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 
Review: Cantina Especial Tequila Soda
Cantina Especial Tequila Soda was launched April 2021. The brand was founded by Brandon Cason, Daniel Barnes, and Caroline Fabacher, and is backed by several pop and country music investors. The trio also launched the Canteen Vodka brand August 2019. In 2010 Brandon joined Deep Eddy as one of the brands first employees and worked his way up to VP of Marketing. In 2017 he Co-Founded Waterloo Sparkling Water. Daniel Barnes founded Treaty Oak Distilling Co. and Co-Founded Waterloo Sparkling Water. Cantina Especial is currently available in three varieties. Ranch Water, Grapefruit Paloma, and Watermelon Margarita. Cantina is made in Austin Texas with blanco tequila distilled in Mexico from 100% blue agave. Read more
Review: Mamitas Tequila Seltzer
After one year of development Mamitas Tequila Seltzer was launched November 2020 by Phusion Projects. It is made in Waunakee Wisconsin at Octopi. Phusion Projects is probably best know as the makers of Four Loco. They also produce Basic Hard Seltzer. Mamitas is named for a famous beach on the north side of Playa del Carmen Mexico. Mamitas may be known by some as Brody Jenner’s seltzer. While Brody has no actual brand ownership there is a marketing partnership between the two. Mamitas is made with real tequila, sparkling water, natural flavors and agave nectar. The real tequila found in each can of Mamitas is a mixto blend. Mixto meaning a spirits distilled from 51% blue agave and 49% cane or fructose corn syrup. Some may argue their use of the “real tequila” on the cans label since the tequila used is not made from 100% blue agave. Read more
Review: Onda Tequila Seltzer Paradise Collection
Onda Tequila Seltzer was launched July 2020 by Noah Gray, Max Dworin, Kelli Adams, and Shay Mitchell, AKA Emily Fields from the Pretty Little Liars series. Onda is a Spanish word that translates to wave, or good vibes. The brand was inspired by the surf style of the 90’s. Onda is made from a tequila base crafted at Destiladora del Valle de Tequila, a woman owned distillery. Carbonated water, natural flavors, lime juice and flavor specific fruit juice concentrate complete the labels ingredient list. Onda is currently available in this, their Paradise Collection, an 8 pack with 2 cans each of Pineapple, Mango, Passion Fruit, and Strawberry. The Onda Classic Collection 8 pack offers two cans each of Grapefruit, Lime, Blood Orange, and Watermelon. Read more
Review: Black Irish White Chocolate Irish Cream
Today September 1, marks the start of Irish Cream season. It seemed like a great time to take a sip or ten of Mariah Careys new Black Irish White Chocolate Irish Cream. Irish Cream is no longer just a seasonal drink, but there is something special about Irish Cream in the fall and holiday season. While Mariah Carey enjoys sipping a good Irish Cream liqueur, she always felt there was something missing. After years of development and product sampling she selected her three favorite blends to launch the Black Irish brand. We have already reviewed Black Irish Original and Black Irish Salted Caramel Irish Cream. We enjoyed both, but our previous experience with white chocolate flavored Irish Creams has been a little disappointing. Black Irish White Chocolate is made with Belgian White Chocolate, a special blend of aged Irish Whiskey and fresh dairy cream. So we are optimistic this will be different. Before tasting I did a little research with the questions, what exactly is white chocolate? and what makes Belgian white chocolate different from the rest? In the world of chocolate there is white, milk and dark chocolate. All three start with roasted cocoa beans. The beans are stripped revealing cocoa nibs. The nibs are ground separating the cocoa butter from the cocoa solids. Dark Chocolate contains between 50-90% cocoa solids. Milk Chocolate 10-50% cocoa solids. White Chocolate only contains cocoa butter. White Chocolate must be made from a minimum 20% cocoa butter. Most white chocolates add milk powders, palm oils, or other fillers. Belgian White Chocolate is made from 100% cocoa butter. Read more
Review: Bud Light Seltzer Fall Flannel Variety Pack
Just in time for the start of meteorological fall, September-November, Bud Light has released Bud Light Seltzer Fall Flannel Variety Pack. This replaces last years Ugly Sweater Variety Pack. Last years pack included three cans each of Apple Crisp, Peppermint Pattie, Ginger Snap, and Cranberry. For 2021 Bud Light has brought back Apple Crisp and added three new flavors Maple Pear, Pumpkin Spice, and Toasted Marshmallow. Like the entire Bud Light Seltzer stable each flavor in the Fall Flannel Variety pack is made from a cold fermented cane sugar base, with natural flavors and malted rice. The three new flavors each are sweetened with Stevia while Bud Light Seltzer Apple Crisp is made with a sprinkle of cane sugar. Read more
Review: Smirnoff Seltzer Pink Lemonade
Smirnoff Seltzer Pink Lemonade joins a Smirnoff product line that already includes Smirnoff Pink Lemonade Vodka, and Smirnoff Ice Pink Lemonade Premium Malt Beverage. It is available in single flavor 6 and 12 packs of 12 oz. slim cans. Unlike most hard seltzers that are made from a sugar or dextrose alcohol base, Smirnoff continues to produced their hard seltzer from a malt beverage base. Smirnoff Pink Lemonade joins Smirnoff Red White, and Berry in the Smirnoff Seltzer lineup. Both share a name and flavor profile of a successful Smirnoff flavored vodka release. Read more
Review: Mico Tequila Seltzer
Mico Tequila Seltzer was recently released and is available in three flavor options, Grapefruit, Lime, and Cucumber Mint. Mico translates to monkey in Spanish. The Mico brand is owned by father and son team Sabir and AJ Singh. AJ Singh worked for several years as an executive for Patron and left to create his own tequila brand. Sabir also spent several years at Patron before joining his father. After six years in development with Master Distiller Karina Aguilera Rojo at Tequila el Viejito, they launched the Mico Tequila brand. Mico Tequila Seltzer is made with their own crafted tequila. This is what sets Mico Tequila Seltzer apart from most of the other tequila seltzers on the market today. Mico Tequila Seltzer is made with small batch tequila, sparkling water, natural flavors, and a hint of agave. Read more
Review: Black Irish Salted Caramel Irish Cream
Black Irish Salted Caramel Irish Cream is one of three premium Irish Cream liqueurs in Mariah Careys new spirit line. Two years in the making Mariah Carey was involved from product development, to the package design that includes three butterfly images. A not so subtle nod to her Butterfly album. The other flavors include Black Irish Original Irish Cream and Black Irish White Chocolate Irish Cream. Credit for creating the first salted caramel product goes to Frenchman Henri Le Roux. He was a chocolatier who opened a store in Quibron Brittani. He wanted to develop a unique product that would help him stand out. In 1980 it was named to best confectionery in France. I’d say mission accomplished. Starbucks receives most of the credit for extending the popularity of salted caramel to the masses when they introduced their salted caramel hot chocolate in 2008. Try finding an unsalted caramel product now. With a retail price of $29.99 Black Irish was not created to be as good as the market leader at a lower price. Black Irish was crafted to be better than the market leader, and the premium price reflects the Songbird Supreme’s confidence it is. Read more
Review: Puro Verde Organic Silver Tequila
Puro Verde Organic Silver Tequila is made from 100% Blue agave grown on more than 2000 acres of sustainably maintained farmland in Amatitan Jalisco Mexico. It is one of dozens of tequilas crafted at Tequila Las Americas. A partial list of the tequilas produce there includes 123 Organic, 4 Copas, Don Abraham, El Sativo Organic, Hermosa Casagave, El Nivel, Solento Organic, and Dos Artes. The hand selected organic pinas are baked in stone ovens. Agave juice is pressed from the baked pinas. The juice is filtered and fermented 100% naturally without added yeast, taking 7-10 days. After a double distillation in stainless steel stills, the spirit is clarified through cold filtration and layers of micron filters. Puro Verde is estate bottled using triple filtered well water sourced at the base of the Tequila Mountain range. Read more