Review: Rebel Yell Root Beer Whiskey
Rebel Yell Root Beer Whiskey was released April 2016 along with a Ginger flavored whiskey. Both start with Rebel Yell Original Straight Bourbon as a base. This bourbon was first made in 1849 at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery with corn wheat and malt. Natural root beer flavor and caramel color are added before bottling at 70 proof. Read more 
Review: Vox Vodka
Vox Vodka was launched by Jim Beam Brands in selective markets in 1999, and rolled out nationally in 2000. Vox may be best known for the award winning Austrian made glass bottle the vodka rests in, but Vox has also scored high with several reviewers. The Beverage Testing Institute for one, named Vox the top vodka in 2008 and awarded a score of 97 in their review. Vox is made from wheat and distilled five times at a distillery in the Netherlands with a 400 year history of distilling vodka. Once distilled a neutral micron cellulose filtration follows, filtering the impurities without affecting the aroma or flavor. Read more
Review: OFallon Apple Cinnamon Pumpkin Ale
O’Fallon Apple Cinnamon Pumpkin Ale is one of four new pumpkin flavored beers brewed at the O’Fallon Brewery in Maryland Heights Missouri. They join the Original OFallon Pumpkin Beer and OFallon Imperial Pumpkin Ale. The other three new pumpkin beers include Vanilla Pumpkin, Jack OLatte Pumpkin Stout, and Peach Pumpkin Ale. OFallon Apple Cinnamon Pumpkin is brewed as an amber ale with pumpkin and natural flavor. Additional natural flavors are added after brewing. Read more
Review: Crater Lake Vodka
Crater Lake Vodka was released in 1996. It is crafted at the Bendistillery in Tumalo Oregon. They also produce gin, several flavored vodka’s, and whiskey and the Bendistillery is a strong Private Label producer of spirits with over 40 brands created there. Crater Lake Vodka is made from corn and distilled five times and then filtered ten times through charcoal and lava rock, then briefly rested in oak. Pure Cascade Mountain water is blended to reduce to 80 proof. Founder and distiller Jim Bendis launched Crater Lake Vodka before it was cool to open a distillery, and he crafted his vodka with corn, long before Deep Eddy, and 1 year before Tito Beverage launched Tito’s Vodka. Read more
Review: Michaels Irish Cream Liqueur
Michaels Irish Cream Liqueur is made by Terra LTD in Bailieborough County Cavan Ireland. Terra crafts Molly’s Irish Cream and they also produce several private label brands of Irish cream liqueur, including Brady’s, Coole Swan, and Kavanaugh Irish Cream. Michaels is imported by BMA USA, and it is only sold in Texas. I picked up my bottle at Specs. This Michaels Irish Cream should not be confused with the previously reviewed Michaels Celtic Irish Cream that is made by Merry’s in Clonmel Ireland. Michaels Irish Cream is made with Irish Whiskey, fresh dairy cream, and natural flavors. Read more
Review: Saugatuck Pumpkin Chai Ale
Saugatuck Pumpkin Chai Ale is one of 13 year round, seasonal and specialty beers crafted at the Saugatuck Brewing Company. Some of those beers include their Blueberry Maple Stout, Serrano Pepper Ale, and Oval Beach Blonde. Founder and original Brew Master Barry Johnson opened his brewery in Michigan in 2005 with a 3.5 barrel brew on premise system. Today they use a 45 barrel brew system, and in 2015 they produced 13,000 barrels of beer. Pumpkin Chai is brewed with pumpkin and herbal chai tea. Chai tea originates from India and is made with black tea, heavy milk, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, clove, and pepper, and is usually served sweetened. Read more
Review: ODonnells Pumpkin Spice Irish Cream
ODonnells Pumpkin Spice Irish Cream is sold at Aldi Foods. At one time Aldi sold several ODonnells Irish Cream varieties including White Chocolate, Strawberry, Mint Chocolate, Caramel Cream, and their Original ODonnells Irish Cream. While all these flavors may still be produced, the only ones I’ve seen lately are Strawberry, Original, and their new seasonal Pumpkin Spice. ODonnells Pumpkin Spice Irish Cream is made by R A Merry and Company in Clonmel County Tipperary Ireland with grape wine, natural flavors, and caramel color, and is bottled at 13.9% alcohol. Read more
Review: Breckenridge Pear Vodka
Breckenridge Pear Vodka is crafted in Breckenridge Colorado at 9600 feet above sea level. No other spirit is distilled at a higher altitude. They also create Breckenridge Chili Chile a vodka infused with Colorado Chile and Turkish Chili, and Breckenridge Espresso Flavored Vodka. Each of these vodkas start with their unflavored original Breckenridge Vodka, made from 100% sweet corn as a base. After fermenting in a traditional Scotch-style open top fermenter the vodka is distilled five times in a 700 gallon Vendome custom copper combination pot still. A coconut shell charcoal filtration follows, before pure ice cold Rocky Mountain snowmelt water is blended to reduce to proof. In crafting Breckenridge Pear Vodka, a pear brandy is made from Palisade Colorado Pears grown on Colorado’s Western slopes. This brandy is infused with the vodka before bottling at 80 proof. Read more
Review: Bold Rock Pear Hard Cider
Bold Rock Pear Hard Cider was introduced November 2014. At the time it was their seventh variety of hard cider, and first produced with a second fruit. They have since added a peach and honeydew flavor. Bold Rock Pear is crafted with Taylors Gold, Packham, and Doyenne du Comice pears grown on the Hawkes Bay Orchard of New Zealand, and local apples grown in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The pears are freshly pressed in New Zealand and the juice is shipped to Bold Rocks production facility in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Read more
Review: Sheelin Irish Cream Liqueur
Sheelin Irish Cream Liqueur is made in Tipperary Ireland by R.A. Merry, the makers of Merrys Irish Cream and several private label brands of Irish Cream Liqueur. They also create Sheelin White Chocolate Irish Cream. Sheelin Irish Cream is sold at Total Wine and More. It is made with Grape Wine, cream and natural flavors. Read more