Review: Casa Del Sol Blanco Tequila
Casa Del Sol Blanco Tequila was launched September 2021 in California, Colorado, and Florida. It is now rolling out for National distribution. The brand is co-owned by Eva Longoria. Casa Del Sol Reposado, and Casa Del Sol Anejo complete the lineup. Both are aged in Cognac French Limousin Oak Barrels sourced from Laurent Martell. Casa Del Sol translates to House of the Sun. The brand was inspired by the magic of golden hour, and the legend of the Aztec Goddess of Agave, Mayahuel. The 100% Blue Weber agave is hand selected after growing a minimum 7 years in the Altos de Jalisco. Once trimmed the pinas are slow cooked for 8-10 hours in an autoclave that is heated using steam produced sustainably by burning the trimmings from the processed agave. The tequila is double distilled and then “kissed by our cognac barrels” hinting at a short resting period in the Martell Cognac barrels prior to bottling. Casa Del Sol is one of 43 tequila brands currently crafted at Compania Tequilera de Arondas a third generation distillery with a female CEO. Alejandra Pelayo the protege and god daughter of Francisco Alcaraz, the creator and Master Distiller of Patron is Head of Production. Some of the other tequila brands produced here include El Charro, Riazul, Solana, and Tequila Lobos. Read more 
Review: American Liquor Co. Vodka
American Liquor Co. Vodka was released in 2020. The brand was founded by William Brumder, Michael Slapp, and Chris Montana. Chris Montana Co-Founded Du Nord Craft Spirits with his wife Shanelle in Minneapolis in 2013. Du Nord was America’s first black owned distillery. L’Etoile Du Nord Vodka was the first spirit they created. It was made from locally grown sugar beets and corn and first released May 2014. Du Nord Craft Spirits was burned to the ground in the George Floyd protests. They are in the process of rebuilding the distillery in a different location. American Liquor Co. Vodka is made from a blend of six vodkas distilled from four grains distilled at six different Midwest distilleries. This includes wheat vodka from Midwest Spirits in Columbus Ohio and Stumpy Spirits in Columbia Il. Rye Vodka distilled by Grand Traverse Distillery in Grand Traverse Michigan and Valentine Distilling in Ferndale Michigan. Corn vodka produced at Yahara Bay in Fitchburg Wisconsin. Finally potato vodka distilled by Proof Artisan Distillers in Fargo North Dakota. The vodkas are blended at Temperance Distilling Co. in Temperance Michigan. Read more
Review: Mighty Swell Keep it Weird Spiked Seltzer
Mighty Swell Keep it Weird is scheduled to be released in March. While the world was focused on Covid, the Olympics, and the Russians, a four flavored 12 can variety pack of Mighty Swells newest spiked seltzer fell off a truck headed to a Canadian Border rally and into my lap. The name pays tribute to the brands Austin Texas roots and the cities “Keep it Weird” slogan. Mighty Swell is made from a cane sugar alcohol base with natural flavors and 2.5% white juice juice from concentrate. Read more
Review: Flecha Azul Tequila Blanco
Flecha Azul Tequila Blanco was co-founded by Mexican PGA golfer Abraham Ancer and Entrepreneur Aron Marquez March 2020. Mark Wahlberg became the principal investor in 2021. Flecha is the Spanish word for arrow, a projectile that only flies forward. It is crafted at Tequila Orendain de Jalisco, a distillery family owned and operated since 1840. This distillery makes several other tequilas including Batanga, Excellia, Gran Orendain, and Rayador Cutwater. Flecha Azul is made from hand selected and harvested 8 year old agave. It is slow cooked in traditional masonry ovens. Once extracted the juice is fermented in open air steel tanks for 72 hours and double distilled. The tequila rests in stainless steel for 60 days prior to bottling. Read more
Review: Nutrl Vodka Seltzer
Nutrl Vodka Seltzer was released in 18 US states September 2021. It is now available Nationwide. Nutrl Vodka Soda was first launched in 2016 by Goodridge & Williams Distillers a British Columbia based craft and independent spirit company. Labatt Breweries a division of Anheuser Busch InBev acquired G&W, January 2020. Nutrl Vodka Soda is still sold in Canada and it is available in Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Cranberry, Pineapple, Cherry, Peach, and Mango flavors. Each variety is made with no carbs and no sugar. Nutrl released Nutr’l Juic’d, a vodka soda with a splash of juice, May 2021 in Canada. Nutrl Vodka Seltzer is not the same formula as either of these hard soda’s. The US version is made with vodka, real fruit juice, sparkling water, and natural flavors. Read more
Review: Smirnoff Peach Lemonade Vodka
Smirnoff Peach Lemonade Vodka was just released. This follows their successful release of Smirnoff Pink Lemonade Vodka last year. It joins a stable of flavored vodkas Smirnoff currently produce, that now number 29. Each flavor starts with a corn distilled vodka base. Natural flavors and certified color are added before bottling Smirnoff Peach Lemonade at 60 proof. While this is the industries first peach lemonade flavored vodka, Mikes Hard Peach Lemonade was launched in 2014. More recently Vizzy and Bud Light released a Peach Lemonade hard seltzer, and Smithworks produces Southern Peach Tea Lemonade Hard Seltzer. Read more
Review: Timberline Vodka
Timberline Vodka was released April 2021. It is made from a balance of grain, 14 different varieties of non GMO Pacific Northwest apples, and glacier fed spring water from Mt. Hood. Timberline is distilled with 46 levels of purification in a dual column 2000 liter pot still at Clear Creek Distillery in Hood River Oregon. Hood River Distillers acquired Clear Creek in 2014. While they are best known for their craft brandy, Clear Creek also produces McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt Whiskey. Timberline Vodka is bottled at 80 proof with three different collectable canvas labels reflecting their commitment to the great outdoors. These labels feature a hiker, snow goose, and skier. Timberline is a proud partner of the freshwater trust, a non profit whose mission is to preserve and restore freshwater ecosystems in the western US. Hood River Distillers also makes Big Gin, and imports Batanga Tequila. Read more
Review: Buenavida Hard Seltzer
Buenavida Hard Seltzer was released July 2021 in Southern California. National Distribution began this month. It is produced at Stone Brewing Company in Escondido California. The Stone Gargoyle found on the bottles label, 12 pack box, and bottle cap are clues as to who makes this hard seltzer. Stone opened a second brewery in Richmond Virginia. Stone is the 9th largest craft brewer in the US. It was founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996. They were among the first to pioneer west coast style IPA. Buenavida Hard Seltzer is the result of the company’s internal challenge to make a hard seltzer that actually tastes good. It is made with brewed high quality cane sugar and natural flavors and packaged in bottles not cans. Read more
Review: ROCK’N Vodka
ROCK’N Vodka was created by Andy Roinotis, Isabelle Roinotis, and Denny Trakas. It is made from Non GMO Sugarcane at Rush Creek Distillery in Harvard Illinois. They have since partnered with Rock and Roll HOF member and lead guitar player of Cheap Trick Rick Nielsen. It was created in 2019. Currently there are only 38 sugar cane distilled vodkas in the entire world. We have reviewed 9 of these and while the flavor profiles vary all have been quite tasty. Read more
Review: Starlight 31 Stars Vodka
Starlight Vodka was released June 2014. It has since been rebranded to Starlight 31 Stars Vodka. 31 takes its name from their distilled spirits plant number DSM-IN-31. Stars bring recognition to their home, Starlight Distillery. In 1843 Simon Huber emigrated from Baden-Baden Germany to settle in Southern Indiana. Through the years the family farm has grown to 600 acres. In 1938 a dairy barn was built. In 1978 they redesigned the dairy barn and opened their winery. In 2000 they obtained a license to distill on the farm. Beside vodka they currently produce several whiskeys, gin, rum, brandy, and grappa. 31 Stars is crafted by Co-Owner and Master Distiller Ted Huber from heirloom corn. The corn is grown, milled, mashed, distilled and bottled by the family on their farm. It is small batch distilled 7 times on an 80 gallon custom Christian Carl Copper Pot Still hand crafted in Germany. Read more