Review: Alaskan Hard Seltzer Mixed Pack
Alaskan Mango Peach and Mixed Berry Hard Seltzer join the previously released and reviewed Alaskan Lemon Lime and Cherry Grapefruit Hard Seltzer. All four are featured in the recently released Alaskan Hard Seltzer Mixed Pack. Marcy and Geoff Larson opened Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau Alaska in 1986. Today Alaskan is the 22nd largest craft brewery in the US. Not bad when you consider the size of the Alaskan market and the distance their beer needs to travel to reach the other 49 states. They current craft 8 year round beers including Alaskan Amber, White, Kolsch, Icy Bay IPA, Freeride Pale Ale, SMaSH Galaxy, Husky IPA, and Hopothermia. Alaskan Hard seltzer is brewed from fermented dextrose and Sitka spruce tips. Filtered carbonated water, and natural flavors, complete the ingredient list. Read more 
Review: Locals Only Vodka
Locals Only Vodka is made from 100% California grapes sourced from the Central Coast and Palomar Mountain Spring water. The spirit is 12 time distilled in small batches through a German built Arnold Holstein copper still for 18 hours, and filtered through charcoal made from coconut shells. Locals Only was launched by Sean Heal, but it is produced by Pacific Coast Spirits. Nicholas Hammond is the Founder and Head Distiller of Pacific Coast Spirits. He opened a 12,000 square foot distillery in a former furniture shop in Oceanside California December 2019. Locals Only Vodka donates 1% of their total revenue towards local environmental charities. Read more
Review: 4 Hands Hard Seltzer
4 Hands Hard Seltzer is crafted at 4 Hands Brewing Company located blocks from downtown St Louis in the LaSalle Park neighborhood. The brewery was founded in 2011 by Kevin Lemp. The brewery is named for the hands of Lemp, one each from Kevin, his wife, and their two children. If you have traveled through St. Louis and seen the shuttered Lemp Brewery located across from the Flagship Anheuser-Busch Brewery you may wonder if Kevin Lemp is part of their family. He’s not. All 4 Hands beers are brewed 30 barrel at a time in their 20,000 square foot brewery. Their year round selections include City Wide American Pale Ale, City Wide Pils, State Wide Hazy Pale Ale, Cast Iron Oatmeal Brown, Divided Sky Rye IPA, Full Life Lager, Incarnation Ripple White Ale, Scale of Complexity, and Single Speed. 4 Hands Hard Seltzers are made with an alcohol base made from fermented sugar. Natural flavors are added. 4 Hands Hard Seltzer is currently available in a 3 flavor 12 can variety pack. Pineapple Mango, Apricot Almond, and Blackberry Pomegranate have replaced 4 Hands previous Contact High Hard Seltzer line that included Tangerine, Pineapple, and Blueberry Lemonade flavors. Read more
Review: NYAK VS Cognac
NYAK VS Cognac was recently introduced in ten US states. More will follow. Dennis McKinley CEO of Detroit Equities, Patrick Charpentier former VP with Remy Cointreau, and Jerome Hyafil former EVP of Seagrams Spirits and Wine partnered to launch the brand. NYAK has also recently aligned with famed rapper Young M.A. NYAK is crafted at a sixth generation family owned distillery built in 1830. The aging cellars and distillery overlook the lazy Lary River. The wines used are sourced from the House owned vineyards and from grower partners. The grapes come from various regions including Petite Champagne. The first distillation is in a 10,000 liter copper pot still. The second in 2500 liter copper pot stills. The spirits matures a minimum 2 years in French oak barrels prior to bottling. Read more
Review: Bomani Cold Buzz
Bomani Cold Buzz was Co-Founded March 2020 by Sam Madini, Kai Drewry, and Amin Anjedani, known by their family and friends as the Bomani Brothers. The trio would often enjoy their alcohol with coffee and other caffeinated chasers in search of energy after long weeks at work. They spent hundreds of hours developing Bomani Cold Buzz using friends to sample every new concoction. After months of experimenting with different coffee beans they determined Arabica beans ethically sourced and grown in Southern Mexico, Peru, and Nicaragua at an elevation between 1500-5900 feet were the best. The beans are cold brewed for 16 hours in ice cold water. The cold brew process preserves the natural oils of the coffee bean. Bomani is crafted from four ingredients, water, alcohol from sugar, cold brew coffee, and natural flavors. Read more
Review: Lockwood Distilling Bourbon Cream Liqueur
Lockwood Distilling Bourbon Cream Liqueur is one of nine spirits currently crafted at Lockwood Distilling Company in Richardson Texas. The other spirits include Lockwood Straight Bourbon, Straight Rye, Texas Style Gin, Vodka, Hibiscus Vodka, Silver Rum, Pineapple Rum, and Vanilla Rum. The distillery and the adjoining restaurant opened October 2019 by co-owners Evan and Sally Batt. Evan also co-founded Western Son Distillery in 2012. All of the spirits are created inhouse using a 100 gallon still. Lockwood Distilling Bourbon Cream starts with their bourbon base made from a high corn mash with Oklahoma rye. Real Wisconsin dairy cream, vanilla, almond, and Texas pecan are blended before hand bottling at 34 proof. The same alcohol content as Baileys Irish Cream. Read more
Review: Arctic Chill Daytripper Variety Pack
Arctic Chill Daytripper Variety pack is one of two mixed 12 packs of hard seltzer crafted by Bay Brewing Company and Polar Seltzer. The brand originally known as Arctic Summer, changed its name to Arctic Chill August 2020. The alcohol base is made from 100% cane sugar at Harpoon Brewery’s facility in Boston. It is transported to Polar Seltzers facility in Worcester Massachusetts where Polar Seltzer, natural flavors, and essences are blended. Dennis Crowley created the process to produce Polar Seltzer in 1882. Today his family still owns and operates Polar Seltzer. Polar is not the only seltzer brand to entry the adult seltzer market. Topo Chico and Sparkling Ice brands also have a hard seltzer brand. Is LaCroix next? Read more
Review: Barrel & Banter Peanut Butter Whiskey
Barrel & Banter Peanut Butter Whiskey is one of six whiskeys under the Barrel & Banter label. The others include Barrel & Banter Peach, Orange, Straight Bourbon, Straight Rye, and their newest, a 100% American corn Whiskey. Barrel & Banter appears to be produced at Lockwood Distilling Company in Richardson Texas. Lockwood Distilling was founded by husband and wife team Evan and Sally Batt. Evan co-founded Western Son Vodka in 2012. Barrel & Banter Peanut Butter Whiskey is made with their bourbon base distilled from sweet Texas corn and rye from the plains of Oklahoma. The bourbon is aged in American oak barrels. Natural flavors are blended before hand bottling. Read more
Review: Honcho Spiked Agua Fresca
Honcho Spiked Agua Fresca was released by the creators of Common Cider. After placing three of her crafted ciders in the Top Ten at a 2012 Reno Nevada homebrew competition, Fran Toves launched Common Cider. Honcho Spiked Agua Fresca was introduced June 2020, and is inspired by Latin American recipes and ingredients. They have added a modern alcohol kick. Honcho is made with an all natural fruit wine base, fresh water from the Sierra Mountains, and flavor specific ingredients I will list below. Agua Fresca translates to cool waters. Agua Fresca’s originated in Mexico and are typically sold by street vendors. Read more
Review: Three Birds Tropical Hard Seltzer Variety Pack
Three Birds Tropical Hard Seltzer is produced by Levecke Corporation in Mira Loma California. Levecke is a fourth generation family run producer of beer, wine, and spirits. They not only produce their own brands but produce brand for some of the nations biggest retailers incuding Costco, Total Wine and More and Kroger. Three Birds is sold exclusively at Total Wine and More stores. It joins the previously reviewed Three Birds Original variety pack they launched last year. The Three Birds Lemonade Hard Seltzer variety pack was also recently released. Each 12 ounce slim can is made from a wine alcohol base with purified carbonated water, and citric acid. Specific flavor ingredients will be listed below. Read more