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
Review: IngeniOz Vodka
IngeniOz Vodka was launched August 2014. It is distilled and bottled at the Dehner Distillery in Clive Iowa. Johannes Van Leeuwen developed a process at Iowa State University for creating a vodka with 0 impurities. The process uses ozone to oxidize unwanted substances in the vodka that are then removed with activated carbon and nano noble metal filtration. As a comparison Smirnoff was measured to have 8 impurities, Absolut 16, and Grey Goose 14. IngeniOz vodka is made with Iowa grown corn and it is small batch distilled. Read more
Review: Grannys Gingerbread Cream Liqueur
Grannys Gingerbread Cream Liqueur was just released. It is produced and bottled by Sazerac in Louisville Kentucky. Grannys is made with neutral grain spirits, heavy creams sourced from Vermont dairies, and natural flavors including vanilla. Fresh baked gingerbread cake served with a dollop of fresh whipped cream is one of my favorite holiday treats. If Granny Gingerbread Cream Liqueur comes close to this flavor expression, I will be very happy. Read more
Review: Heritage Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka
Heritage Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka was released October 31 2014. Ruby Red was one of 22 naturally flavored vodka’s they launched that day to celebrate the companies second anniversary, and the grand opening of HDC Waterfront, in downtown Gig Harbor Washington. Heritage Ruby Red Grapefruit starts with their award winning Triple Distilled Vodka as a base. This vodka is small batch triple distilled from wine grapes in an Italian made still named Nonna. Natural flavors are then blended before bottling at 60 proof. Read more
Review: Merrys Strawberry Irish Cream Liqueur
Merrys Strawberry Irish Cream Liqueur was introduced in 2015 and is one of six Irish cream liqueurs produced by RA Merry Co. in Clonmel County, Tipperary Ireland under the Merrys label. The other flavors include Toffee Buttermint, Pumpkin Spice, Salted Caramel, White Chocolate, and their Original. They also produce dozens of private label Irish cream liqueurs. Merrys Strawberry is made with cream delivered from a creamery within 12 hours of leaving the farms gate, the finest aged Irish whiskey, grain spirits, and natural flavors. Read more
Review: Valentine Vodka
Valentine Vodka was launched March 2009. It is crafted by founder and distiller Rifino Valentine who after graduating from Cornell, spent 11 years on Wall Street as an independent trader. He than returned home to Michigan to open the first micro distillery in Detroit since prohibition. Valentine Vodka is crafted with a blend of 50% corn, 25% Red Michigan wheat, and 25% barley, all locally sourced. This is the same 3 grain mix Van Gogh selected to craft their original unflavored vodka, and continues to use as a base for their flavored vodka. Dragon Bleu Vodka is made with barley, wheat, and rye. Ultimat Vodka is made with potato, wheat, and rye. Valentine Vodka is small batch distilled in a 225 gallon Christian Carl still with two 35 foot columns, housing 42 trays. It is then slow filtered for 24 hours in a double false bottom 50 gallon drum through a proprietary activated carbon system made from coconut shells. A one week aeration to oxidate, esterficate and create long-chain-molecule flavor compounds follows. Water filtered through reverse osmosis is blended to reduce to proof before the vodka is hand bottled. Read more