Review: Azeo From Apples Vodka
Azeo From Apples Vodka is crafted at Azeo Distillery in Paso Robles California. Winemakers David Vondrasek and Ryan Horn began making vodka from fruit in 2015. Their first vodka was made from wine grapes sourced from California vineyards. Their second vodka was made from apples. The distillery currently also produces rum, brandy, moonshine, and spirit of agave. Eighteen pounds of apples are needed to produce one bottle of Azeo From Apples Vodka. Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Cripps Pink apples are pressed and fermented onsite creating a hard cider. The spirit is distilled in a steam jacketed 500 liter pot still with a 16 chamber column. Read more 
Review: Armont Vodka
Armont Vodka is crafted at Young and Yonder Spirits in Sonoma County California with Non GMO corn. It is distilled six times, proofed with four stage filtered water, and filtered seven times. Armont is distilled in a 150 gallon 20-plate. The Husband and Wife team of Joshua and Sarah Opatz formed the company in 2013 in a small warehouse in Cloverdale California. In 2017 they moved the distillery to Downtown Healdsburg California. Joshua is the son of a winemaker and viticulturist. After a decade in Banking and Finance Josh shifted his career interest and started Young & Yonder. Sarah’s background is in PR, Advertising, and Design. She is also a distiller and creates the packaging for all of their spirits. Young and Yonder Spirits also makes H.O.B.S. Gin, Fellows and Foragers Absinte, Stave Robber Bourbon, and Y/Y Distillers Series Lime Vodka. Read more
Review: Spirit Works Vodka
Spirit Works Vodka is made from organic Northern California grown hard winter wheat. The Spirit Works Distillery located in Sonoma County was founded by the husband and wife team of Timo and Ashby Marshall. Their distillery crafts a full line of spirit including Gin, Sloe Gin, Barrel Aged Gin, Barrel Aged Sloe Gin, Straight Wheat Whiskey, Straight Rye Whiskey, and Four Grain Straight Bourbon. Spirit Works Vodka actually started as the base for their Gin. This explains the 86 proof SWV is bottled at. People liked their gin so much they decided to bottle the gin base on it’s own. In crafting their vodka they start with a whole grain. By doing so they are able to preserve the distinct wheat characteristics throughout the distillation process. The whole hard winter wheat grain is milled, mashed, fermented, distilled and bottled at the distillery for a true grain to glass experience. The distillation takes place on a 800 liter custom Carl still. This hybrid pot still comes with a 21 plate rectification column. Read more
Review: Farm Horse Vodka
Farm Horse Vodka is crafted off the grid at Dutch and Dewey Distillery using solar and hydro-power in the mountains of Northern California. Farm Horse is made from non GMO cane sugar and captured rain water. It is small batch quadruple distilled in a fractional still designed and built by Distiller and Proprietor Jeff St John. No carbon filtering is needed before bottling with a label picturing Jeff’s grandfather years ago at his farm in Western Pennsylvania. Dutch and Dewey also crafts a gin, coffee liqueur, and lemoncello. A brandy and whiskey are currently aging. Read more
Review: D George Benham Vodka
D George Benham Vodka is crafted in Sonoma County California from a blend of 50% non GMO Nebraska corn, 35% Organic Italian wheat, 10% Sonoma County Merlot and Zinfandel grapes, 5% Minnesota and North Dakota rye, and pure water from the lower Russian River aquifer. The water is naturally filtered as it passes through layers of volcanic alluvial soil. The grain and the grapes are distilled individually in a custom built continuous micro column still and charcoal filtered. Only 8 hands touch this spirit from start to finish. Read more
Review: Wheel House Sacramento Vodka
Wheel House Sacramento Vodka is crafted with a blend of corn and wheat malt by Founder and Distiller Greg Baughman. Greg hand built the 160 gallon side mount tall copper still the spirit is distilled in. A wheel house is the part of a boat that shelters the person at the wheel. The vodka is named to honor the river boat captains that transported liquor and thirsty patrons up and down the American River during Prohibition. When Greg opened Gold River Distillery in 2014 with his first product, Wheel House Gin, they were the first legal distillery in Sacramento County since Prohibition. Vodka was his second product. When it was released in 2015 the original name was Wheel House 916 Vodka. 916 is the area code of Sacramento. Read more
Review: Trader Joes Versatile Spirit Vodka
Versatile Spirit Vodka is one of three house brand vodka’s only available at Trader Joes. The others include The Art of The Still Organic Vodka, and Vodka of The Gods. Versatile Spirit is made from 100% California grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay. The vodka is distilled in California by Healdsburg Distillers of Granton California. A quick internet search shows no distillery in Granton California and no Healdsburg Distillery, so the actual distillery that created this vodka is unknown. Read more
Review: Ving Vodka
Ving Vodka is made from 100% organic non GMO corn and purified water. It is small batch distilled in a copper pot still. A multiple filtration process follows. Ving is named for its creator Flo Vinger, a professional dancer from New York City and the CEO of Ving. Ving also creates a Kale, Lemon, and Cucumber infused vodka. Flo worked for four years perfecting her vodka that is distilled in Ventura California. Read more
Review: King St. Vodka
King St. Vodka, AKA Kate Hudson’s Vodka was created by Kate Hudson and David Kanbar, co-creator of Skinnygirl with Bethenny Frankel. David also created Bulldog Gin. King St. is crafted in Santa Barbara California at Cutlers Artisan Spirits by Master Distiller Ian Cutler. Cutler also produces their own line of spirits, including Gin, Vodka, Whiskey, Bourbon, Coffee Liqueur, and Apple Pie Liqueur. The King St. name pays homage to memories Kate had from her former home on King Street in New York City. The inspiration for the brand came from an impromptu cocktail party Kate hosted when she was not 100% happy with her vodka options when whipping up a batch of dirty martinis. She discovered none of the brands were founded by women. King St. is made from GMO free corn. It is distilled seven times, filtered, and cut with alkaline water. One look at the floral bottles label tells me I may not be the target market for this vodka, but I’ve never been one to judge a book or bottle by it’s cover. Read more
Review: Blinking Owl Vodka
Blinking Owl Vodka was launched by the husband and wife team of Brian and Robin Christenson with the opening of Blinking Owl Distillery September 2016. This was the first legal distillery to open in Orange County California since prohibition. The distillery was named for the now closed mid century Blinking Owl Bar that was located in Santa Rosa on Third and Birch Street. It was known for an iconic owl sign that would blink. They also produce an Orange flavored vodka, aquavit, gin, straight bourbon, and straight rye. Blinking Owl Vodka is made from organic wheat grown in California, organic malted barley, and pure Santa Ana water. Santa Ana water was awarded as the best tasting water in California, and fourth best tasting water in the US. Blinking Owl mills, mashes, ferments, and distills everything on site. The spirit is distilled in a custom Carl Artisan hybrid pot column still made in Germany with 34 rectification plates. Bottled at 85 proof Blinking Owl Vodka will get you where you’re going 6.25% faster than your standard vodka. Read more