Review: Pumpkin Head Hard Seltzer
Pumpkin Head Hard Seltzer is a new fall seasonal hard seltzer launched in July. If the Pumpkin Head name and cans graphics looks familiar you have no doubt seen and probably tried Pumpkin Head Ale. Pumpkin Head Ale was originally created at Kennebunkport Brewing Company in 1994. The brewery became Shipyard Brewing Company in 1996. Pumpkin Head Ale is not only one of the first pumpkin beers created, it is also one of the best selling pumpkin ales, and it is Shipyards best selling beer. Shipyard acquired Sea Dog Brewing Company another Maine brewery in 2002. While Pumpkin Head is the only hard seltzer Shipyard produces, Sea Dog offers three hard seltzers. Pumpkin Head Hard Seltzer is made with filtered water, a cold fermented neutral sugar alcohol base made from sucrose and beet sugar, and natural flavors. 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: Hornitos Tequila Seltzer
Hornitos Tequila Seltzer was launched March 2011. This is Beam Suntory’s second tequila seltzer brand as they released Sauza Agua Fuerte May 2018. Hornitos Tequila Seltzer is made with a Hornitos Plata tequila base, natural flavors, and seltzer water. Hornitos tequila was born in 1950 in honor of Mexican Independence Day. It was founded by Don Francisco. Hornitos is currently the 4th best selling brand of tequila in the US. Read more
Review: Freshie Tequila Seltzer
Freshie Tequila Seltzer was created by Paige and Ryne Eminger, and launched December 2020. Freshie was inspired by a week in Mexico and far too many sugary margaritas. It is produced at a third generation family owned distillery that is solar powered. After more than 1 year in development the female run lab located in the distillery perfected the recipe. Freshie is made with a 100% organic blue weber agave tequila base, organic natural lime, organic agave nectar and sparkling water. Read more
Review: Two Robbers Black Cherry Lemon Hard Seltzer
Two Robbers Black Cherry Lemon Hard Seltzer was released October 2020. It is one of three flavors in the Two Robbers Chapter 2 variety pack. The other flavors include Grapefruit Kiwi, and Raspberry Lime. Two Robbers Black Cherry Lemon is also sold in its own six pack and individual 19.2 oz. cans. Two Robbers Hard Seltzer was launched March 2019 by twin brothers Vikram and Vivek Nayar. They started creating their hard seltzer in the 50 square foot backyard of their apartment in Philadelphia. Two Robbers Black Cherry Lemon Hard Seltzer is made with sparkling water, alcohol, alcohol from cold fermented cane sugar black cherry extract, and lemon extract. 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: Skatter Brain Dark Chocolate Banana Whiskey
Skatter Brain Dark Chocolate Banana Whiskey was just released. It joins a Skatter Brain lineup that includes Skatter Brain Peanut Butter Whiskey, PB&J, Peanut Butter Cream, and Dark Cherry Vanilla. All five are available at Total Wine and More stores throughout the US. The fist thing I noticed is the elephant found on the Skatter Brain Peanut Butter whiskey flavors has been replaced by a gorilla. Skatter Brain Dark Cherry Vanilla feature a raccoon head. All three Skatter Brain spokes animals love their shades. Skatter Brain is made by Universal Brands in Princeton Minnesota from a Canadian whiskey base. Natural flavors and caramel color are added before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Natural Light Strawberry Lemonade Vodka
When you run out of ideas for additional hard seltzer flavors, and Bud Light beer flavors, and you already have a successful Naturdays Natural Light Beer line what do you do next? Anheuser Busch has decided to create a new flavored vodka line. The new Natural Light flavored vodka brand consists of three lemonade flavors. Today we are reviewing Natural Light Strawberry Lemonade Vodka. The other two flavors are Black Cherry Lemonade, and Lemonade. Priced around $10 for a 750ml bottle, two things are apparent. A-B is going after the same under 30 audience Natty beer has successfully won over, and they will target UV, Svedka, Smirnoff, and New Amsterdam flavored vodka drinkers. Natural Light Strawberry Lemonade is made from a corn vodka base. It is distilled 4 times and bottled in Louisville Kentucky. Are the added flavors natural? Who knows. Is the color certified? They don’t say. Did I tell you this is priced about $10 for a 750ml bottle? A-B is also launching the brand with a money back guarantee for a limited time. A-B Natural Light Strawberry Lemonade Vodka is said to be best served as a chilled shot or mixed with club soda. Read more
Review: Dos Equis Ranch Water Hard Seltzer
Dos Equis Ranch Water Hard Seltzer was released June 2021. It joins a Dos Equis lineup that includes Dos Equis Lager Especial, and Amber Especial. Also released in 2021 is Dos Equis Lager Lime & Salt, Watermelon, Pineapple, and Cucumber. Wilhelm Hasse a German immigrant arrived in Mexico and founded the Moctezuma Brewery in Veracruz. In 1897 he first brewed Sixto XX the beer known today as Dos Equis Amber. Dos Equis Ranch Water Hard Seltzer is made with water, alcohol distilled from sugar and natural flavors. It is sold in individual 24 oz, single cans, and 12 oz. 12 packs. A 4 flavor, Dos Equis Ranch Water Hard Seltzer variety 12 pack is set to launch later this fall. Read more
Review: Calirosa Tequila Rosa Blanco
Calirosa Tequila Rosa Blanco was recently released along with Calirosa Tequila Rosa Anejo. An Extra Anejo expression is currently barrel aging. The brand was created by Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and his wife, former Victoria Secret model Behati Prinsloo. The tequila base is crafted by the Real family at Tequila Selecto de Amatitan, where they have been distilling tequila since 1942. Some of the other tequila made at this distillery include AsomBroso, Blue Nectar, Codigo 1316, Insolente, and Manik. Third generation Master Distiller Luis Trejo Rodriguez selects 100% Weber blue agave that have grown for 7-9 years and have a minimum 26% brix or sugar content. The pinas are hand trimmed and cooked brick ovens. The extracted juice is fermented for up to 50 hours before it is double distilled. The tequila is then aged in California Red Wine barrels for 30 days. Read more