Review: Svedka Pure Infusions Dragonfruit Melon
Svedka has just released Pure Infusions, a zero sugar, natural fruit infused vodka. Weighing in at 70 calories per 1.5 Oz. serving Svedka no doubt is taking aim at the market created with the release of Ketel One Botanicals and Smirnoff Zero Sugar Infusions. Dragonfruit Melon is one of three flavors available at launch. Strawberry Guava, and Ginger Lime are the others. The vodka base is made from Swedish winter wheat and pure ice cold Swedish spring water. Natural flavors are infused before bottling at 60 proof. Read more 
Review: Svedka Pure Infusions Strawberry Guava
Svedka has just released Pure Infusions a new line of flavor infused vodka. At launch the three flavors include Strawberry Guava, Dragon Fruit Melon, and Ginger Lime. Each variety weighs in at 60 proof with 0 sugar, 0 carbs, and 70 calories per 1.5 oz. serving. Svedka distills their vodka in Sweden from Swedish Winter Wheat five times in a continuous distillation process. Ice cold water from Swedish springs is blended to reduce to proof. Natural flavors are infused before bottling at 60 proof. Read more
Review: Absolut Juice Pear & Elderflower
Absolut Juice Pear & Elderflower was just released. It joins the previously released Absolut Juice Strawberry, and Absolut Juice Pear that launched Absolut’s 5% real juice infused Absolut Juice line last April. Absolut struck gold last year when they signed Lizzo as a celebrity endorser. Her hit song Juice was a perfect fit for the Juice brand, and her Absolut Juice video has been viewed by millions. Elderflowers grow in most of Europe and are in bloom from Mid-May until early June. They are probably best know in the US as the main ingredient in St. Germain Liqueur, a French made Elderflower liqueur. Absolut Juice Pear & Elderflower starts with the Absolut vodka base that is made from Swedish Winter Wheat sourced from 450 local farmers. One kilo of wheat is used to produce one liter of vodka. The wheat is milled onsite and blended with water and a proprietary yeast and fermented for 2 days. It is continuously distilled and filtered once through mesh. Real fruit juice and natural flavors are infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Five Wives Vodka
Five Wives Vodka is made from 100% corn and Utah mountain spring water sourced from a spring inaccessible by vehicle. The water is hiked out five gallons at a time. The spirit is distilled in stainless steel column stills at Ogden’s Own Distillery in Ogden Utah. Five Wives Vodka was launched in 2011. The distillery also produces Five Wives Sinful, cinnamon, and Five Wives Heavenly, vanilla flavored vodka. Their spirits portfolio also includes a gin, several whiskies, and fruit liqueurs. Read more
Review: Voltage Vodka
Voltage Vodka is crafted by March First Brewing and Distilling in Cincinnati Ohio. The name comes from the date the brewery and the state of Ohio were both founded. March First currently produces Beer, Hard Cider, Hard Seltzer, and a line of spirits that includes Sycamore Whiskey, Cooper Island Rum, and Voltage Vodka. Voltage Vodka was launched December 2017. It is distilled from wheat and a small amount of Ohio grown apples. The 100% apple juice used is a blend of apples including Johnathan and Winesap. Read more
Review: Headwind Craft FWD Pacific Northwest Vodka
Headwind Craft FWD Pacific Northwest Vodka was launched October 2019 by founder Jason Dyke. Jason has a spirits background that includes time with Diageo, Constellations Brands, and Bacardi. Prior to creating Headwind he led the strategy and development of Pendleton Whisky. Headwind is crafted in the heart of Portland Oregon from 100% corn. The spirit is distilled six times and filtered twice using the finest Oregon water. The first filtration smooths and rounds out the liquid. The second through authentic Pacific Northwest Hazelnut charcoal imparts subtle character indigenous to the Pacific Northwest. Each bottle of Headwind Vodka is uniquely wrapped in birchwood and hand- labeled with individual batch and bottle numbers along with the bottling date. A bottle looking this good usually comes with a premium price. With a suggested retail price of $21.99 that’s not the case. If price, back story and bottle design aren’t enough, Headwind Vodka was also just awarded a 2020 Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition. Read more
Review: Wheel House Sacramento Vodka
Wheel House Sacramento Vodka is crafted with a blend of corn and wheat malt by Founder and Distiller Greg Baughman. Greg hand built the 160 gallon side mount tall copper still the spirit is distilled in. A wheel house is the part of a boat that shelters the person at the wheel. The vodka is named to honor the river boat captains that transported liquor and thirsty patrons up and down the American River during Prohibition. When Greg opened Gold River Distillery in 2014 with his first product, Wheel House Gin, they were the first legal distillery in Sacramento County since Prohibition. Vodka was his second product. When it was released in 2015 the original name was Wheel House 916 Vodka. 916 is the area code of Sacramento. Read more
Review: Trader Joes Versatile Spirit Vodka
Versatile Spirit Vodka is one of three house brand vodka’s only available at Trader Joes. The others include The Art of The Still Organic Vodka, and Vodka of The Gods. Versatile Spirit is made from 100% California grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay. The vodka is distilled in California by Healdsburg Distillers of Granton California. A quick internet search shows no distillery in Granton California and no Healdsburg Distillery, so the actual distillery that created this vodka is unknown. Read more
Review: Cinco Vodka
Cinco Vodka was launched in 2010 by Richard Trey Azar III. It is made from 100% Idaho sourced amber wheat and water drawn from the Edwards aquifer which is naturally filtered through Cordova Creme limestone found beneath San Antonio Texas. It is small batch distilled five times in a 530 gallon hand hammered copper kettle still nicknamed Betty, and non charcoal filtered. I first tasted Cinco’s pool side at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort several years ago, and kicked myself for not bringing home a bottle to review. If you have stayed and dined at this Marriott property you will probably understand why I had no time to shop for liquor offsite. When produced Cinco was only available in Texas. I say when produced, because Cinco is no longer produced, it is still available throughout Texas. I picked up my bottle at Specs today. Richard Trey Azar III has since moved on to gin as he felt the vodka market was over saturated. He is now producing the award winning Seersucker Gin. While I’m still in Texas maybe I should pick up a bottle of Seersucker, since I’ve been told for several years, gin is what the cool kids are drinking now. Read more
Review: Ving Vodka
Ving Vodka is made from 100% organic non GMO corn and purified water. It is small batch distilled in a copper pot still. A multiple filtration process follows. Ving is named for its creator Flo Vinger, a professional dancer from New York City and the CEO of Ving. Ving also creates a Kale, Lemon, and Cucumber infused vodka. Flo worked for four years perfecting her vodka that is distilled in Ventura California. Read more