Review: Texas Vodka
Texas Vodka is one of several vodka brands sold exclusively at Trader Joes stores. It is made in Texas from 100% corn, distilled 6 times, and comes with a plastic twist cap, leaving little doubt who they want to be compared with. When the vodka first appeared at Trader Joes it was labeled TX Vodka. The brand is owned by Dynasty Spirits. Dynasty Spirits was founded in 2010 by Devin Dell. Dynasty produces Painted Donkey Tequila, and several brands of vodka including Tower, Column 5, Green House, Stil, and Townes. Dynasty also created the Nue Vodka product line until they sold it to Southwestern Spirits. Read more 
Review: Nightside Vodka
October 4 is National Vodka day so we thought it was reason enough to review Nightside Vodka. Nightside is distilled from Washington apples and cane sugar in Edgewood Washington, about 25 miles south of Seattle at the Nightside Distillery. Edgewood Washington was selected because their pure untreated water comes straight from the aquifer. With only 496 square feet of space, this is America’s smallest distillery, but that doesn’t stop them from distilling several flavored vodka’s, gin, bourbon, rye, aquavit, and a barrel aged vodka. Founder Tom Greene spent years working the graveyard shift as a longshoremen on the docks of Seattle Washington. This shift was referred to as the nightside, and it was the inspiration for the brands name. Tom feels nightside workers are a different breed. They get things done with pride, fun, and camaraderie. Tom founded the distillery in 2013 and it grew faster than anticipated so he took on seven owner operators to share responsibilities. The majority of the owner operators of the distillery have a service or military background including Police, Military, Fire, EMS, and 911. Read more
Review: Skyy Vodka 2021
Skyy Vodka was launched 1992. In 2021 they updated their bottle and recipe. When Skyy was released in 1992 the American distilled vodka competition was Smirnoff and a handful of discount brands. Brand creator Maurice Kanbar developed a new distillation process that removed most of the congeners. Congeners are the natural by-product of alcohol production blamed for bitter taste and hangovers. The vodka was quadruple distilled and triple filtered through California limestone. Water filtered through reverse osmosis was blended to reduce to proof. Skyy enlisted the help of chemists, professional bartenders and a water sommelier when the decision was made to update the brand. It appears Skyy Vodka 2021 is made from the same wheat base, is quadruple distilled and triple filtered through reverse osmosis. Instead of using water filtered through reverse osmosis, water enriched by Pacific minerals sourced from the San Francisco Bay area is used to reduce to proof. Read more
Review: Arbor Wheat Vodka
Arbor Wheat Vodka is crafted at Ann Arbor Distilling Company in Ann Arbor Michigan. At one time they also produced Walter Hill Vodka, a vodka distilled from corn. The Ann Arbor Distilling Company produces several Arbor Seasonal Gins, Fox River Bourbon, Rye, and Michigan Whiskey, Spaulding’s Peppermint Schnapps & Coffee Liqueur, Walter Hill Fruit Liqueurs and Absinthe. Rob Cleveland and Ari Sussman built the distillery in a former flour mill originally constructed in 1924. John Britton is now the Lead Distiller. Arbor Wheat is made from wheat grown on Wing Farms located five miles from the distillery. It is single distilled on a copper and stainless steel custom Carl still built in Germany. Arbor Wheat Vodka is bottled unfiltered. Read more
Review: Mutiny Island Vodka
Mutiny Island Vodka is crafted by Award winning chef Todd Manley and Master Distiller Chris Richeson at Sion Farm Distillery on the island of St Croix. Mutiny Island is distilled from breadfruit. In 1787 William Bligh Captain of the HMS Bounty was ordered to travel to the South Pacific and collect breadfruit to plant in the Caribbean. His mission was interrupted by a mutiny. He did succeed on a later expedition. Today breadfruit is a food staple in the Caribbean. One breadfruit tree can feed a family of four for life. Read more
Review: Venture Vodka
Venture Vodka was one of two spirits crafted when Marlin & Barrel Distillery first opened their doors in a 4500 square foot former warehouse, March 2015 in Fernanda Beach on Amelia Island Florida. The other was Marlin & Barrel Light Rum. The distillery was founded and is owned by Roger and Heather Morenc. They have since moved to a 13,000 square foot location where they continue to expand their spirit list that now includes bourbon, whiskey, several rums, vodka’s, gin’s, and liqueurs. Venture Vodka is made from Florida molasses. The bottle we are tasting comes from batch 75. Read more
Review: Locals Only Vodka
Locals Only Vodka is made from 100% California grapes sourced from the Central Coast and Palomar Mountain Spring water. The spirit is 12 time distilled in small batches through a German built Arnold Holstein copper still for 18 hours, and filtered through charcoal made from coconut shells. Locals Only was launched by Sean Heal, but it is produced by Pacific Coast Spirits. Nicholas Hammond is the Founder and Head Distiller of Pacific Coast Spirits. He opened a 12,000 square foot distillery in a former furniture shop in Oceanside California December 2019. Locals Only Vodka donates 1% of their total revenue towards local environmental charities. Read more
Review: Stateside Vodka
Stateside Vodka is the result of what started as a conversation between Matt and Bryan Quigley, two bored brothers had in 2013 about crafting a vodka. After learning the basics of distilling from the internet and sourcing a still made from a repurposed beer keg, the brothers starting distilling in their fathers basement. Until their father kicked them out. They learned enough to land a distilling fellowship at Michigan State, followed by a consulting gig with a famous vodka brand in Poland. Upon returning to the US they developed a business plan, received funding and formed Federal Distilling. Stateside Vodka is made from 100% US grown corn. It is seven times distilled. Stateside is brought to proof with purified mineral enhanced water and aerated with medical grade oxygen, then carbon and cold filtered prior to hand bottling. Read more
Review: Kastra Elion Vodka
Kastra Elion Vodka is crafted with olives grown in the Nafpaktos region of Greece. The name comes from the Greek words for castle (kastro) and olives (elion). The olives are hand picked between the end of October and Mid-December and cold pressed within hours of picking, then blended with organic summer wheat. It is distilled once in a hand made copper still. Pure mineral rich water from the crystalline rock in Mount Taygetus, some of the highest peaks in Greece, is blended with the spirit to reduce to proof. A 30 day resting process follows prior to bottling. Read more
Review: Noble Wolf Vodka
Noble Wolf Vodka is to my knowledge the first and only vodka distilled from 100% Florida grapefruit. The idea for the brand came to former University of Texas football star Bryce Cottrell while he was flying to Iowa State for a game. He was watching an episode of the HBO show Entourage where Turtle launched a tequila brand. When he returned from Iowa he placed an ad looking for a chemist to create his vodka. For the cost of a Five Guys burger and $80 cash the chemist created the vodka and found a distillery to produce it. While still a student and starting defensive end at the University of Texas he launched the 8 time distilled vodka. They also produce Noble Wolf Pink Lemonade and their Facebook page teases a Noble Wolf Red Berry flavor. Read more