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9
Dec

Review: Evangelines Pralines and Cream Liqueur

Evangelines Pralines and Cream Liqueur is Sazerac Co. take on a very southern treat.  They also produce a Praline Liqueur.  I don’t think this product is brand new but almost no information is available.  Pecans have become increasingly popular in flavored spirits, including several whiskeys and a couple of vodkas.  While there have also been a couple of pecan pie flavored spirits, Evangelines Praline Pecan Liqueur is the only other praline flavored spirit I’m aware of. Read more »

7
Dec

Review: Heritage Coffee Vodka

heritage-coffee-vodka-imageHeritage Coffee Vodka is one of 23 naturally flavored vodkas crafted at their distillery in Gig Harbor Washington.  With Starbucks based in nearby Seattle Washington, it should come as no surprise that Heritage Coffee Vodka is their best selling flavored vodka.  65% of Americans drink coffee at breakfast, and the US spends $40 each year on coffee.  I guess the only thing surprising should be that this is my first coffee flavored vodka review.  I have reviewed several Espresso flavored vodkas.  The vodka base for Heritage Coffee is small batch distilled from wine grapes in an Italian made still named Nonna.  Natural flavors are then blended before bottling at 60 proof. Read more »

5
Dec

Review: Dos Lunas Silver Tequila

dos-lunas-silver-copyDos Lunas Silver Tequila was launched in 2006.  Dos Lunas tequila was inspired by a New Years Eve 2005 visit to a bar in Telluride Colorado.  While there brand founder Richard Poe witnessed several people cringe after tasting tequila.  He had the idea to create a smoother better tasting tequila.  Dos Lunas Silver is made from 100% Weber Blue Agave individually selected for harvest by their Master Agronomist from fields that are herbicide and pesticide free.  Dos Lunas Silver is now triple distilled and cold filtered.  At launch it was double distilled. Read more »

5
Dec

Review: Dos Lunas Silver Tequila Original

dos-lunas-silver-tequila-original-bottle-copyDos Lunas Silver Tequila originally was launched as a double distilled tequila.  This is one of a handful of tequila’s I purchased prior to launching Best Tasting Spirits that has changed their production method.  Some of these tequilas have switched distillery’s and some are now produced with organic agave.  I also own several bottles of tequila that are no longer made at all.  Dos Lunas Silver Tequila is still produced, but it is now triple distilled.  They also changed their bottles design.  So how does it taste and how does it compare to the currently produced triple distilled Dos Lunas Silver Tequila.  You won’t have to wait long for your answer, my product review of the current Dos Lunas Silver Tequila follows this one. Read more »

3
Dec

Review: Toppers Coconut Rhum

toppers-coconut-rhum-copyToppers Coconut Rhum is one of six handcrafted rhums produced on the island of St Maarten at the Topper’s Distillery.  Their other rhums include Spiced, Mocha Mama, White Chocolate Raspberry, Banana Vanilla Cinnamon, and Caribbean White.  Each flavor is handmade with natural ingredients, and hand bottled in it’s own beautifully colored bottle on the Dutch side of the Island of St Maarten.  Each bottle features a glass embossed Topper’s on both bottles sides, and a hand painted palm tree on the flip top bottle topper.  If there is a more attractive rum bottle design it doesn’t come to mind. Read more »

2
Dec

Review: Oyo Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka

oyo-honey-vanilla-bean-vodka-copyOyo Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka is one of two seasonal vodkas crafted at the Middle West Distillery in Columbus Ohio at a former auto service garage.  The other flavor is Stone Fruit.  Both are made from a vodka base made from 100% soft red winter wheat, sourced from farms within an 80 mile radius of the distillery.  The wheat is milled down, and the bran is removed at one local mill to ensure consistency.  Water, yeast, and the wheat grain is warmed and fermented for 4 days.  It is distilled in a custom built German Kothe combination pot and double column still.  The vodka base is infused with local wildflower honey, and fair trade vanilla beans from Uganda.  Oyo Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka is then hand bottled, corked, and dipped in wax.  Brady Konya and Ryan Lang founded Middle West Spirits in 2008 and opened for production in 2008.  OYO, pronounced O why O, is named for the state it is produced in. Read more »

30
Nov

Review: Dolce Cilento Crema Di Meloncello

dolce-cilento-crema-di-meloncello-copyDolce Cilento Crema Di Meloncello is one of six liqueurs crafted in the Campania region of Southern Italy near Salerno under the Dolce Cilento label.  Their other liqueurs include Crema di Nocciole (hazelnut cream), Crema di Pistacchio, Meloncello, Limoncello, and Watermeloncello.  Crema di Meloncello is made with organic cantaloupe melon processed within a few hours of being harvested, cream, and grain spirits.  Natural and artificial flavors and certified color are blended before bottling at 34 proof. Read more »

28
Nov

Review: Cavalino Blanco Tequila

cavalino-blanco-tequila-image-copyCavalino Blanco Tequila was introduced in 2005.  It is made at Compania Tequilera Hacienda la Capilla S.A.  This is the same distillery that makes Ambhar, and Cuestion Tequila.  It is small batch double distilled with Highland grown agave.  This and Cavalino Reposada Tequila are now considered their Classic Line.  They also craft an Ultra Premium line of Limited Edition Cavalino Tequila. Read more »

27
Nov

Review: Western Son Piney Woods Blueberry Vodka

western-son-piney-woods-blueberry-vodkaWestern Son Piney Woods Blueberry Vodka was released July 2014.  It is one of six handcrafted flavor infused vodka flavors they produce in Pilot Point Texas.  While you may not have heard of this brand, they have sold nearly 200,000 bottles of vodka in a short period of time.  Western Son Blueberry starts with a vodka base made from American yellow corn and water filtered through reverse osmosis.  After 10 distillations through a 20 foot column still, the vodka is quadruple filtered.  Natural Blueberry essence from blueberry grown in the Piney Woods region of Texas are blended with the original vodka base before bottling at 60 proof. Read more »

26
Nov

Review: Heritage Blood Orange Vodka

heritage-blood-orange-vodka-copyHeritage Blood Orange Vodka is one of 23 naturally flavored vodkas crafted at their distillery in Gig Harbor Washington.  They also craft several gins, and whiskeys for a total of 40 different spirits in their product line.  The vodka base for Heritage Blood Orange Vodka is made from wine grapes and it is small batch distilled in an Italian made still named Nonna.  Natural flavors are then blended before bottling at 60 proof. Read more »