Review: LIV Vodka
LIV Vodka is crafted in Baiting Hollow New York in a beautifully restored twin cupola barn by Founder and Master Distiller Rich Stabile. Prior to WWII Long Island had over 200,000 acres of potatoes. Today the distillery is surrounded by 5000 acres of potato farms. Long Island Spirits was founded January 5, 2007 and was the first craft distillery on Long Island since the 1800’s. They were the 100th distillery in the US when they were founded. There are now over 2000, with 145 in New York state alone. LIV Vodka was their first spirit. It is made from 100% locally grown Long Island potatoes. It takes 20 pounds of potatoes to make one bottle of LIV Vodka. The distillery practices sustainable production methods including composting it’s by-products, and smart hydro thermal reclamation. LIV Vodka is small batch triple distilled on 650 liter custom made copper pot stills equipped with 30 foot tall rectification distillation columns. The vodka is non chill filtered. Read more 
Review: Michelob Ultra Black Cherry Organic Seltzer
Black Cherry recently joined Citrus, Mixed Berry, and Mango Apricot in the Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer Classic Collection. This 12 can variety pack was launched March 2021 and followed up the January 2021 Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer Signature Collection. In addition to offering different flavor varieties the Classic Collection flavors are made with real organic fruit juice. All four varieties are made with organic white grape juice and a flavor specific organic fruit juice. Black Cherry includes organic dark sweet cherry juice from concentrate. Black Cherry is not sold in an individual flavor pack so I will update my previous Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer Classic Collection review to now include Black Cherry. Read more
Review: Terralta Tequila Blanco
Terralta Tequila Blanco was introduced in 2011. It is crafted by Third Generation Master Distiller Felipe Camarena at Destileria el Pandillo. His Grandfather created Tequila Tapatio, and Tesoro de Don Felipe. His brother the Ocho brand. His cousin founded Camarena Tequila. I guess you can say tequila is in their family DNA. Terralta is made from 100% blue Weber agave, Highland grown for 8-10 years. The trimmed pinas are cooked and steamed in a custom stone oven with steam jets placed at top and bottom. This allows the agave to cook evenly. Once cooled a 19,000 pound steam roller made from junk parts and named Frankenstein, crushes the agave without breaking the fibers that cause bitterness. The juice is fermented in stainless steel vats with the same natural yeast his grandfather used 80 years ago. The spirit is double distilled in custom copper stills that are cleaned with distilled water and steam before every new batch. Pure water sourced from a 459 foot deep well is blended to reduce to proof. Read more
Review: Big Grove Squeeze Hard Seltzer
Squeeze Hard Seltzer is crafted at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City Iowa. Big Grove Brewery first opened in Solon Iowa in 2013. Founders Matt Swift, Faye Swift, and Doug Goettsch opened a second location in Iowa City in 2017. This 28,000 square foot location is where Squeeze Hard Seltzer is produced. The 2021 Big Ten Championship Football game between the Michigan Wolverines and Iowa Hawkeyes is played on Saturday so we thought it would be a good time to check out the University of Iowa’s home town favorite hard seltzer, Big Grove Squeeze Hard Seltzer. This should not be confused with Squeeze hard seltzer, produced by Sumerian Brewing in Woodinville Washington. Big Grove Squeeze Hard Seltzer is made from filtered carbonated water, a sugar alcohol base, natural flavors, and citric acid. Read more
Review: Corbin Cash Sour Mash Bourbon
Corbin Cash Sour Mash Bourbon is crafted by David John Souza on a family farm in the San Joaquin Valley that his family has owned for nearly 100 years. He named the distillery after his son Corbin Cash Souza. Corbin Cash Sour Mash was awarded Best Bourbon at the Los Angeles Spirts competition. Three years ago I reviewed Corbin Sweet Potato Vodka, now named Corbin Cash California Estate Grown Sweet Potato Vodka, so I’m not surprised by their most recent award. The bourbon is crafted from a 70% corn, 25%, rye, and 5% malt mash bill. The corn comes from good friends at the neighboring Scoto Brothers Farm. The barley used is grown in California and malted at Admiral Malting in Alameda, and the rye is grown on their own farm. It’s a true California Bourbon. The wood in the barrels is a combination of Missouri and Minnesota grown American White Oak. The wood is seasoned for 36 months before becoming a barrel. After construction the barrel in Fresno California it is charred to Corbin Cash specifications. The whiskey is mashed fermented, and distilled on an Arnold Holstein copper still at Corbin Cash Distillery in Atwater California. They add some of the spend mash into subsequent batches to create a sour mash. It is then laid down at 110 proof for a minimum of 4 years, and bottled at barrel proof of 106. Read more
Review: Gray Duck Spirited Seltzer
Gray Duck Spirited Seltzer was launched September 2020 by brand owners Jerry Schulz, Mark Cotier, Jamie Quesnel, and former Minnesota Viking Chad Greenway. The Gray Duck Spirit company was formed in 2018. They also produce Gray Duck Vodka. Gray Duck Spirited Seltzer is available in a three flavor 12 can variety pack with 4 cans each of Tangerine, Lime, and Bomba Juice. Bomba Juice is a strawberry lemonade flavored seltzer. Bomba Juice is the official drink of the Minnesota Twins. It is made with Gray Duck Vodka, Strawberry puree, lemonade, and soda water. While Gray Duck vodka is distilled by Glacial Grain Spirits, Gray Duck Spirited Seltzer is produced and canned at Badger Hill Brewing in Shakopee Minnesota. Each 12 oz. can weighs in with 5% alcohol and 95 calories and is made from carbonated water, alcohol from brewed sugars, and natural flavoring. Read more
Review: Carolans Cold Brew
Carolans Cold Brew was launched May 2021. Carolans Original Irish Cream is the second best selling Irish Cream Liqueur brand. Carolans Original was introduced in 1978, making it one of the oldest Irish Cream Liqueur brands. What sets Carolans Original Irish Cream apart from the competition is the inclusion of naturally harvested honey and farm fresh cream. This is the second line extension for Carolans. Carolans Salted Caramel was released August 2019. Carolans Cold Brew is a blend of Carolan Original with natural cold brew coffee and chocolate flavors. Read more
Review: Sercy Spiked & Sparkling Variety Pack 2
Sercy Spiked & Sparkling is produced by Mother Earth Brewing Company in Kinston North Carolina. This should not be confused with the other Mother Earth Brewing Company based in Vista California. The breweries name was inspired by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band song, Mother Earth. The Mother Earth Brewery was built in an abandoned brick building in downtown Kinston by Stephen Hill and Trent Mooring. Trent is married to Stephen’s daughter. They were able to reuse 95% of the original brick, wood, and steel from the structure in the construction process. They strive to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Recycled blue jeans are used to insulate the walls, solar power is used, and 80% of their staff walks, bikes or skateboards to work each day. In 2013 Mother Earth Brewing became the first brewery to attain LEED Gold Certification. Sercy Spiked & Sparkling was launched Spring 2019 and it is now available in 8 flavor varieties and sold in two 4 flavor 12 can variety packs. We have already reviewed the first Sercy Spiked & Sparkling variety pack. Today we are reviewing their second. Sercy is made with an organic alcohol from cane sugar base, purified carbonated water, and organic fruit flavoring. Read more
Review: Brogdan’s Irish Cream Liqueur
Brogdan’s Irish Cream Liqueur is crafted in Abbeyleix Co. Laois Ireland by First Ireland Spirits. First Ireland Spirits is one of the big four producers of Irish Cream Liqueur. The others include Baileys, Terra, and R.A Merry. First Ireland Master Blender John Drennan also makes Feeney’s Irish Cream, O’Casey’s Irish Cream, and O’Mara’s Country Cream. First Ireland Spirits also produces Bloom, Greenall, Opihr, and Thomas Dakin Gin, and The Liberties, The Dead Rabbit, and The Dubliner Irish Whiskey. With so many Irish Cream Liqueurs on the market today Brogan’s may be a little hard to find. I found my bottle at Schnucks in St. Louis Missouri. Read more
Review: Bold Rock Hard Lemonade Seltzer Variety Pack
Bold Rock Hard Lemonade Seltzer was released March 2021. Bold Rock is best known for their award winning hard cider, but they also produce Bold Rock Hard Tea, Bold Rock Hard Lemonade, and Bold Rock Craft Cocktails. Bold Rock first entered the hard seltzer market with the release of Bold Rock Grapefruit and Bold Rock Cucumber Melon Hard Seltzer June 2019. Unlike the Original Bold Rock Hard Seltzers that are made from a fruit alcohol base, Bold Rock Hard Lemonade Seltzers are made from a sugar alcohol base. Purified water, natural flavors, stevia, carbon dioxide, and citric acid complete the ingredient list. Read more