worlds best selling whiskey. Read more
Review: 896 5 Year Old Rum
896 5 Year Old Rum is made from a blend of rums distilled and aged for a minimum 5 years in Barbados. Sitting next to 896 5 Year Old Rum on the shelf at Total Wine and More is 896 8 Year Old Rum. Both are imported and bottled by Universal Brands in Princeton Minnesota. If you have ever visited a Total Wine and More, I have no doubt you are amazed at the selection of beer, wine, and spirits they carry. While they sell most of the top name brand spirits you would expect, they specialize in selling local craft spirits, along with spirits you just can’t find at any of your local liquor stores. Some of these spirits are hidden gems from craft distillers that would never make there way to your state if not for Total Wine and More. Others are produced or bottled by some of the nations biggest private label distilleries including the one in Princeton Minnesota that produces 896 Rum. Unfortunately little or no information is available about these products. I often stay away from these products because as a reviewer there is very little to write about other than the actual product review. I purchased this bottle because I am a big fan of rum produced in Barbados and since it was on sale for $13.99 I thought I would give it a shot. Read more
Review: Bacardi Anejo Cuatro Rum
Bacardi Anejo Cuatro Rum was just released. If Bacardi Anejo sounds familiar it is. Bacardi Anejo was produced from a recipe dating back to 1862 and aged up to three years before bottling. As the name would imply Bacardi Anejo Cuatro is a rum that has been aged a minimum four years in oak barrels. Bacardi includes some 5 and 6 year old rum in this blend. As a comparison Bacardi Superior is aged for a minimum one year with some of the rum aged up to three years before blending. Bacardi Cuatro is part of a lineup that includes Ocho 8 year old, and Limitada, a rum aged up to 16 years. Gran Reserva Diez, a 10 year old rum will soon join this lineup. Read more
Review: Belvedere Ginger Zest Vodka
Belvedere Ginger Zest Vodka is set for release in April. I was luck enough to pick up a bottle a little early. Belvedere Ginger Zest starts with a vodka base made from Dankowski rye and pure water. The water is sourced from their own wells and undergoes an 11 step purification process that includes reverse osmosis. The spirit is distilled four times and is filtered twice. Once through carbon followed by a finer mechanical filtration process. The flavors and aromas of fresh ginger, lemon, and grapefruit are extracted in a proprietary maceration process. These extracted oils are blended with the vodka. No sugar is added before bottling at 80 proof. Read more