Review: Remy Martin VSOP Cognac
Remy Martin VSOP Cognac was created in 1927 by Remy Martin Cellar Master Andre Renaud. It was the first VSOP Fine Champaign. Remy Martin was founded in 1724 by Remy Martin. Only grapes grown in The Grande Champaign and Petite Champaign regions of Cognac are used in crafting Remy Martin Cognac. The grape blend is predominately Ugni Blanc grapes, with a touch of Colombard and Folle Blanche grapes. Remy Martin owns four domains in Grande Champagne totaling 240 hectacres. This accounts for 4% of the eaux-de-vie needed. The balance comes from an alliance of roughly 1000 winemakers. The grapes are gently pressed and the juice is left to ferment for 5-7 days. It is distilled in small copper stills. Each batch is distilled twice. After each distillation the heads and tails are discarded. Each year over 1000 winegrowers submit their eaux-de-vie for selection. The Remy Martin tasting committee selects from over 2000 samples. Those selected eaux-de-vie are stored in the cellars for aging in oak casks sourced from trees over 100 years old grown in the Limousin forest. The Remy Martin cellars in Merpins store 140,000 casks. Each cellar has a slightly different temperature and humidity, fine tuning the aging environment. The Cellar Master then blends the casks of varying age so there wont be any difference between a bottle of Remy Martin VSOP purchased in 2007 and 2017. Read more 
Review: Ballotin Original Chocolate Whiskey
Ballotin Original Chocolate Whiskey is one of four flavored whiskeys launched October 2015 by Saloon Spirits. Ballotin is named for the stylish specialty box Belgian chocolatiers made to protect their fine chocolates. The other flavors include Caramel Turtle, Bourbon Ball, and Chocolate Mint. Saloon Spirits Founder Paul Tuell is a former Brand Manager for Brown Forman. The light whiskey base is made from a traditional bourbon mash of 51% or more corn, with wheat and barley making up the balance. The whiskey is aged for two years in used oak barrels. This light whiskey base allows the taste of the natural flavors infused with the whiskey to shine through. Bourbon must be aged in New American white oak barrels that have been charred. The char and new oak from those bourbon barrels would have created a flavor barrier. Natural flavor and caramel color are infused before bottling at 60 proof in Louisville Kentucky. Read more
Review: Bainbridge Legacy Organic Vodka
Bainbridge Legacy Organic Vodka is named for the Washington State Island the vodka is crafted on. Bainbridge Organic Distillers was Washington States first distillery producing USDA certified organic spirits when it was founded as a family business by Keith Barnes and his son Patrick in 2009. Since the beginning, every task in the making of distilled spirits has been done onsite with their own hands. From the selection of grain varieties and lots, to grinding, mashing, fermenting, and distilling. They also produce 2 gins, 2 whiskeys and an Organic Vanilla Vodka. Bainbridge Legacy Organic Vodka is made from soft organic white wheat grown on family farms, and pristine water from the islands deep aquifers. It is small batch distilled four times in a 300 gallon Vendome copper pot still. Read more
Review: Beach Whiskey Bonfire Cinnamon
Beach Whiskey Bonfire Cinnamon is one of two flavored whiskeys distilled from corn mash, then filtered at the old Seagrams Distillery in Lawrenceburg Indiana. The other flavor is Island Coconut. The unaged whiskey base is blended with natural flavor including capsicum spice and cinnamon, and bottled in Houston Texas in a red custom sea glass bottle. Thanks in no small part to the success of Fireball Whisky, cinnamon is by far the most popular flavored whiskey. Beach Whiskey Bonfire Cinnamon is made with 1/3 less sugar than the market leader. Read more
Review: Crown Valley Pink Lemonade Vodka
Crown Valley Pink Lemonade Vodka is one of four vodkas crafted in small batches from grapes grown on the 8000 acre Joe Scott Sr. owned estate that includes a vineyard and winery, a big cat sanctuary, a bison farm and the Crown Valley Brewing and Distilling estate. The other vodka flavors include Blackberry, Pumpkin Cheesecake, and their original unflavored. The brewery and distillery are housed in the old Coffman School House in Ste. Genevieve Missouri. It was revitalized in 2008, and the distillery opened May 2009. Beside Beer, Hard Cider, and Vodka they distill Moonshine and Gin. The vodka is distilled in a custom stainless steel still and then cold filtered. Natural flavors and certified color are blended before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Kanon Organic Vodka
Kanon Organic Vodka is distilled once from locally grown organic wheat. Each batch is divided into three parts, the head, the heart, and the tail. Only the heart which is pure ethanol is kept. The heads and tails are recycled into biogas for local buses. Pristine spring water is blended before bottling at the Gripsholm Distillery in Akers Styckebruk Sweden. In 1580 King Karl IV of Sweden built the Akers Styckbruk Foundary to produce cannons for the Swedish Army and the distillery to make vodka for its workers. By 1775 King Gustaf III had monopolized alcohol production to fund his many wars. Unable to pay his debt, he made Gripsholm a Royal Distillery. It soon became the largest distillery in Sweden producing over 1 million liters of vodka a year. King Gustaf was shot and his successor outlawed the private production of spirits. The distillery remained closed for over 200 years. Kanon owner Peter Hjelm began construction of the new distillery in 2008 and shipped his first case of Kanon Organic Vodka to New York in 2010. Read more
Review: Sugarlands Pumpkin Spice Latte Cream Liqueur
Sugarlands Pumpkin Spice Latte Cream Liqueur is one of four Appalachian Sippin Cream liqueurs, made at the Sugarlands Distilling Company. The others include Electric Orange, Dark Chocolate Coffee, and Butter Pecan. The Sugarlands Distilling Company opened March 2014. They also produce 16 varieties of moonshine, rum, and rye. The Sugarlands distillery grinds their own grain and distill their products onsite. Each year nearly 1 million people visit the distillery in Gatlinburg Tennessee making it Americas top-rated distillery experience. Read more
Review: Earth Vodka
Earth vodka is made from corn and is distilled 6 times before it is bottled at the Levecke Distillery in Mira Loma California. Levecke is a Private label producer of dozens spirits. Earth Vodka is a bargain priced vodka. I picked up my 750ml bottle for $7.99 at Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa California. The bottles label made from recycled paper describes Earth Vodka as a Premium Gluten Free California Vodka. Read more
Review: Van Gogh Citroen Vodka
Van Gogh Citroen Vodka was introduced in 2000. It is one of 16 flavored vodka’s currently crafted at the Royal Dirkzwager Distillery in Tilburg, The Netherlands. At one time they produced 22 flavors. Van Gogh Citroen is made from a vodka base of wheat, corn, and barley. It is small batch double distilled by Master Distiller Tim Vos. The first distillation is in a column still and then it is distilled again in a pot still. Purified water is blended to reduce to proof. Lemons grown in the United States and lime grown in Southeast Asia are double infused with the vodka base for six weeks before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Nosotros Blanco Tequila
Nosotros Blanco Tequila was introduced in 2016. Distribution is currently limited, but after being awarded as The Best Tequila at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirit Competition that may change. It is made from 100% blue agave grown in the Lowland and Highland Region. The agave is slow roasted in brick ovens for 60 hours. A German proprietary yeast is used to ferment the agave. The distillation is described as artisan, followed by a chill filtration. Read more