Review: Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer Classic Collection
Michelob Ultra just released their second variety pack of hard seltzer. They released their Signature Collection two months ago. They are calling this 12 pack, Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer Classic Collection. Each 12 pack contains three cans of Mixed Berry, Citrus, Mango Apricot, and their newest addition Black Cherry. Like the previously released Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer Signature Collection each flavor is made from a cold fermented cane sugar alcohol base, purified water, organic natural flavors, and organic malted rice. New to each flavor variety in this pack is the addition of organic white grape juice from concentrate. This addition results in each flavor weighing in with 90 calories instead of 80 and 2 carbs compared to 0. This review was updated 12-5-21 to include the recently added Black Cherry flavor. I also updated the Classic Collection 12 pack image. Read more 
Review: Vizzy Hard Seltzer Variety Pack 2
Vizzy Hard Seltzer Variety Pack 2 was just released. Vizzy is currently the fifth best selling hard seltzer brand, trailing only White Claw, Truly, Bud Light, and Corona. With a second variety pack and Vizzy Lemonade Hard Seltzer coming soon, parent Molson-Coors has designs on improving that position. Vizzy is only one of the brands produced by Molson-Coors. Coors Hard Seltzer and the soon to be launched Topo Chico Hard Seltzer are part of their hard seltzer portfolio. Like most hard seltzers Vizzy is made from a cane sugar alcohol base. Unlike other hard seltzers Vizzy is made with dried acerola cherry juice an antioxidant rich super fruit with 30 times more vitamin C than an orange. Each 12 oz. can contains 17 mg of vitamin C, 20% of the recommend daily dose. Simple math tells me 5 cans of Vizzy = 100%. Read more
Review: Akva Vodka
Akva Vodka recently arrived on shelves at Total Wine and More stores throughout the US. Priced at $11.99 for a 750 ML bottle in Brookfield Wisconsin, Akva is a value priced vodka. It is made from organic Swedish wheat grown in local fields and mineral rich water from Vanern, Sweden’s biggest Lake. It is distilled five time in Sweden and bottled in The Netherlands. Svedka is also a value priced vodka distilled five times and made from Swedish wheat. I’m interested in how the two compare. Read more
Review: Connellys Original Country Cream
Connellys Original Country Cream is currently available as the store brand at over 2000 Aldi’s stores in 36 states across America. It is made by R.A. Merry in Tipperary Ireland, from a grape wine, and neutral spirits alcohol base. No other creamery producers more brands of Irish Cream and Country Cream than R.A. Merry. Natural flavors, dairy cream, and caramel color are blended with the spirit base before bottling at 13.9% Alcohol. Read more
Review: SweetWater Oasis Hard Seltzer
SweetWater Oasis Hard Seltzer was recently launched. It is made in Atlanta Georgia. SweetWater Brewing Company had previously released Hydroponics Seltzer, a terpene infuse hard seltzer January 2020. Sweetwater Brewing Company was founded by University of Colorado roommates Freddy Bensch and Kevin McNerney in 1998. The brewery is named for SweetWater Creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochie River. The brewery crafts several year round beers including H.A.Z.Y. IPA, 420 Extra Pale Ale, IPA, Blue, Goin Coastal IPA, and Guide Beer. They also brew a couple dozen specialty and seasonal beers. In 2020 SweetWater Brewery was acquired by Aphria, a leading cannabis company based in Canada for $300 million. SweetWater Oasis Hard Seltzer is made from water, alcohol from cane sugar, organic pomegranate powder, potassium bicarbonate, natural flavors, carbon dioxide, and ascorbic acid and contains electrolytes, antioxidants, and Vitamin C. On paper I would compare this to Molson-Coors Vizzy brand which is also made with antioxidants and vitamin C. They even share two flavor combinations. SweetWater Oasis is currently available in four flavor, 12 can variety packs. Each 12 ounce can weighs in with 100 calories, 1 Carb, 1 Sugar gram, and 5% alcohol. Read more
Review: 229 Vodka
229 Vodka is crafted at Still Pond Distillers by father and son Charles Jr. and Charlie Cowart. In 2012 they opened the distillery as an addition to the operating vineyard and farm winery. 229 is their value priced line of spirits named for the area code of their distillery in Arlington Georgia. Aside from 229 Vodka the line includes 229 Apple Vodka, 229 Peach Vodka, 229 Gin, and 229 Strawberry Gin. Their premium line of spirits includes Muscadine Moonshine, Still Pond Vodka, Still Pond C4 Bourbon, and Still Pond Willow Rose Single Estate Brandy. 229 Vodka is distilled from pond grown Muscadine grapes, locally sourced corn, and water from the Floridian aquifer. It is distilled 6 times, filtered, bottled and hand labeled on site. Read more
Review: Dos Primos Tequila Blanco
Dos Primos Tequila Blanco was recently released. Spanish for two cousins, Dos Primos was dreamed up by cousins Jeff Worn, CEO of Southern Georgia Pecan, and Country Music Superstar Thomas Rhett, while the two enjoyed a ski trip several years ago. Three years in development, Dos Primos is crafted by Master Distiller Rodolpho Gonzalez from a blend of hand harvested 100% Weber Blue agave, estate grown in both Los Altos and the valley area of Jalisco, at Distillery Destiladora Gonzalez Lux. The distillery, located just outside the city of Arandas Mexico is a new distillery build by the Gonzalez and Lux families. The hand selected agave is slow cooked in stainless steel ovens. The freshly cooked agave hearts are shredded and gently pressed to extract the rich agave juice. It is fermented with a family secret heirloom yeast strain and double distilled before bottling onsite. Read more
Review: Crescendo Organic Vodka
Crescendo Organic Vodka is one of six organic spirits crafted at the veteran owned and operated Crescendo Spirits Company in Eugene Oregon. The other spirits include the 190 Proof grain spirit, Diamond Clear, Crescendo LimonCello, LimeCello, PompelmoCello, and AranCello. Kyle Akin conceptualized the distillery in 2013 and his first bottles of Limoncello arrived on store shelves April 2014. Crescendo vodka was released November 2017. It is five times distilled from organic sugar cane and blended with water straight from Oregon’s snow pack. Read more
Review: Endless Summer Hard Seltzer
Endless Summer Hard Seltzer is produced by Karl Strauss Brewing Company in San Diego California. Chris Cramer and Matt Rattner two college buddies inspired by a brewpub Chris came upon while backpacking in Australia, with the help of Chris’s cousin Master Brewer Karl M Strauss opened Karl Strauss Brewing Company in downtown San Diego February 1989. In 2019 alone they brewed more than 140 different beers. ES Hard Seltzer is named for Endless Summer, a Bruce Brown film, that follows surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August on a surfing trip around the world. The films title comes from the idea that if one had enough time and money it would be possible to follow summer up and down the globe. Endless Summer Hard Seltzer is made with purified carbonated water, alcohol from cane sugar natural fruit flavors, citric acid, and sodium citrate. It is currently available in four flavors POG, (Passion Fruit, Orange, & Guava), Black Cherry, Key Lime, and Raspberry. Each flavor weighs in with 100 calories, 1 carb, 5% alcohol, and 0 sugar. Read more
Review: Trader Joes Small Batch Vodka
Trader Joes Small Batch Vodka was just released. With 530 store locations in 43 states and The District of Columbia Trader Joes has become a force in private label adult beverages. TJ’s Small Batch, as the name implies is small batch distilled 10 times from corn in Monroe Wisconsin at the old Monroe Brewing Company Brewery. This brewery opened in 1845 and is best known for brewing Huber and Augsburger beer. I believe it is only available on a regional basis like Trader Joes TX vodka is only available in Texas. Trader Joes Small Batch Vodka is charcoal filtered and reduced to proof with water sourced from a natural limestone filtered aquifer about 1300 feet below the distillery. It is bottled at a higher than usual 88 proof. Read more