Review: Citadelle Gin
Citadelle Gin, at 19, may hold the title as the gin with the most botanicals. It was introduced in the US in 1998 and is the result of Cognac Ferrand setting out to create one of the worlds finest gins. To achieve this they researched, found, and updated an 18th century recipe. Citadelle is triple distilled from the worlds finest whole grain wheat harvested in the Frances Beauce region and brewed with natural spring water. It is distilled in small Charentais copper pot stills with a naked flame. These are the same pot stills used to make Pierre Ferran Cognac. 19 Botanicals including coriander from Morocco, orange peel from Mexico, cardamom and nutmeg from India, licorice from China, cubeb pepper from Java, juniper, savory, violet, and star anise from France, fennel from the Mediterranean, iris for Italy, cinnamon from Sri Lanka, almonds and lemon rind from Spain, cassia from Indochina, angelica from Germany, grains of paradise from West Africa, and cumin from Holland are cold infused for 72 hours before bottling at 88 proof. Read more 
Review: Sol Azul Silver Tequila
Sol Azul Silver Tequila was released in 2006. It is named for, and the hand crafted decanter feature, the blue sun needed to grow the 100% Weber Blue agave Sol Azul tequila is made from. Destiladora Arandas where Sol Azul is crafted was build by Fernando Pacheco. His son and daughter now run the distillery. Read more
Review: Bayou Spiced Rum
Bayou Spiced Rum was introduced May 23 2013. It is one of four rums crafted at the Louisiana Spirits Company in Lacassine Louisiana. Each is made from 100% natural unrefined Louisiana cane sugar and molasses. After fementing with a proprietary yeast the rum is distilled in a copper pot still. Triple filtered fresh water is blended to reduce to proof. Natural local spices and other natural flavors are infused before bottling at 80 proof. Read more
Review: Woodchuck Day Chaser Semi Dry Cider
Woodchuck Day Chaser Semi Dry Cider was introduced in March and it is the newest member of their year round Core Ciders. Their Core Line includes Amber, Hopsation, Gumption, Granny Smith, 802, Raspberry, Pear, and Local Nectar. Day Chaser combines bitter and sweet apples Read more
Review: Purus Vodka
Purus Vodka was initially launched by Anheuser Busch who began selling Purus in 2007 as part of it’s beverage development subsidiary Long Tail Libations. This group was sold when Inbev acquired A-B in 2008. Purus is crafted in the Piemonte region of Italy at a small distillery run by second and third generations of the Saccheto Family. It is made with 100% Italian Organic Wheat and pristine Italian Alps water. The vodka is distilled 5 times in a column still and filtered through 1.7 million square meters of active charcoal. Purus is bottled from 100% recycled glass in Holland. While Purus was initially positioned and priced as a premium vodka, I picked up my bottle for $16.99. Read more
Review: Tower Vodka
Tower Vodka was just launched. It is crafted in Pilot Point Texas. The town is located at the highest point in a series of rolling hills. A water tower looms above Pilot Point Texas and is the inspiration for Tower Vodka. Tower is made from corn and is micro batch distilled six times. Distribution is currently limited. Your best chance of finding a bottle will be in Texas or at a Total Wine and More store. Read more
Review: Shock Top Strawbanero Wheat Beer
Shock Top Strawbanero Wheat Beer was introduced in 2015 and it is sold in the Shock Top Winter variety pack. Each 12 pack features 3 bottles each of Shock Top Strawbanero Wheat, Belgian Wheat, Pretzel Wheat, and Honeycrisp Apple Wheat Beer. Shock Top Strawbanero is a Belgian style wheat ale brewed with habanero peppers, strawberries, and orange peels. After brewing natural strawberry flavor is added. The beer is left unfiltered before bottling at 5.5% Alcohol. Read more
Review: Three Olives Vodka
Three Olives Vodka was introduced in 1998. It is probably best known for its flavored vodkas. They currently produce 30 varieties. Three Olives was the first to introduce several vodka flavors including cherry and grape in 2001. In 2007 the Three Olives brand was sold by White Rock who at the time also owned Pinnacle Vodka to Proximo. Three Olives vodka is made with English winter wheat and is quadruple distilled, and triple charcoal filtered. Demineralized water from Lake Vyrnmy is blended to reduce to 80 proof before bottling. Read more
Review: Calypso Coconut Rum
Calypso Coconut Rum is named for the Greek nymph from Homers Odyssey best known for keeping Odysseus prisoner on the island of Ogygia for 7 years in an attempt to make him her immortal husband. Calypso rum is one of 28 rum brands in the Sazerac product line. It is made with rum distilled in the US Virgin Islands. After arriving in Kentucky natural flavors are blended before bottling at 42 proof. Read more
Review: Dripping Springs Artisan Gin
Dripping Springs Artisan Gin was crafted by brothers Gary and Kevin Kelleher, and introduced September 2014. They also craft a very tasty vodka and Texas Orange flavored vodka. It is made with sweet Mid-Western non GMO corn and is micro distilled over 20 times in small 50 gallon batches. Nine botanicals including juniper, hibiscus, cardamom seed, Grande Valley oranges and Mexican limes are steeped for 24 hours in the 120 proof spirit. It is then distilled again in 40 gallon batches in hand made copper pot stills. The process takes 3 days to complete with only 55%, the heart, kept. After a light filtration through Swedish activated carbon, artesian spring water is blended to reduce to 85 proof before bottling. Read more