Review: Triple Eight Blueberry Vodka
Triple Eight Blueberry Vodka was introduced in 2003. It is one of four flavored vodkas crafted at the Triple Eight Distillery on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. They also make an unflavored vodka, rum, bourbon, gin, and several liqueurs. Triple Eight is named for their water, sourced from well number 888. The vodka base is made from organic wheat grown in Italy and triple distilled in a pot still. Pure sand filtered water from a deep island aquifer, well number 888, is blended to reduce to proof. Wild low bush blueberries grown in Maine are infused before bottling at 68 proof. Read more 
Review: New Belgium Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ale
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ale was recently released. It is a collaboration between New Belgium Brewery and Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream. This is a Special Release Ale that is a follow-up to last years Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale. A portion of the proceeds, $50,000, goes to Protect our Winters, a nonprofit organization that works to fight climate change. In crafting this ale they whipped heavy doses of chocolate, brown sugar, and vanilla into a dough hued blonde ale base. Read more
Review: Sparkle Donkey Silver Tequila
Sparkle Donkey Silver Tequila was launched September 2012. It is produced by Black Rock Spirits the company behind Bakon Vodka. Sparkle Donkey is crafted at Destiladora del Valle de Tequila the same distillery where the Santera, Blue Iguana, and Muerto tequila brands are produced. Sparkle Donkey is made with both Highland and Lowland grown agave that are slow cooked in traditional brick ovens for 36-54 hours. After the juice is extracted it is fermented four times longer than most tequila and then double distilled in a stainless steel pot still. Water sourced from the springs of Volcan de Tequila are blended to reduce to proof and the tequila is finished with a post distillation oxygenation process before bottling. Read more
Heritage Distilling Company Spirits Advent Calendar
Heritage Distilling Company has come up with a great idea for holiday gift giving. While a bottle of any one of their dozens of hand crafted spirits made in Gig Harbor Washington would make a nice gift, 24 days of minis is the perfect way to celebrate this holiday season. The Spirits Advent Calendar includes 11 HDC products in random order. Each day pop open your mini of the day and cheers to a very spirited season. Read more
Review: Woodys Northwoods Original Bourbon Cream
Woodys Northwoods Original Bourbon Cream is one of three bourbon creams recently released by Apollo Beverages. Each is made and bottled at the St Petersburg Distillery. Woodys Original is described as a fiery bourbon, combined with the cool silky smoothness of real American cream. The others Woodys varieties include a Honey Bourbon Cream, and a Maple Bourbon Cream. They will soon be releasing Woodys Apple Pie A La Mode. Read more
Review: Pasote Blanco Tequila
Pasote Blanco Tequila is crafted at the El Pandillo Distillery with 100% Highland estate grown blue agave, by Master Distiller Felipe Camarena. Once harvested the agave hearts are slow cooked in traditional brick ovens, then shredded and crushed using a 19,000 pound steamroller. The agave juice is fermented for 4-5 days in stainless steel tanks and double distilled in copper pot stills. A mix of 40% rainwater and 60% spring water is blended to reduce to proof. Pasote is named for the fierce spirit of Aztec Warriors. Pasote Tequila is one of several spirits owned by the 3 Badge Beverage Company. Some of the others includes Kirk and Sweeny Rum, Uncle Val’s Gin, Bib and Tucker Bourbon, and Masterson’s Whiskey. Read more
Review: Elk Rider Vodka
Elk Rider Vodka is one of five unflavored vodka’s crafted at the Heritage Distillery in Gig Harbor Washington. The other unflavored vodka’s include Elk Rider Wheat Vodka, Triple Distilled, Batch 12, and Char Barrel Finished Vodka. They also produce 23 flavored vodka’s. Elk Rider is named for their early family members who broke wild elk, and actually rode them. Elk Rider Vodka is made with corn grown in Eastern Washington and distilled in their 2000 liter Italian made still. The Heritage Distillery has a field to flask approach. Their dozens of spirits are crafted with grains or grapes, product specific, locally sourced, and bottled at the distillery. Read more
Review: Crusoe Organic Silver Rum
Crusoe Organic Silver Rum is hand crafted by the husband and wife team of Melkon Khosrovian and Litty Mathew at the Greenbar Distillery. Tru Organic Vodka and Gin, Slow Hand Organic Whiskey and IXA Organic Tequila are also crafted by this team. Greenbar was the first legal distillery in Los Angeles California since prohibition. The Crusoe name was inspired by Robinson Crusoe. Crusoe Silver is made with organic molasses fermented slowly with white wine yeast and double distilled in small batches. The rum is micro oxygenated, a technique used by California wine makers to mellow out their tannic reds. This process replaces the traditional barrel aging and charcoal filtering Caribbean distillers use to make their silver rums. Read more
Review: Rain Cucumber Vodka
Rain Cucumber Vodka is made from corn at the Buffalo Trace Distiller in Frankfort Kentucky. After seven distinct distillations and a polishing stage that adds limestone water, natural flavors are infused before bottling at 60 proof. Rain Vodka was one of the first organic vodkas, and at one time they offered an Organics line of flavored vodkas, which included Cucumber-Lime, Red Grape Hibiscus, Lavender Lemonade, and Honey Mango flavors. These have been replaced by a lineup that includes only two flavors, Cucumber and Mango. Gone from the bottles label is the word Organic. This leads me to believe these vodkas are no longer produced with organic corn. Read more
Review: Tequila 512 Blanco
Tequila 512 Blanco was introduced November 2012 by Scott Willis who years earlier left Austin to go to Jalisco in search of the perfect anytime tequila. 512 is named for the Austin Texas area code. It is crafted by Master Distiller Luis Trejo at the La Cofradia Distillery with 100% Central Lowland estate grown agave. The agave is slow roasted in stone ovens and after fermenting the tequila is triple distilled in a stainless steel pot still. A 24 hour filtration follows with the tequila reduced to proof with volcanic spring water. The tequila is then oxygenated to enhance the texture for a softer more velvety feel, before bottling. Read more