Review: Eggo Nog Sippin Cream
Eggo Nog Sippin Cream was just released by Sugarlands Distilling Company. Sugarlands opened their distillery in Gatlinburg Tennessee March 2014. They currently produce 20 Moonshines, Roaming Man Whiskey, 7 canned cocktails, High Rock Vodka, Mark & Diggers Hazelnut Rum, and 7 Appalachian Sippin Creams. Sugarlands partnered with Kellogg in crafting Eggo Nog Sippin Cream. If you have ever had a frozen waffle it probably was made by Kellogg. Lead by their Eggo brand they dominate the 1+ billion $ US frozen waffle market with over a 70% market share. Jarred instead of bottled Eggo Nog Sippin Cream is a tip of the hat to their Moonshine origins, but make no mistake Eggo Nog is made with a rum base, dairy cream, and natural flavors. Read more 
Review: Volans Blanco Tequila
Volans Tequila is truly a family brand of tequila. It was founded by Lonnie Allen her son Chad and his wife Cristina. The rest of the family business includes Three Rivers Ranch, a fly fishing ranch, and Three Rivers Ranch Outfitters, both based in Idaho. Cristina grew up in Mexico and her father Miguel is an agronomist who raised agaves, avocadoes, and blueberries in Jalisco and Michoacan. Once the family decided to craft a tequila Miguel found a field in the Los Altos Region and planted agave. After visiting 90 distilleries they partnered with El Pandillo and Master Distiller Felipe Camarena to craft their brand. The Volans name comes from a constellation in the southern sky. Volans represents a tropical fish that can jump out of the water and glide through the air on wings. Volans is crafted from 100% Blue Weber agave grown on the Camarena estate, and a blend of spring, rain, and deep well water. Once trimmed the agave is steam cleaned for 3 hours and then cooked in a dual steam powered stone oven designed with steam jets on the bottom and top to roast the agaves evenly. The pinas then rest for 24-36 hours before they are shredded and crushed with a 19,000 mechanical tahona. The extracted juice is fermented with natural yeast and double distilled in copper pot stills. The spirit is oxygenated prior to bottling. Volans is certified additive free. Read more
Review: Canteen Ruby Red Vodka Soda
Canteen Ruby Red Vodka Soda is one of 7 vodka soda’s made in Austin Texas at Canteen Spirits. Industry veterans Brandon Cason, Daniel Barnes, and Caroline Fabacher launched the brand in 2019. They have since released Cantina Tequila Soda, and Canteen Gin Spritz. Canteen Vodka Soda is sold in 2 different 3 flavor 6 can variety packs and in 4 can single flavor packs. Their Classic Variety pack includes Watermelon, Black Cherry, and Lime. The Canteen Tropical Variety Pack has 2 cans each of Strawberry, Pineapple, and Lime. Canteen Cucumber Mint and Ruby Red are only available in single flavor 4 packs. Each 12 ounce can is made from real vodka, sparkling water, and natural flavors weighing in with 99 calories, 5% alcohol, 0 sugar, and 0 carbs. Read more
Review: General John Stark Vodka
General John Stark Vodka is distilled from apples, primarily Macintosh grown on Apple Hill Farm in Concord New Hampshire. The fresh apple juice arrives in 2200 gallon quantities. The juice is fermented for 7-10 days using two separate strains of yeast. The spirit is triple distilled on a 15 tray custom Christian Carl column still over the coarse of 24 hours. It then rests for a few weeks before it is cut to proof and bottled. General John Stark Vodka is named for the Revolutionary War soldier who during a speech uttered the phrase “Live Free or Die.” This phrase is still the New Hampshire state motto. The distillery sits on a former dairy farm that was switched to a vineyard in 1987 with the planting of the first grapes. By 1990 they were bottling wine. In 2004 the Flag Hill Distillery opened. Today they also produce whiskey, gin, rum, liqueurs, and brandy. Read more
Review: Van Der Haute Traditional Eggnog Liqueur
Van Der Haute Traditional Eggnog Liqueur is made with real dairy cream, spiced rum, and French brandy. It is produced by LeVecke Corporation in Mira Loma California and is sold at grocery stores owned by Safeway and Albertsons. LeVecke is one of the world’s largest spirit producers. Since Van Der Haute is a made up name I’m trying to guess the Dutch connection with eggnog since most agree eggnog originated in England. The best I could come up with is Advocaat is a traditional Dutch alcoholic beverage made from eggs, sugar, and brandy. LeVecke produces eggnog liqueur for several different brands including Kirkland, Skrewball, and Trader Joes. They also produce a second Van Der Haute Eggnog Liqueur made from a wine base, and Van Der Haute Gingerbread Cream Liqueur. Read more
Review: Oak & Eden Wheat & Honey
Oak & Eden Wheat & Honey was launched September 29, 2022. It is sold exclusively at oakandeden.com. This is one of several whiskey expressions in the Oak & Eden product line. Oak & Eden was founded by brothers Joe and James Giildenzopf in 2018. Each whiskey base is distilled and barrel aged for a minimum three years at MGP in Lawrenceburg Indiana. The barreled whiskey is bottle finished, instead of double barrel finished by Oak & Eden at their distillery in Bridgeport Texas. A 5 inch long spiral cut piece of wood is placed in every bottle of the aged whiskey. Oak & Eden Wheat & Honey is crafted from a bourbon base made from a mash bill of 51% corn, 45% wheat, and 4% Malted Barley. One honey soaked medium toasted 5 inch long spiral piece of oak that had rested in honey is dropped in each bottle of Oak & Eden Wheat and Honey. Read more
Review: Skrewball Eggnog
Skrewball, The Original Peanut Butter Whiskey just released Skrewball Eggnog. It is made with real dairy cream, natural flavors and of course Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey. For those unfamiliar with Skrewball it was created in 2018 by Steve Yeng, a Cambodian immigrant and his wife Brittany Yeng. Steve and his family own a couple of restaurants including OB Noodle House in Ocean Beach California and The Holding Company in San Diego. A peanut butter flavored whiskey cocktail was the signature cocktail he developed for the restaurants. Steve thought a peanut butter flavored whiskey would be a big seller. He worked with his wife Brittany who has a Masters Degree in chemistry while she was on maternity leave to develop Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey. While brandy has been the traditional spirit to blend with eggnog, rum, cognac, and whiskey have also been used to make a tasty adult eggnog. Skrewball Eggnog weighs in at 29.5 proof. By comparison Rumchata is 27.5 proof and Bailey’s Irish Cream 34 proof. Read more
Review: 21 Seeds Cucumber Jalapeno Tequila
21 Seeds Cucumber Jalapeno Tequila was launched in 2019 along with 21 Seeds Valencia Orange, and 21 Seeds Grapefruit Hibiscus Tequila. 21 Seeds was created by 2 sisters, Kat Hantas and Nicole Emanuel, and their friend Sarika Singh. The 100% agave base is distilled at the female owned and operated Casa Maestri. The tequila base is infused with the juice of real fruits. A custom built refrigeration system was built at the distillery to ensure all ingredients maintain their optimal freshness prior to infusion. The 21 Seeds brand was acquired by Diageo March 2022. Read more
Review: Xplorer Potato Vodka
Xplorer Potato Vodka is made at the Kilimanjaro Distillery in Allentown Pennsylvania. Father and daughter Kishor and Niky Chokshi were both born in Tanzania. They came to the US and opened their distillery September 2016. Xplorer Potato Vodka was launched October 2016. They currently produce several spirits including Peanut Butter Whiskey, Peach Bourbon, Chocolate Bourbon, Honey Bourbon, Gin, Penna Dutch Apple Pie, and their first spirit, Xplorer Wheat Vodka. Xplorer Potato Vodka is made with Pennsylvania grown potato’s. It is distilled 12 times and processed with 24-karat gold. A percent of profits go to provide clean drinking water to communities in need through the Tanzania water project. Read more
Review: Cazcanes No. 7 Blanco Tequila
Cazcanes No. 7 Blanco Tequila was recently added to the Cazcanes portfolio of tequila expressions joining Cazcanes No. 9 Blanco, No. 7 Reposado, and No. 7 Anejo. Cazcanes is named for the last indigenous people of Mexico to be conquered by the Spaniards. Cazcanes is crafted by Master Distiller Collin Edwards, a winemaker with a love for tequila. The recipe is based on a 300 year old indigenous recipe found in a moonshine jungle still. Cazcanes is made from hand selected Weber blue Lowland agave grown in volcanic tufa soil at 4000-6000 feet, and underground volcanic mountain spring water sourced from Navichi Springs. The spirit is fermented with natural wild yeast in stainless steel vats and distilled in alembic stills. Read more