Review: Three Olives Eggnog Vodka
Three Olives Eggnog Vodka was just released. This is the first Limited Edition vodka Three Olives has created, and the industries first eggnog flavored vodka. Being first isn’t new to Three Olives as they produced the first Cherry, Grape, Chocolate, and Vanilla flavored vodka. Eggnog joins Three Olives Original and 22 other flavor varieties. Three-O Eggnog is created from a vodka base made from English winter wheat and demineralized water sourced from Lake Vyrnmy. It is distilled four times and triple charcoal filtered. The vodka base is then shipped to Lawrenceburg Indiana where flavors are infused before bottling at 60 proof. Read more 
Review: Ciroc Black Raspberry Vodka
Ciroc Black Raspberry Vodka was just released by brand partners Diageo and Sean Diddy Combs. This is the tenth flavor variant of Ciroc I have reviewed. One of the flavors Ciroc Amaretto, no longer appears on the Ciroc website. Like Summer Colada, Ciroc Black Raspberry is a Limited Edison flavor. Black Raspberries are different from Blackberries. Black Raspberries are more fruity and less tart than a blackberry. They are also lower in sugar content, contain more fiber, and have three times the antioxidants found in blackberries. The vodka base is made from Ugni Blanc and Mauzac Blanc grapes. The juice is made into a wine. The wine is distilled four times in stainless column stills by Master Distiller Jean Sebastien Robicquet at his 500 year old family owned Maison Villevert Distillery. A fifth distillation follows in a tailor made copper pot still at the historic Distillerie de Chevanceaux in the South of France. Black Raspberry and other natural flavors are infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Pickers Pineapple Vodka
Pickers Pineapple Vodka is one of three flavored vodkas crafted at Pennington Distilling Company in the Historic Nations neighborhood of Nashville Tennessee. The other flavors include Blood Orange and Blueberry. The distillery was established in 2011 and was originally named Speakeasy Spirits. Whisper Creek Tennessee Sippin Cream is the distillery’s flagship brand. They also produce Pennington’s Flavored Rye Whiskeys, and Davidson Reserve Fine Tennessee Whiskey. Pickers Pineapple starts with a vodka base made from non GMO corn and is distilled 11 times in a 32 foot state of the art Vendome column still that features 48 plates to remove impurities. Once distilled the spirit is filtered four times and then blended with pure Tennessee limestone water to reduce to proof. Real fruit and natural flavors are infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Grey Goose La Vanille Vodka
Grey Goose La Vanille Vodka was just released for a limited time. Originally launched in 2003 La Vanille was the third flavored vodka Grey Goose introduced. La Vanille was discontinued in 2007. Demand for premium vanilla flavored spirits has grown 40% year over year. No doubt helped by sales of Crown Royal Vanilla, Jim Beam Vanilla, and Ciroc Vanilla Vodka. Cellar Master Francois Thibault was inspired by the original recipe. Does that mean this is not the same recipe as the original Grey Goose La Vanille Vodka? I don’t know. I do know it is crafted from the original Grey Goose Vodka base made from soft winter wheat grown on farms in Picardy, Northern France. The spirit is distilled once using a five column distillation process. Pristine Gensac La Pallue spring water naturally filtered through Champaign limestone in the Cognac region of France is blended with the spirit. The vodka is then filtered through cellulose and carbon. Natural vanilla flavors sourced from vanilla beans harvested in Madagascar are infused with the vodka. No sugar is added. Read more
Review: Smirnoff Moscow Mule Vodka
Smirnoff Moscow Mule Vodka is a ginger and lime infused vodka. Smirnoff is commemorating the anniversary of the Moscow Mule with this limited edition vodka. Smirnoff invented the Moscow Mule in 1941. For those unfamiliar with a Moscow Mule the drink is made with Smirnoff Vodka, Ginger Beer, and a squeeze of fresh Lime Juice. The cocktail is traditionally served in an ice filled copper mug. Smirnoff Moscow Mule vodka is made with vodka, natural flavors, and certified color. It weighs in at 60 proof. Smirnoff even sells this in a copper colored bottle. The bottle’s label reads, just add ginger ale. The Original Smirnoff Moscow Mule is made with 1.5 Oz. Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka, 4 Oz. Ginger Beer, and a squeeze of fresh lime. It doesn’t sound that complicated. As with all of my reviews Smirnoff Moscow Mule Vodka will be reviewed as a stand alone product. I will also mix and sample a Moscow Mule made with this vodka and ginger ale and offer my comments. Read more
Review: Ketel One Botanical Cucumber and Mint
Ketel One Botanical Cucumber and Mint was released May 2018 along with the previously reviewed Grapefruit and Rose, and Peach and Orange Blossom varieties. The Ketel One Botanical line was created by 11th generation distillers Carl Jr. and Bob Nolet. With over 327 years of distilling experience passed down from 11 generations they live by the family motto, quality over everything. Each variety starts with Original Ketel One vodka made from 100% GMO free European wheat. The base is re-distilled with the Nolet family’s botanical recipe in small batches through traditional copper pot stills. After distillation the spirit is infused with the natural essence specific to each variety. No artificial flavors, sugars, or carbs are added before bottling at 60 proof. Weighing in at 73 calories per 1.5 Oz. serving Ketel One Botanical Cucumber Mint is crafted with 40% fewer calories than a glass of white wine. Read more
Review: New Amsterdam Grapefruit Vodka
New Amsterdam Grapefruit Vodka was just released. This is their tenth flavored vodka. At one time they also made a Citron Flavored Vodka. Grapefruit is a very popular flavored vodka in fact this is the 24th Grapefruit Flavored vodka I’ve reviewed. Only Raspberry 25, Peach 25, and Orange 30 have been reviewed more. Launched in 2011 the New Amsterdam Vodka brand has seen meteoric growth with last years sales surpassing 5.36 million cases. New Amsterdam is now the third best selling brand of vodka sold in the US. Only Tito’s and Smirnoff sell more. New Amsterdam Grapefruit Vodka is 5-times distilled from the finest grains , then filtered three times. Natural ruby red grapefruit and other natural flavors are infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Absolut Grapefruit Vodka
Absolut Grapefruit Vodka was just released. If you thought Absolut already had a grapefruit flavored vodka, you would be correct. Absolut Ruby Red was one of the first grapefruit flavored vodka’s when in was launched in 2006. Absolut Ruby Red is still shown as available on the Absolut Vodka website. Absolut Grapefruit is crafted from a vodka base made from Swedish winter wheat sourced from 450 local farms. One Kilo of wheat is needed to create one liter of vodka. The wheat is milled onsite and blended with water and a proprietary yeast, and fermented for 2 days. A continuous distillation process is used with steel column stills and copper plates. The vodka is filtered once through a mesh filter. Pure deep well water that comes from naturally filtered aquifers is softened through reverse osmosis and then blended with the vodka to reduce to proof. All natural flavors are infused with the vodka. No sugar is added before bottling at 80 proof. Read more
Review: Cold River Blueberry Vodka
Cold River Blueberry Vodka is crafted at Maine Distilleries in Freeport Maine. They start with their whole potato vodka base. Many distilleries use potato starch to create their potato vodka. The Yukon Gold, Russet, and White Potatoes used are grown at Green Thumb Farms which is owned by Donnie Thibodeau a Founder/Partner of Maine Distilleries. The potatoes are steamed and cooked in filtered water and fermented with yeast. A triple distillation in a 1000 liter copper pot still follows. Wyman Maine blueberries are steeped for days in alcohol. The alcohol is filtered out before pure filtered water from the Cold River aquifer and 1% sugar are blended with the blueberry and vodka base. Some flavored vodkas add 12%-14% sugar. Each bottle is hand filled at 80 proof and numbered. This is a true ground to glass experience. Read more
Review: Stoli Crushed Mango Vodka
Stoli Crushed Mango Vodka was recently released. It joins Ruby Red Grapefruit, and Pineapple in the Stoli Crushed family of real fruit juice infused vodka. Stolie Crushed Mango starts with a vodka base made from a blend of 88% corn and 12% buckwheat. The vodka is triple distilled and quadruple filtered. Pure artesian spring water is blended to reduce to proof. Real fruit juice, natural flavor, and certified color are infused before bottling at 60 proof. Read more