Review: Eagle Park Vodka
Eagle Park Vodka is made at Eagle Park Distilling Company in Muskego Wisconsin. Eagle Park Brewery was founded by brothers Max and Jack Borgardt. They founded their band Eagle Trace in 2011 and loved drinking beer together. Years later they founded Eagle Park Brewery in the old Lincoln Warehouse in Milwaukee. Eagle Park is named for the two streets they grew up on. They soon outgrew the brewery and relocated to a 1920 former Gallun Tannery Garage. In 2020 they opened a second location, a $3 million 20,500 square foot brewery and distillery in Muskego Wisconsin. They hired former Breckenridge Distillery Head Distiller Jordan Stielow to craft their spirits. They currently produce vodka, gin, bourbon, and several cream liqueurs. Eagle Park Vodka was their first spirit. It launched June 2020. It is made from 100 percent corn that arrives as a pre-distilled neutral spirit. They carbon filter and proof the spirit with their own well water. Read more 
Review: Severo Tequila Anejo Cristalino
Severo Tequila Anejo Cristalino is one of four tequila expressions Severo launched in the US May 2021. It is made from a carefully guarded family recipe dating back 100 years. Severo is distilled from 100% estate grown agave at Casa Don Roberto, a distillery that was established in 1924. The agave is cooked in auto clave ovens, fermented in open air stainless steel tanks, and double distilled. The tequila is aged in white oak barrels for 18 months and it is carbon filtered before bottling. Read more
Review: Por Osos Vodka
Por Osos Vodka was launched March 2024 by Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura, hosts of The 2 Bears 1 Cave Podcast. Por Osos translates to “for the bears”. They partnered with Persedo Spirits in Alvin Texas. Por Osos is distilled from Non-GMO wheat. The spirit then undergoes a patented polishing technology. Their C.R.A.F.T technology removes targeted inferior alcohols and creates desired esters without the loss of volume. As a final step before bottling the vodka is filtered through layers of charcoal. Read more
Review: Delantero Tequila Blanco
Delantero Tequila is inspired by brand Founder Ilia Lerner’s love of soccer. Los Delanteros, are the forward players on a soccer team. The dynamic catalysts responsible for injecting creativity on the soccer field. It is crafted at Feliciano Vivanco Y Asociados a 5th generation agave growing and distilling family’s distillery. This distillery currently creates tequila for 40 brands including Los Dos, Lost Lore, Yeyo, Tau, Siempre, and Viva Mexico. Delantero is made from single estate 100% agave azul grown in the Highlands on the Vivanco estate. Master Distiller Sergio Cruz slow cooks the agave in a stone oven for 30 hours. A roller mill extracts the juice which is fermented with champagne in an yeast open air stainless steel tank, while classical music plays. After a double distillation in copper pot stills it rests for 3 months in stainless tanks and is oxygenated and bottled with no additives. Read more
Review: Crop Circle Vodka
Crop Circle Vodka is crafted at Coulter and Payne Farm Distillery in Union Missouri from 100% Non-GMO corn grown on Shawnee Bend Farm. Chris Burnette and his wife Elise Coulter Burnette own both the distillery and the farm. The distillery was originally named Mad Buffalo Distillery. The 100% estate grown corn is grown milled mashed fermented and distilled on property by family members. Crop Circle Vodka is distilled multiple times proofed with pure water from a spring on their farm and lightly charcoal filtered. Read more
Review: Tau Tequila Blanco
Tau Tequila was inspired by Wixarika art and culture. Tau Tequila was registered as a brand in 2017 by CEO and Founder Martin Lopez Alvarez, and it went to market in 2019. It is made at Felicaino Vivanco Y Asociados from 100% agave grown in agave fields owned by the distillery in Arandas and Jesus Maria. The agave is slow cooked in masonry ovens and the extracted juice is fermented in open air stainless steel tanks while classical music plays. The spirit is double distilled in copper stills and bottle additive free. Read more
Review: Vermont Gold Vodka
Vermont Gold Vodka is crafted at Vermont Spirits Distilling Co. They also produce Gin and Bourbon. At one time they made Vermont White Vodka, a vodka distilled from pure milk sugar. Vermont Gold Vodka is distilled from 100% the sap of maple trees. The sap is concentrated then fermented and triple distilled in a glass still. The spirit is proofed with pure Vermont distilled water before hand bottling. The distillery opened in Barnet Vermont in 1999 and launched its first product Vermont Gold Vodka in 2004. In 2011 they relocated to Quechee Vermont next to an Amish furniture store. That furniture store building known as the Plank House was originally built in the 1700’s and was known as Lyman Trading Post. 200 years later the building was deconstructed then transported piece by piece and rebuilt in Quechee. In 2022 Hary Gorman Master Distiller began renovating the building and in 2024 it re-opened as Harry’s Cocktail Lounge featuring craft spirits, local beer, and wine. Read more
Review: Volcan de Mi Tierra BT
Volcan de Mi Tierra BT is small batch distilled at Agrotequilera de Jalisco at the foot of the Tequila Volcano in Huaxtla Jalisco. Volcan de Mi Tierra is co-owned by Moet Hennessy and the Gallardo family, who settled at Hacienda La Gavilana in Jalisco in 1774. This is one of five tequila brands who own their own distillery and produce their liquid exclusively. Unlike Volcan de Mi Tierra Blanco which is made from a blend of highland and lowland agave, Volcan de Mi Tierra BT is made from 100% Lowland agave. 100% of the agave is cooked in brick clay ovens. 100% of the pinas are crushed with a tahona mill. The extracted juice is 100% natural fermented open air in wood tanks with the fibers. Finally, the spirit is 100% copper pot distilled and proofed with spring water and bottled in a beautiful tall white bottle. Priced in the $150 price range this is one of the world’s most expensive blanco tequilas. Read more
Review: Kirkland Cognac VS
Kirkland Cognac VS as the name would suggest is a private label cognac sold exclusively at Costco. It was just released, and joins Kirkland Cognac XO just in time for the holiday season. The XO is sold in 750ml bottles while the VS is sold in a 1.75 liter bottle. Through the years I’ve learned the low price is not a reflection of the quality of Kirkland brands. They strive to only put the Kirkland name on premium products. That said Kirkland Cognac VS appears to be crafted at Maison Louis Royer, a fifth generation family cognac producer that has been crafting cognac for over 170 years. Their cellars are located near the Charente river. The damp conditions help give their cognac its round, smooth, and unique character. Kirkland Cognac VS is made from 100% Ugni Blanc grapes harvested in September and October. The eaux-de-vie comes from up to 5 different wine growing regions. These crus including Bois Ordinaires, Bon Bois, Fins Bois, Petite Champagne, and Grand Champagne. Different proportions are used depending on the Lot. After a double distillation in Charentais copper stills the wine spirit is aged in French oak barrels for a minimum 2 years. The spirit is blended in oak casks before bottling. Read more
Review: Divertido Tequila Blanco
Divertido Tequila is produced by the owners of 4 Copas Tequila. Like 4 Copas, Divertido Tequila is crafted at Hacienda de Oro. They tasked The Rooster Factory with developing a unique concept, packaging and brand. Divertido is made from 100% agave grown in the lowland region. The agave is cooked in an autoclave. Once extracted the juice is open air fermented in stainless steel with a spontaneous fermentation process then double distilled. Read more