Review: Skyy Infusions Bartlett Pear Vodka
Skyy Infusions Bartlett Pear Vodka was just released. It is the 17th flavored vodka in their Infusions line of vodka. The Bartlett Pear’s origin dates back to the 1760’s in England and was first named a Williams Pear. Seeds from this pear were first brought to the US around 1800. They were planted in Massachusetts on an estate later acquired by Enoch Bartlett. Hence the Bartlett name. Today nearly 50% of the pears harvested in the US are Bartlett Pears. This is actually down from the 80% market share they enjoyed 30 years ago. Bartlett Pears are eaten fresh and they are used for canning, puree and pear juice. Pear is not a common vodka flavor and two of the pear flavored vodkas currently in my bar, one made by Smirnoff, and the other by Hangar One, are no longer available. Skyy Infusions Bartlett Pear is made from a vodka base of Midwestern grown wheat that is quadruple distilled in Pekin Illinois. Upon arriving in San Jose California the vodka is blended with water filtered through reverse osmosis and then filtered through California Limestone. The vodka is then infused with Bartlett Pear and other natural flavors before bottling at 70 proof. Read more 
Review: Precis Vodka
Precis Vodka derives it’s name from the precision distilling process which combines traditional distilling methods with modern techniques. Precis is made from 100% corn distilled once and unfiltered. Pure water from Lake Boren in Sweden is blended with the vodka to reduce to proof. The Precis bottle is hand blown and then painted from the inside. A unique pour spout and steel pop top completes the package design. Read more
Review: Jewel of Russia Classic Vodka
Jewel of Russia Classic Vodka is one of four vodka varieties in the Jewel of Russia product line. They also make the premium Jewel of Russia Ultra, and two flavored vodkas, Berry Infusion and Wild Bilberry Infusion. Jewel of Russia Classic is crafted with hard winter wheat, rye, and pure deep well artesian water. The vodka is quadruple distilled in tall column stills and slow filtered five times through paper, sand, and finally through charcoal made from the stones of peaches and apricots. Read more
Review: Ciroc Mango Vodka
Ciroc Mango Vodka was just released. The Ciroc line of vodka was first launched by Diageo in the US in 2003. In 2007 they partnered with Sean Diddy Combs in a partnership where profits are equally split. Mango is their seventh flavored vodka produced for the US market, and ninth Ciroc Vodka Variety. Ciroc also creates a Pink Grapefruit flavored vodka that is sold exclusively in the UK. Ciroc Mango is crafted in Southern France from the juice of Ugni Blanc Grapes that are distilled 4 times in a stainless steel column still, and the juice from Mauzac Blanc grapes that are distilled once in a copper continuous still. Once distilled they are blended together and distilled a final time in a copper pot still. Mango and other natural flavors are infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Sobieski Estate Single Rye Vodka
Sobieski Estate single Rye Vodka was launched October 2015 in California, and released Nationally February 2016. It is crafted in limited production at the Landcut Distillery, the oldest distilley in Poland. Sobieski Estate is made exclusively with Dankowski Rye from the fields of Galicia. The vodka is continuously rectified. Pure water from the Carpathian Fore is blended with the vodka to reduce to 80 proof. The vodka is then hand poured and hand crowned delicately with white gloves. Read more
Review: Effen Green Apple Vodka
Effen Green Apple Vodka is one of two new flavored vodka’s just released by Effen. The previously reviewed Effen Blood Orange is the other flavor. This is the forth new apple flavored vodka launched this year. Three Olives Apples and Pears and Smirnoff Sourced Cranberry Apple vodka were also introduced in 2016. While I’m not ready to select apple as the 2016 Best Tasting Spirits Flavor of the Year, it certainly appears to be the vodka flavor of the year. Effen Green Apple starts with a vodka base crafted with premium wheat from Northern Holland. After a low temperature continuous distillation in stainless steel columns the vodka is filtered five times through active carbon in a bottom up filtration process. Pure spring water that has been filtered through reverse osmosis is blended with the vodka for several days to reduce to proof. Natural flavor is infused before bottling at 75 proof in their trademark color coordinated polymer sleeved bottle. Read more
Review: Effen Blood Orange Vodka
Effen Blood Orange Vodka is one of two new flavors that join the four vodka varieties Effen currently produces. Gone is Effen Salted Caramel. Effen vodka is crafted with premium wheat from Northern Holland and pure spring water that has been filtered through reverse osmosis. A low temperature continuous rectification process is used to avoid caramelization of the sugars. It is filtered five times through active carbon in a bottom up filtration process. Natural flavor is infused before bottling at 75 proof. Read more
Review: 360 Red Delicious Apple Vodka
360 Red Delicious Apple Vodka was just released by Earth Friendly Distilling Company, a division of McCormick Distilling of Weston Missouri. It is one of twelve vodka varieties they currently produce with American grain that is distilled six times and filtered six times. This is a change from previously reviewed 360 vodka’s that were distilled 4 times and filtered 5 times. Natural flavor is infused before bottling at 70 proof. The Red Delicious Apple was developed on a farm in Iowa in 1872. By 1980 Red Delicious Apples accounted for 75% of the apple harvest in Washington State. While that percentage is now closer to 30%, the Red Delicious Apple is still the most popular apple grown in Washington. It will also be the prettiest apple sitting on the teachers desk. Read more
Review: 42 Below Vodka
42 Below Vodka was launched in 1999 and later sold to Bacardi in 2008. It is one of five vodka varieties they craft in New Zealand. The other flavors include Kiwi, Passion, Honey, and Feijoa. The vodka is named for both the alcohol percent it is bottled at and the latitude in degrees below the equator it is distilled at. 42 Below is made from GM free Red Winter Wheat grown in Australia and New Zealand and pure aa spring water sourced from deep springs. The vodka is distilled three times and then washed with pure spring water to reduce the proof and remove the impurities. It is then distilled again before it is filtered through 35 different filters. Read more
Review: Burnetts Peach Vodka
Burnetts Peach Vodka was introduced in 2006. Burnetts Vodka was launched in 1991 and they released their first flavored vodka in 2000. Today they have 37 flavored vodkas. Burnetts Peach Vodka is produced from 100% grain in Bardstown Kentucky at the Heaven Hill Distillery. The vodka base is quadruple distilled and triple charcoal filtered. Natural peach flavor is added before bottling at 70 proof. Read more