Review: Bacardi Raspberry Rum
Bacardi Raspberry Rum was just introduced along with their Grapefruit flavored rum. If you thought Bacardi already had a raspberry flavored rum, you are correct. They had two previous raspberry flavors, Bacardi Razz, and Bacardi Black Razz. These flavors along with their Big Apple, Grand Melon, Rock Coconut, Artic Grape, and Peach Red have all been dropped as Bacardi has reduced it’s flavored rum offerings from 17 to 10 flavors. In creating Bacardi Raspberry they start with molasses and a single strain of yeast, Le Levadura Bacardi. After fermenting for 30 hours in closed fermentation tanks the fermented molasses is split, with some column distilled and some beer distilled. Each is aged separately in charred American white oak barrels previously used to age bourbon. Once mature the rums are blended and filtered through a mix of charcoal made from tropical woods and coconut shells. Natural citrus raspberry flavors are infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more 
Review: Sprecher Hard Orange Cream
Sprecher Hard Orange Cream is one of three new hard soda flavors just released by the Sprecher Brewery in Milwaukee Wisconsin. While Root Beer is by far the best selling hard soda flavor, you may be surprised when I tell you there are at least five different Orange Cream Hard Soda brands on the market today. Besides Root Beer no other flavor has more. For the record that includes Hard Ginger Ale. I don’t consider Ginger Beer a hard soda. Sprecher also crafts 14 zero alcohol sodas including their Orange Dream flavor. Orange Dream is made with natural orange flavors, honey, and vanilla. On the bottle Sprechers Hard Orange Cream lists malt beverage, natural and artificial flavors as their ingredients. Read more
Review: Truly Spiked and Sparkling Grapefruit and Pomelo
Truly Spiked and Sparkling Grapefruit and Pomelo is a hard seltzer and it is one of three made by the Boston Beer Company. The other flavors include Pomegranate, and Colima Lima. The Boston Beer Company is the company that brings us Samuel Adams Beer, Angry Orchards Hard Cider, Twisted Tea and the Coney Island line of Hard Soda. While Truly is the first hard seltzer available nationwide there are at least two other brands I’m aware of. These brands are SpikedSeltzer, and Nauti Seltzer. The driving force behind the introduction of Hard Seltzer comes from the fact that carbonated water sales have doubled since 2012, hard soda sales have exploded, and reduced calorie RTD’s have shown significant growth. Truly Grapefruit and Pomelo is made with filtered water, alcohol made from cane sugar, natural flavors, cane sugar and Mandarina hops. The pomelo is native to Southern Asia and tastes like a sweet mild grapefruit without the grapefruit bitterness. Read more
Review: New Amsterdam Apple Vodka
New Amsterdam Apple Vodka was just released. This joins eight other vodka varieties EJ Gallo creates in Modesto California under the New Amsterdam label. Those include Citron, Coconut, Mango, Orange, Peach, Pineapple, Red Berry, and their unflavored original. New Amsterdam Apple Vodka is made with the finest quality grains and is distilled 5 times and filtered 3 times. Natural Apple flavors are then infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Chaya Silver Tequila
Chaya Silver Tequila was introduced by Albert Berentsen in 2005. Albert was once the President of Kahlua S.A. and he also once owner the Kamora Coffee Liqueur brand. I picked up my bottle a couple of years ago and while the website listed on the back of the bottle is no longer active, Chaya Silver Tequila is still available online from several retailers. The tequila is double distilled, and lets be honest I bought this tequila because I liked the bottle. Read more
Review: McAles Hard Root Beer
McAles Hard Root Beer is one of four hard soda flavors produced by McAles Brewing Company in Los Angeles California. It is contract brewed in Lacrosse Wisconsin by United Brands Company. The other flavors include Ginger Ale, Cola, and Orange N Cream. This is one of 14 hard root beer brands I am aware of. McAles Hard Root Beer is a malt beverage with vanilla bean extract and real spice barks and caramel color added. Read more
Review: Sprecher Hard Cola
Sprecher Hard Cola is one of three new hard soda flavors just released by Sprecher Brewery. They list six flavors in their hard soda category, including Root Beer, Cherry Cola, Orange Cream, Ginger Beer, and Apple Pie. They also craft 14 zero alcohol sodas including a Puma Kola. The Puma Kola is made with kola extract, real vanilla, a pinch of cinnamon, and pure honey. Sprecher Hard Cola is described as a malt beverage with natural flavors. Read more
Review: McAles Hard Orange N Cream Soda
McAles Hard Orange N Cream Soda is one of four hard soda flavors produced by McAles Brewing Company in Los Angeles California. It is contract brewed in Lacrosse Wisconsin by United Brands Company. While Root Beer is the undisputed hard soda leader with at least 13 brands, this is the fourth Hard Orange Cream Soda Brand I’ve reviewed. A fifth is coming next week. McAles Hard Orange N Cream Soda is brewed using natural citric ornge and cream flavors and natural vanilla extract. It is sold in individual 23.5 oz. cans and 4 packs of 16 oz. cans. Read more
Review: Sprecher Hard Cherry Cola
Sprecher Hard Cherry Cola is one of three new hard soda flavors just released by the Sprecher Brewery. The Sprecher Brewery was build by Randall Sprecher in 1985. It was Milwaukee’s first craft brewery since prohibition. While several of the other hard soda breweries produced soft drinks during prohibition, Sprecher has a more recent history. They currently produce several craft sodas including a Cherry Cola flavor. Their Cherry Cola soft drink is made with Door County Cherry Juice, raw honey, the finest cola extract, and a handful of spices. Their Hard Cherry Cola is described as a malt beverage with natural flavors. Read more
Review: Ambhar Plata Tequila
Ambhar Plata Tequila was released in 2010. It is made with a blend of 100% blue agave grown in both the Lowlands and Highlands. Once harvested each agave is cut into 6-8 pieces, and then slow roasted in a stainless steel autoclave. After the agave is cooled the juice is extracted and then fermented in stainless steel tanks with yeast strains isolated from naturally fermented cooked agave juice. The tequila is distilled in copper pot stills and rectification columns in a three step process. After distillation the agave is mellowed in stainless steel tanks for 60 days and then hand poured in virgin glass decanters molded to resemble the canteens old west cowboys used. Read more