Review: Vodka57
Vodka57 was founded by Giulio Dorrucci, and since it’s December 2024 release Vodka57 has received numerous awards including 2024 European Vodka of the Year. It is made from winter wheat grown on the hillsides in France. It is small batch distilled five times embracing the heritage of the Dorrucci Lineage tradition in a century old distillery located in the Swiss Alps in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The spirit is then filtered 7 times at subzero temperatures, then blended with pure Swiss Glacier water, before it is bottled additive-free at 80 proof. Read more
Review: Baileys Coffee Toffee
Baileys Coffee Toffee is one of two new flavored liqueurs recently launch by Baileys Irish Cream for the US market. Baileys Cookie & Cream is the other. Baileys currently list 13 Irish cream liqueurs offered in the US market on their US website. They also produce Baileys Deliciously Light which boast 40% less calories, 40% less sugar, and 92% less cream. Baileys Coffee Toffee Cream is made with Irish Whiskey, oat milk instead of the traditional Irish Cream Baileys is famous for, coffee and toffee flavors. Because oat milk is used instead of fresh dairy cream, Baileys Coffee Toffee weighs in with 166 calories per 2.5 oz serving compared to the 233 Original Bailey Irish Cream This is not the first Baileys liqueur made without cream, Baileys Almande is made with almond milk. Read more
Review: Siembra Alteno Tequila Blanco
Siembra Alteno Tequila Blanco is made from 100% blue agave single estate grown in the tequila highlands around the Camarena family distillery in Arandas Jalisco. Siembra Alteno is one of four tequilas distilled at Tequila Tapatio. The others include El Tesoro De Don Felipe, Tapatio, and Villa Lobos. Once trimmed the pinas are brick oven cooked for 48 hours. A roller mill extracts the juice which is then fermented for 7 days with a proprietary native yeast in open air pine vats for 7 days. The spirit is first distilled with bagasse in a 3500 liter copper alembic still. A second distillation in a smaller copper pot still follows before bottling at 92 proof. Read more
Review: Northern Waters Vodka
Northern Waters Distillery was opened in 2014 by Peter Nomm and his wife Lisa. They later sold the distillery to the Johnson-Donahue family in 2023. Northern Waters crafts dozens of spirits including vodka, bourbon, whiskey, gin, rum, moonshine, flavored whiskey, and flavored vodka. The flavored vodka includes Coffee, Cranberry, Blueberry Basil, Citrus, Peppermint, White Pine, and Bacon Jalapeno. Northern Waters Vodka is made from the same mash bill as their bourbon or whiskey. Since both are different and both are used, your individual bottle of Northern Waters may differ in its flavor profile. I’ve been told by the distillery most of the vodka is made from their bourbon mash bill. This mash bill is made from 51% locally grown corn, wheat, rye, oats, and unique malts. The spirit is distilled a minimum four times. A 36-48 hour carbon filtration follows before bottling at 80 proof. Read more
Review: Kavanagh Espresso Martini Irish Cream
Kavanagh Espresso Martini is one of 9 Irish cream liqueurs made by Terra Spirits & Liqueurs for the Kavanaugh brand. With 14 varieties of Irish cream liqueurs sold in the US, only Baileys offers more flavors. Besides producing their own Molly’s Irish Cream Liqueur, Terra Spirits crafts most of our top scoring Irish cream liqueur brands. Kavanagh is available at Total Wine & More stores throughout the US. Read more
Review: Downslope Vodka
Downslope Vodka is distilled from cane sugar. Originally, the cane was sourced from Maui. It is now sourced from Brazil. Today’s review is from a bottle made from Maui Cane. Three friends Mitchell Abate, Andrew Causey, and Matthew Causey founded Downslope Distillery May 12, 2008. In August 2009 they released their first two spirits, Vodka made from Sugar Cane, and White Rum. They currently also produce Pepper Vodka, several whiskeys, gin, spiced and vanilla rum and agave spirits. Downslope vodka is made from the dried juice of sugar cane fermented to terminal specific gravity. The spirit is then run through a double diamond pot still then further distilled in a column still to a proof of 190. The vodka is proofed and filtered through a Liechtenstein filter before bottling at 80 proof.
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Review: Mijenta Tequila Reposado Symphony Series 2
Mijenta Tequila Reposado Symphony Series 2 was just released. Series 1 was made from single estate agaves grown from seed and harvested at approximately 8 years old. Series one is bottled at 100 proof. Series 2 explores the elegance of barrel aging from staves of different wood varieties. 70 barrels were constructed with oak from Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The staves are toasted over a low burning heat while being continually sprayed with water. This unique toasting method opens the pores and allows a deeper penetration into the stave. Read more
Review: Deep Eddy Pineapple Vodka
Deep Eddy Pineapple Vodka was recently released. This is their 8th flavored vodka joining Deep Eddy Original unflavored vodka. Deep Eddy is made from 100% corn and spring water from deep aquifers in Texas Hill Country. Deep Eddy is small batch distilled 10 times through a 20 foot column still. The spirit is then filtered 8 times through charcoal. Real Pineapple juice and all natural flavors are blended to create Deep Eddy Pineapple Vodka. Read more
Review: Mammoth Vodka
Mammoth Vodka is distilled at Mammoth Distilling in Central Lake Michigan. Husband and wife team Chad Munger and Tracy Hickman founded the distillery in 2013. They also produce rye, bourbon, gin, flavored vodka, and coffee liqueur. Mammoth Vodka is made from 10% Wheeler rye grown on Shooks farm, 90% Wapsi Valley corn grown on Granor Farms, and pure Torch Lake water. Mammoth is distilled on a 650 liter Christian Carl hybrid still. The spirit travel through 14 perforated trays, 14 bubble caps and two partial condensers. Read more
Review: Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series 1 Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series 1 Straight Bourbon Whiskey is crafted by Master Distiller Ian Stirsman. This new series will allow Stirman to experiment with grains, recipes, and maturation techniques. Remus is distilled at Ross & Squibb Distillery. The distillery is named for George Ross who founded Rossville Distillery in 1847 & William P Squibb who founded W.P. Squibb & Co. Distillery in 1869. Both distilleries sit on land now part of Ross & Squibb. In 1921 the King of Bootleggers George Remus purchased W.P Squibb. The whiskey takes its name from him. The distillery is located in Lawrenceburg Indiana between the Ohio River and Tanner’s Creek. Series one is made from a high rye bourbon mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley, and cold pure water from the Miami Aquifer naturally limestone filtered. Once distilled the spirit is aged for 9 years in heavily toasted, lightly charred American Oak Seguin Moreau Barrels that were air seasoned for 24 months, before bottling at 107 proof. Read more