Review: Fercullen Falls Small Batch Irish Whiskey
Furcullen Falls Irish Whiskey is crafted at Powerscourt Distillery. The story begins when Gerry Ginty and Ashley Gardiner presented a proposal to build a whiskey distillery on Powerscourt Estate to the Slazenger Family. They accepted and soon after Mike Peirce and his son Alex Peirce joined the venture. They started building their 22,000 square foot distillery complete with custom built Forsyths stills, and in June 2018 they started distilling whiskey. Fercullen is the old Celtic territory of land that stretched from Dublin across the Wicklow Mountains. The Powerscourt Waterfall, located on the estate is Irelands largest waterfall. The land and waterfall are the inspiration for the Fercullen Falls name. Fercullen Falls Small Batch was the first release from the Powerscourt Distillery using whiskey distilled on site. It is made from a 50/50 blend of malt and grain whiskey. The malt whiskey is aged in first fill ex-bourbon barrels. The grain whiskey is aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and new heavy char oak casks. Read more 
Review: Onda Tequila Blanco
Onda Tequila Blanco was recently released. This is the follow up to Onda Tequila Seltzer which was launched July 2020 by Noah Gray, Max Dworin, Kelli Adams, and Shay Mitchell. Onda Tequila Seltzer was made with tequila distilled at Destiladora del Valle de Tequila. For Onda Tequila they partnered with Grupo Solave. Grupo Solave also produces 818, Astral, and Superbird Tequila. Onda is made from 100% agave grown in the valley region of Amatitan. The hand selected pinas are trimmed and cut in half then slow cooked in steam ovens at a temperature of 90 degrees celsius. The cooked agave is milled with a traditional volcanic stone tahona. The juice is open air fermented and exposed to the natural yeasts in the Amatitan air in stainless steel tanks. The spirit is then double distilled in handmade copper pot stills prior to bottling. Read more
Review: Minke Irish Vodka
With six days left until St Patrick’s Day I thought I would pick up a couple bottles of Irish spirits, one Irish vodka, and one Irish whiskey. Today’s selection is Minke Vodka. On Friday we will post our Irish whiskey review. Minke Irish Vodka is crafted at Clonakilty Distillery, a family owned distillery founded by Helen and Michael Scully. They opened March 2019. The Scully family has farmed this coastal land for 9 generations. The Minke Whale that swims in the Atlantic off the coast of Clonakilty Ireland was the inspiration for the name. They currently produce 3 Irish Whiskies, a gin, and Minke vodka. Clonakilty is a grain to glass distillery that grows most of the barley used to craft their Irish whiskey on their family farm. The balance is sourced within 15 km of the distillery. The whey, a bi-product of dairy and milk production, used to distill their vodka and gin comes from milk produced on their family farm. Minke Irish Vodka is distilled on their copper pot stills and bottled onsite. Read more
Review: RumChata Pineapple Cream
RumChata Pineapple Cream was just released. It joins Original RumChata, RumChata Limon, Coconut Cream, Pumpkin Spice, and Peppermint Bark. It all started when after 35 years in the liquor business Tom Maas retired from Jim Beam in 2005. He soon became bored and started formulating Agave Loco a tequila steeped with sweet and hot peppers. RumChata made with Caribbean rum, Wisconsin dairy cream and Mexican spice followed. Tom sold his first case of RumChata October 2009. It is now the second best selling cream liqueur in North America, only trailing Bailey’s Irish Cream. In 2021 Tom Maas sold to E&J Gallo instead of higher offers because they agreed to acquire his Midwest Custom Bottling plant and retain his 35 employees. E&J also acquired his Tippy Cow and Holly Nog brands in the deal. While no ingredient list is provided we know RumChata Pineapple Cream is made with 5 times distilled light Caribbean rum, Wisconsin dairy cream, and pineapple flavors. Read more
Review: Lockhouse Vodka
Lockhouse Vodka is crafted at Lockhouse Distillery in the historic Cobblestone district of Buffalo New York. Lockhouse was founded by Chad Vosseller, Jon Mirro, Niko Georgiadis, Thomas Jablonski, and Cory Muscato. They opened their doors September 2015. This was the first distillery in Buffalo New York since Prohibition. In addition to vodka their website shows they currently produce 4 Gins, Coffee Liqueur, Amaro, and Ibisco Bitter liqueur. A look at their Instagram page shows a Top Secret Toasted Coconut Caramel Coffee liqueur, and a Bourbon Toffee Coffee liqueur. Lockhouse Vodka is triple distilled on a multifunction 80 gallon still from grapes grown on the Niagara wine trail. Once distilled the spirit rests for 1 week in a stainless steel tank prior to bottling. Read more
Review: Rodeo De Las Aguas Cristalino Anejo
Rodeo De Las Aguas tequila was founded by Jefrey Levy and Tony Garcia. They became friends as members of Los Angeles and New York based wine tasting groups. In 1838 Maria Rita Valdez was granted 4539 acres of land for her home and cattle ranch named Rancho de las Aguas, which translates to ranch of the gathering waters. This land was later developed into what is now Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. This ranch was the inspiration for the tequilas name. It is one of 11 tequilas distilled at Tequila Galindo. Others include El Luchador and Galindo. Rodeo De Las Aguas Cristalino is made from 100% agave grown in Southern Los Altos at an average height of 6700 feet above sea level. The pinas are trimmed, and cut before entering an autoclave where dry steam is applied for at least 16 hours. Once cooked the agave is moved to a three mass mill. The extracted juice is open air fermented in stainless steel vats for 5-8 days. After a double distillation the spirit is aged up to 24 months is American oak barrels and charcoal filtered before bottling additive free. Read more
Review: Crown Royal Blackberry
Crown Royal Blackberry was just released. Crown Royal Blended Canadian Whisky was created in 1939 as a gift for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England. Crown Royal is made from rye, corn, and barley with 80% sourced from Manitoba and surrounding provinces and pure water from Lake Winnipeg. 600 different blends were created before selecting the Canadian whiskey blend still used today. 50 of the finest whiskies are blended to create Crown Royal. 5 different mash bills and 12 distillation columns produce the individual whiskies that comprise their blends which are then aged for varying periods of time in either new or re-use charred oak barrels. Fresh blackberry flavor is infused with the Crown Royal Whisky base before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: 619 Vodka
619 Spirits North Park was established in 2012 by Nick Apostolopoulos a former software architect. It is named for the area code of San Diego California, where his vodka is distilled. They currently produce 5 flavored vodkas including Cucumber, Scorpion Pepper, Rose Petal, Pickle, and Coffee and their original 619 Vodka. When it was first released 619 was distilled from corn. It is now made from cane sugar. 619 Vodka is fermented for 2-3 days with Champaign yeast in 55 gallon drums. The spirit is distilled 12 times in a two column 1000 liter still and filtered 5 times. Read more
Review: Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Anejo Cristalino
Anejo Cristalino is the fourth member of the Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia line of tequila. It joins Platino, Reposado, and Extra Anejo. This is Jose Cuervo’s premium line of tequila that was once only served to family and friends. Cristalino continues to be the fastest growing segment of the US tequila market having grown 36% last year. Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Anejo Cristalino is crafted at La Rosena, the oldest distillery in Mexico from 100% organic agave grown on the family estate. The pinas are cooked in traditional stone ovens and after a long fermentation double distilled in small capacity copper pot stills. The spirit is aged in new American oak barrels for 1 year and then finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for 6 months. A proprietary charcoal filtration follows to remove the color before bottling. Read more
Review: Method and Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Method and Madness was created in 2017 dedicated to exploring new mash bills, distillation techniques, and wood finishes. This experimental micro distillery is part of Irish Distillers where masters and apprentices create new whiskey. Method and Madness Single Pot Still is made with a blend of malted and unmalted barley. It is triple distilled in a single distillery and non chill filtered. It is matured in sherry and bourbon barrels and finished in a variety of casks. Since it was first released they have crafted Single Pot Still whiskey finished in French chestnut, wild cherry wood, French Limousin oak, Japanese Mizunara oak, virgin Hungarian oak, and Garryana oak. Today we are reviewing their original which is still produced and is finished in French chestnut. Read more