Review: Rider Vodka
Rider Vodka is small batch distilled in Lenexa Kansas at Union Horse Distillery. Union Horse was founded in 2010 by four siblings in the Garcia family. The original name was Dark Horse Distillery but after a lawsuit filed by E&J Gallo on behalf of their Dark Horse wine brand the name was changed to Union Horse in 2016. Besides vodka they craft distill several whiskeys. Rider Vodka is made from 100% Kansas grown wheat. It is distilled six times in a custom 500 gallon column pot still made by Vendome Copper and Brass Works in Louisville Kentucky, and slow filtered before bottling onsite. Read more 
Review: Milagro Tequila Anejo Cristalino
Milagro Tequila Anejo Cristalino was just released. Milagro Tequila was founded in 1998 by Danny Schneeweiss and Moy Guindi, two wide eyed college friends. They sought out Master Distiller Pedro Juarez to craft their tequila. Milagro Tequila Anejo Cristalino is made from 100% blue agave from the Highland Region of Jalisco. The agave is slow cooked for 36 hours in traditional brick ovens. The extracted juice is fermented for 72 hours in stainless steel tanks, then distilled in a pot still. A second distillation in a column still follows. The tequila is aged for 18-24 months in American ex-bourbon and French oak casks before filtering through charcoal to a crystal clear color. Read more
Review: Essen House Vodka
Essen House Vodka is crafted at Paradise North Distillery in Green Bay Wisconsin. Tom Felds opened this family operated distillery May 2021. In addition to vodka they currently produce 6 rums, 2 bourbons, a white whiskey and Cherry Bounce described as a barrel aged cherry, sugar, and neutral spirit. Essen House Vodka is made from a 100% corn distillate. It is triple distilled and triple filtered before bottling on site. Read more
Review: Valor Tequila Blanco
Valor Tequila is a female owned tequila founded by Christiane Maertens. Valor Tequila Blanco was released in the US April 2023. 10% of every bottles purchase goes to build prosperity for Jornaleros, Jimadores, and local communities. Hummingbirds play a vital role in pollinating agave plants. The bottles label pairs the hummingbird with the indigenous symbol for balance signifying their purpose to bring people together and balance profit with equity as markers for success. Valor Tequila Blanco is made from 100% agave grown in the Lowlands. The pinas are cooked at low pressure in an autoclave oven. The extracted juice is fermented in open air stainless steel tanks. After a double distillation the spirit is stabilized in stainless steel tanks for two months and oxygenated before bottling additive free, at a slightly higher than standard 82 proof. Read more
Review: Modico Vodka
Modico Vodka is distilled at Montauk Distilling Company. Montauk Distilling Owner Leucio Iacobelli previously founded Hampton Rum Co. in Westfield NY in 2013. He moved and transformed Hampton Rum Co. to what is now Montauk Distilling Company in 2020. During Prohibition rum runners used Montauk located at the end of Long Island New York as a drop off point. It is that history and his love for water and the beaches of Montauk that inspired the Montauk Distilling name. He built the 3000 square foot Montauk Distilling Company in the old Riverhead Firehouse that was build in 1931 and occupied until 2008. They share the building with North Fork Brewery. Montauk Distilling Company currently produces rum, gin, bourbon, and Modico Vodka. Modico is distilled from corn mashes sourced in New York State. The spirit is triple distilled over 63 plates and then charcoal filtered before bottling. Read more
Review: Humano Tequila Blanco
Humano Tequila Blanco was born from a shared vision and desire of 5 veterans in the industry. Humano was just released this month in the US. The Humano name honors the human touch at each step of production. The 100% Blue Weber agave is grown in the Highland Region on 1250 acres of fourth generation family farmland with over 4 million plants in the ground. The entire process from dirt to glass is controlled. The distillery, Destileria La Experiencia in Totolan Jalisco was built on 198 acres. They only produce tequila for 5 other brands including Lo Siento, Ay!AY!AY!, and Buluarte. The hand trimmed agave first undergoes an agave wash to remove impurities before cooking. Some in an autoclave, and some in brick ovens. The extracted juice is fermented with a proprietary yeast in closed stainless steel tanks and double distilled. The tequila is hand bottled, additive free by local families in the region. Read more
Review: Glimmerglass Vodka
Glimmerglass Vodka is crafted at Cooperstown Distillery in Cooperstown New York, the hometown of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Gene Marra founded Cooperstown Distillery in 2013. This is a farm distillery using almost entirely New York state grown grains. They currently produce 6 whiskey’s, rum, gin and vodka. The distillery packages these spirits in standard shaped bottles and also sports themed bottles. Some of these sport themed bottles include a baseball, football, basketball, and golf club shaped bottle. Glimmerglass Vodka is made from 100% premium soft wheat and glacial water from Glimmerglass Lake. It is small batch distilled six times and filtered twice through five feet of activated carbon before bottling. Read more
Review: E Cuarenta Tequila Blanco
E Cuarenta is Spanish for E 40. E Cuarenta Tequila was launched February 2018 by American Rapper, founding member of The Click and platinum recording artist E-40. E-40’s birth name is Earl Stevens and he put that name on his own line of wine prior to adding tequila to a portfolio that at one time also included a Fatburger in Pleasant Hill California. E-40 spent several years visiting several distilleries and sampling dozens of tequilas before selecting Destiladora Del Valle De Tequila to produce his tequila. Destiladora Del Valle De Tequila, AKA Casa Maestri, is the most prolific distillery in Mexico, producing tequila for 212 different tequila brands. E Cuarenta Tequila Blanco is made from a blend of agave grown in both the highland and lowland regions of Jalisco. The agave is slow cooked in stone ovens for 48-60 hours and is fermented in open air steel tanks before it is double distilled. Read more
Review: Copper Fiddle Vodka
Copper Fiddle Vodka is crafted at Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich IL. Copper Fiddle was founded by Jose Hernandez and Fred Robinson. They opened their doors in 2013 after receiving Illinois DSP Number 11. They sold the distillery to Andrew Macker and Jim Iverhouse September 2019. While there was a change in ownership Distiller Rob Scaramella remained. In addition to vodka Copper Fiddle currently produces a bourbon, rye, 3 gin’s, and 2 rums. Copper Fiddle Vodka was introduced in 2020. It is made from their own made mash bill consisting of 90% yellow corn grown in Southern IL, 5% rye, and 5% barley. It is distilled 15 times in a copper pot and reflux still and triple filtered. Read more
Review: Baileys Cinnamon Churros
Baileys Cinnamon Churros Irish Cream Liqueur was just released in the US. It was originally launched May 2022 in Australia in a white colored bottle. For those unfamiliar, cinnamon churros originated in Spain with early credit going to Spanish Shepherds. They are made from deep fried dough that is rolled in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Baileys Irish Cream is sold in 160 countries, and they have a history of releasing different flavors in different countries. The Original Baileys Irish Cream was the first spirit we reviewed when we launch Best Tasting Spirits 11 years ago. Baileys Cinnamon Churros is the 20th Baileys Irish Cream liqueur flavor we have reviewed, but there are still several Baileys flavors that have never reached our shore. Those include Orange Truffle, Birthday Cake, Tiramisu, Eton Mess, and Apfelstrudel. Baileys Cinnamon Churros is made with real Irish Whiskey, Irish Spirits, fresh dairy cream, vanilla, and cinnamon flavors, and caramel color. Read more