Review: Crater Lake Vodka
Crater Lake Vodka was released in 1996. It is crafted at the Bendistillery in Tumalo Oregon. They also produce gin, several flavored vodka’s, and whiskey and the Bendistillery is a strong Private Label producer of spirits with over 40 brands created there. Crater Lake Vodka is made from corn and distilled five times and then filtered ten times through charcoal and lava rock, then briefly rested in oak. Pure Cascade Mountain water is blended to reduce to 80 proof. Founder and distiller Jim Bendis launched Crater Lake Vodka before it was cool to open a distillery, and he crafted his vodka with corn, long before Deep Eddy, and 1 year before Tito Beverage launched Tito’s Vodka. Read more 
Review: CH Vodka
CH Vodka was introduced in August 2013 when Co-Founders Tremaine Atkinson and Mark Lucas opened the CH Distillery in the West Loop of Chicago Illinois. CH takes its name from the fundamental compounds in alcohol, carbon and hydrogen, while also tipping its hat to their Chicago home. Since opening, the distillery now also crafts 2 Gins, 2 Rums, several liqueurs, an aquavit, and a Peppercorn Vodka. This is the second pairing for Tremaine and Mark who also co-founded North Beach Brewing Company in San Francisco in 1989. That brewery closed one year later due to a lack of capital. After a successful second career, Tremaine became a partner at LSV Asset Management and Mark launching a courier company in Austin Texas that became the cities largest, the two decided to give it another go. This time distilling spirits instead of brewing beer. Their vodka is made from grain, winter wheat and rye, sourced from a farm 65 miles west of Chicago. The grain arrives in 2000 pound bags and so far CH has consumed over 260,000 pound crafting their vodka. The vodka is distilled in a two column still made in Germany by Carl Artisan Distilleries and Brewing Systems. Read more
Review: Toast Vodka
Toast Vodka was developed by entrepreneur and restaurateur Dieuveny Louis. It is corn based and distilled six times in Florida with the natural essence of coconut. The coconut water used in Toast Vodka’s production is unsweetened and retains all the natural benefits. Toast Vodka is the Official Vodka of the America’s Cup in 2016. Read more
Review: Wheatley Vodka
Wheatley Vodka was introduced in 2014. It is one of four vodka brands produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort Kentucky. The others include Rain, Platinum, and Clix. Wheatley is named for Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. He starts with a wheat recipe that is cooked, fermented, and distilled seven times on a one of a kind micro still. It is then blended with a recipe made from other grains and then distilled an additional three times in their pot still. The vodka is triple filtered and bottled at 82 proof. Read more
Review: Watershed Distillery Vodka
Watershed Distillery Vodka was launched December 2010 along with their Distillery Gin. These were the first two spirits released by co-owners Greg Lehman and Dave Rigo. They currently produce Watershed Vodka, two gins, a bourbon, a walnut liqueur, and an RTD old fashioned. When Watershed Vodka was first introduced it was made with 100% locally grown corn. In 2015 the recipe was changed to a blend of corn and apple cider distillate. The corn is grown in Ohio and the cider is sourced from a cidery in Northeast Ohio. This cidery sources all of their apples from Ohio Orchards. The vodka is quadruple distilled in a 660 gallon Kothe copper still, custom made in Germany. Read more
Review: Bellion Vodka
Bellion Vodka is made with NTX, creating a new category of science meets consumption called functional spirits. Functional spirits reduce the negative aspects of traditional spirits. So far the US Government has not agreed to allow Bellion Vodka to promote these benefits. NTX is a proprietary blend of Glycyrrhizin, Mannitol, and Potassium Sorbate that was developed by a team of PHD’s in the Pharma Industry, commissioned by Harsha Chigurupati. The claim is that it works by blocking the harmful substances in alcohol from reaching the liver. The vodka base is made from a blend of corn and wheat in Fairfield California at Frank-Lin Distillers. The Bellion Spirits company will soon be launching Dera Tequila, and Smoak Bourbon. 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: Opulent Vodka
Opulent Vodka is made from American-bred corn and distilled five times and filtered to a quality of less than one micron. Water purified in a three bed deionization process is then blended to reduce to proof. Opulent is made in Princeton Minnesota and is part of the Prestige Wine and Spirits Group. They also produce Opulent Passion, a passion fruit flavored vodka. Read more
Review: American Plains Vodka
American Plains Vodka is made in Princeton Minnesota with 100% American grown corn and water extracted from a crystal clear aquifer. The vodka is distilled 5 times and charcoal filtered. I picked this up at Total Wine and More where they have dozens of spirit brands I have never heard of before. American Plains Vodka is one of several that are distilled in Princeton Minnesota. What made American Plains stand out from the other brands on the stores shelf was the staff recommendation, and the 93 it had scored from the Beverage Testing Institute. I have sampled several vodkas made from 100% corn that were distilled in Princeton Minnesota. Let’s see if this one stands out. Read more
Review: Rain Vodka
Rain Vodka was introduced in 1997. They also produce a Cucumber, and Mango flavored vodka. In 2014 Rain dropped the organic from their label and replaced it with natural. Both are made with corn and made in small batches. The vodka undergoes an extensive production process that includes seven distinct distillations. A polishing stage follows that adds pure limestone water. The original recipe was made with organic corn grown on Fizzle Flats Farms in Yale Illinois. It was also filtered through charcoal and diamond dust. No sourcing or filtering information is available about the currently produced Rain. Read more