Review: Sassy Girl Rum Cream
Sassy Girl Rum Cream is produced by the Dehner Distillery in Clive Iowa for Hustle 247 Inc. It is made with real dairy cream, rum, and natural flavors. Sassy Girl Rum Cream is part of a full line of wine, beer, and spirits created with a roaring 20’s prohibition theme, sold by Alphonse Capone Enterprises. They are probably best known for their Tommy Gun Vodka that comes in a tommy gun shaped bottle. Read more 
Review: Fifty Pounds Gin
Fifty Pounds Gin was named for the fifty pound tax, levied on all producers of gin by the British Parliament in the Gin Act of 1736. This was meant to reduce illegal gin production that was so rampant that it affected public health. It is estimated gin was distilled in one of five homes. Only two distilleries agreed to pay this tax. Fifty Pounds Gin is a small batch neutral grain spirit distilled four times using a still manufactured by John Dore and Co. It is filtered three times and then stepped for two days with eleven botanicals. Those include juniper berries from Croatia, angelica root from Western Europe, coriander seed from the Middle East, Italian licorice root, grains of paradise from Western Africa, lemons and oranges from Spain, and mint from the South of France. The final three botanicals are kept a secret. After distillation the spirit is allowed to rest for three weeks to allow the flavor of the botanicals to fully integrate. Read more
Review: Jean Marc XO Vodka
Jean Marc XO Vodka was launched in 2004. It is crafted by Jean Marc Daucourt in the Cognac region of France with four types of French Wheat. Each wheat grain is separated from its chaff before distillation to eliminate bitterness. The wheat used includes Ysengrain, Orvantis, Azteque, and Carguer. Jean Marc XO is distilled 9 times in small batches using a copper alembic still and the vodka is micro oxygenated after distillation. Spring water filtered through Champagne limestone is added to reduce to proof before filtering through Limousin oak charcoal. Read more
Review: Huizache Silver Tequila
Huizache Silver Tequila is named for the Huizache shrub, a yellow flowering bush that grows alongside the agave plants and are their lifelong companion. It is produced at Tequilera Don Roberto. This distillery is owned and operated by sisters and fourth generation family distillers Luz Gabriela, and Esther Maria Elisa Romo de la Pena. 100% Tequilana Weber Blue Agave is steam baked in stainless steel autoclaves. The agave is then shredded and slowly fermented and then double distilled in a continuous stainless steel column still. Read more
Review: Kilo Kai Spiced Rum
Kilo Kai Spiced Rum was introduced in 2007. The rum base is made in Curacao. Curacao is part of the ABC Islands of the Netherlands Antilles. That group includes the Islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. Angelo Leanez a third generation Master Distiller, or a member of his family, is involved in every step of the blending process. Kilo Kai is crafted in small batches, about 1000 liters. One year old and three year old rum is blended together before the rum is shipped to the US where it is flavored, spiced, and bottled at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Hofland London Dry Gin
Hofland London Dry Gin is made at the Toorank Distillery in the Netherlands. It is named for Jacob Hofland who started his spirits business in Holland in 1923. The distilled alcohol base is made from selected grains from the finest cornfields in the European Union. Eight botanicals are used including juniper, angelica root from France, orris root from Italy, coriander, vanilla from Madagascar, liquorice root from Turkey, lemons from Murcia Spain, and ginger from India. Read more
Review: Smithworks Vodka
Smithworks Vodka was just released. It is made from corn grown in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma and pure water from Lake Fort Smith. Smithworks is distilled three times and charcoal filtered. The vodka is distilled in Kansas and finished and bottled by Smithworks Vodka in Fort Smith Arkansas. Blake Shelton and Pernod Richard, the parent company of Absolut Vodka, Beefeater Gin and Malibu Rum are part of the Smithworks Vodka family of owners. Smithworks Vodka is currently available in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Read more
Review: Best Damn Cherry Cola
Best Damn Cherry Cola will be launched March 7 by the Best Damn Brewing Company. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a six pack a little early. This division of Anheuser Busch has already released Best Damn Root Beer and Best Damn Apple Ale. Cherry appears to be the industries fourth hard soda flavor, following root beer, ginger ale, and orange. Their Cherry Cola is the second hard cherry flavor. Jeds Hard Black Cherry was introduced in 2015. Best Damn Cherry Cola is an ale aged on whole cherries after brewing. Natural and artificial flavors and caramel color are added before bottling at 5.5% alcohol. Read more
Review: Absolut Elyx Vodka
Absolut Elyx Vodka was introduced in 2012. Elyx is made from pure deep well water from naturally filtered aquifers and a single estate wheat from the Rabelof Castle where they have been producing wheat since the 1400’s. From seed to bottle everything is done within a 15 mile radius of the distillery. The fermentation and initial pot still distillation are done at the main Absolut distillery in Nobbelov Sweden. The final column distillation and copper catalyzation are done at the original Absolut distillery in Ahus Sweden. Read more
Review: Selvarey White Rum
Selvarey White Rum was introduced in 2014. It is co-owned by three brothers and Bruno Mars. After years of searching they finally selected Master Distiller Don Pancho Fernandez to craft their rum. Don Pancho was born in Cuba. His first job was cutting sugarcane in the fields next to his father. He would later become a Master Distiller of Havana Club Rum, and the Cuban Minister of Rum. After falling in love with a women from Panama he moved and built his own distillery, Las Cabras, from scratch in a small town called Pese in Herrera Province. Panama’s premier sugarcane region. Locally grown sugar cane is used to create grade A molasses. A natural yeast derived from pineapple is blended with the molasses and pure Panamanian mountain spring water. After fermentation the rum is distilled in a four column copper still built in 1922 by American Copper and Brass Works. The rum is aged in American oak barrels previously used to age bourbon. A blend of three year old and five year old rum is used in crafting Selvarey White Rum. After blending, the rum is carbon filtered to remove the color but not the flavor. Read more