Review: Breckenridge Pear Vodka
Breckenridge Pear Vodka is crafted in Breckenridge Colorado at 9600 feet above sea level. No other spirit is distilled at a higher altitude. They also create Breckenridge Chili Chile a vodka infused with Colorado Chile and Turkish Chili, and Breckenridge Espresso Flavored Vodka. Each of these vodkas start with their unflavored original Breckenridge Vodka, made from 100% sweet corn as a base. After fermenting in a traditional Scotch-style open top fermenter the vodka is distilled five times in a 700 gallon Vendome custom copper combination pot still. A coconut shell charcoal filtration follows, before pure ice cold Rocky Mountain snowmelt water is blended to reduce to proof. In crafting Breckenridge Pear Vodka, a pear brandy is made from Palisade Colorado Pears grown on Colorado’s Western slopes. This brandy is infused with the vodka before bottling at 80 proof. Read more 
Review: Western Son Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka
Western Son Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka was released September 2012. It is one of six flavored vodkas they craft in Pilot Point Texas. The other flavors include Hill Country Peach, Piney Woods Blueberry, South Texas Prickly Pear, South Plains Cucumber, and their newest flavor Apricot. The vodka base is made from American Corn and water filtered through reverse osmosis. After 10 distillations through a 20 foot column still, the vodka is quadruple filtered. Natural ruby red grapefruit essence, the result of a fruit juice concentrating process, are blended with the original vodka base before bottling at 60 proof. Read more
Review: Burnetts Cucumber Lime Vodka
Burnetts Cucumber Lime Vodka was introduced April 2016. It is one of 37 flavored vodkas currently produced by Heaven Hill Brands under the Burnetts label. This is the third brand of vodka to create a Cucumber Lime Vodka flavor. The other two are Rain, and Svedka. Burnetts Cucumber Lime Vodka is made from 100% grain in Bardstown Kentucky. The vodka is quadruple distilled and triple charcoal filtered. Natural Cucumber Lime flavors are infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Skyy Infusions Bartlett Pear Vodka
Skyy Infusions Bartlett Pear Vodka was just released. It is the 17th flavored vodka in their Infusions line of vodka. The Bartlett Pear’s origin dates back to the 1760’s in England and was first named a Williams Pear. Seeds from this pear were first brought to the US around 1800. They were planted in Massachusetts on an estate later acquired by Enoch Bartlett. Hence the Bartlett name. Today nearly 50% of the pears harvested in the US are Bartlett Pears. This is actually down from the 80% market share they enjoyed 30 years ago. Bartlett Pears are eaten fresh and they are used for canning, puree and pear juice. Pear is not a common vodka flavor and two of the pear flavored vodkas currently in my bar, one made by Smirnoff, and the other by Hangar One, are no longer available. Skyy Infusions Bartlett Pear is made from a vodka base of Midwestern grown wheat that is quadruple distilled in Pekin Illinois. Upon arriving in San Jose California the vodka is blended with water filtered through reverse osmosis and then filtered through California Limestone. The vodka is then infused with Bartlett Pear and other natural flavors before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Ciroc Mango Vodka
Ciroc Mango Vodka was just released. The Ciroc line of vodka was first launched by Diageo in the US in 2003. In 2007 they partnered with Sean Diddy Combs in a partnership where profits are equally split. Mango is their seventh flavored vodka produced for the US market, and ninth Ciroc Vodka Variety. Ciroc also creates a Pink Grapefruit flavored vodka that is sold exclusively in the UK. Ciroc Mango is crafted in Southern France from the juice of Ugni Blanc Grapes that are distilled 4 times in a stainless steel column still, and the juice from Mauzac Blanc grapes that are distilled once in a copper continuous still. Once distilled they are blended together and distilled a final time in a copper pot still. Mango and other natural flavors are infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Effen Green Apple Vodka
Effen Green Apple Vodka is one of two new flavored vodka’s just released by Effen. The previously reviewed Effen Blood Orange is the other flavor. This is the forth new apple flavored vodka launched this year. Three Olives Apples and Pears and Smirnoff Sourced Cranberry Apple vodka were also introduced in 2016. While I’m not ready to select apple as the 2016 Best Tasting Spirits Flavor of the Year, it certainly appears to be the vodka flavor of the year. Effen Green Apple starts with a vodka base crafted with premium wheat from Northern Holland. After a low temperature continuous distillation in stainless steel columns the vodka is filtered five times through active carbon in a bottom up filtration process. Pure spring water that has been filtered through reverse osmosis is blended with the vodka for several days to reduce to proof. Natural flavor is infused before bottling at 75 proof in their trademark color coordinated polymer sleeved bottle. Read more
Review: Effen Blood Orange Vodka
Effen Blood Orange Vodka is one of two new flavors that join the four vodka varieties Effen currently produces. Gone is Effen Salted Caramel. Effen vodka is crafted with premium wheat from Northern Holland and pure spring water that has been filtered through reverse osmosis. A low temperature continuous rectification process is used to avoid caramelization of the sugars. It is filtered five times through active carbon in a bottom up filtration process. Natural flavor is infused before bottling at 75 proof. Read more
Review: 360 Red Delicious Apple Vodka
360 Red Delicious Apple Vodka was just released by Earth Friendly Distilling Company, a division of McCormick Distilling of Weston Missouri. It is one of twelve vodka varieties they currently produce with American grain that is distilled six times and filtered six times. This is a change from previously reviewed 360 vodka’s that were distilled 4 times and filtered 5 times. Natural flavor is infused before bottling at 70 proof. The Red Delicious Apple was developed on a farm in Iowa in 1872. By 1980 Red Delicious Apples accounted for 75% of the apple harvest in Washington State. While that percentage is now closer to 30%, the Red Delicious Apple is still the most popular apple grown in Washington. It will also be the prettiest apple sitting on the teachers desk. Read more
Review: Burnetts Peach Vodka
Burnetts Peach Vodka was introduced in 2006. Burnetts Vodka was launched in 1991 and they released their first flavored vodka in 2000. Today they have 37 flavored vodkas. Burnetts Peach Vodka is produced from 100% grain in Bardstown Kentucky at the Heaven Hill Distillery. The vodka base is quadruple distilled and triple charcoal filtered. Natural peach flavor is added before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Sobieski Espresso Vodka
Sobieski Espresso Vodka was introduced November 2011 and is one of eleven flavored vodkas made in Stargard Odanski Poland by Sobieski for the US market. Sobieski is the best selling vodka in Poland. It is crafted with Dankowski rye and crystalline water from Oligocene springs. The vodka is continuously distilled before natural flavors are added Read more