Review: White Claw 70
White Claw 70 is the worlds first reduced calorie/reduced alcohol hard seltzer. It was just released in two flavors, Pineapple and Clementine. The 70 stands for 70 calories. It weighs in at 3.7% alcohol with 0 carbs and 0 sugar. By comparison White Claw has 100 calories, 5% Alcohol, 2 Grams of sugar, and 2 Carbs. Previous Social Media posts have hinted at a 4 flavor 12 can variety pack with a 70 calorie Watermelon and Lemon flavor included. For now we will have to live with just the Pineapple and Clementine variety. Before sampling I thought I would grab a can of 100 calorie White Claw Pineapple and Clementine to see how they compare but these are 2 new flavors for White Claw. Read more 
Review: Rosa Vodka
Rosa Vodka was recently released. This should not be confused with the many Rose wine flavored spirits on the market today. Rosa is a natural rose water flavored vodka owned and produced by Manamira LLC, a female owned company based in California. The vodka base is distilled in Portland Oregon from a premium blend of organic corn and the finest Cascade Mountain Spring water filtered for three days in a specialized filtration of limestone and charcoal. Bulgarian Damascena Rose essence are infused before bottling at 80 proof. Bulgarian Damascena Roses were brought to Bulgaria by the Ottoman Turks. The roses are grown for oil production and harvested only six weeks in the spring for the freshest and most vibrant flavors and aromas. Read more
Review: Alaskan Hard Seltzer
Alaskan Hard Seltzer was released October 2019 by the Alaskan Brewing Company. It is currently available in two flavors, Spruce Lemon Lime, and Spruce Cherry Grapefruit. The Alaskan Brewing Company was opened by Marcy and Geoff Larson in 1986. They were the 67th independent brewery in the US and the first in Juneau since Prohibition. While researching brewing in Alaska, Marcy found recipes from Douglas City Brewing Company, a brewery in Douglass Alaska from 1899-1907. At that time Douglas was the third largest city in Alaska with about 1500 residence. In 1970 Douglas merged to become part of Juneau. One of the recipes Marcy found became their first beer, Alaskan Amber. As the 22nd largest craft brewing company in the US Alaskan Brewing company crafts 8 year round beers and several Limited Edition beers. They were the first craft brewery in the US to install and operate a carbon dioxide reclamation system. This system prevents over 1 million pounds of CO2 being released into the atmosphere each year. Alaskan Hard Seltzer is made from fermented dextrose, filtered carbonated water, spruce tips, and natural flavors. Each flavor weighs in with 4.5% alcohol, 95 calories, and 2 carbs. Read more
Review: City Water Hard Seltzer
City Water Hard seltzer is crafted at Solemn Oath Brewery in Naperville Illinois. Naperville with a population of about 150,000 is the third largest city in Illinois and is located about 30 miles west of Chicago. Solemn Oath Brewery started brewing beer in 2012. John Barley is the face of the brewery that he Co-Founded with his father, his best friend, and his best friends father. Over time Solemn Oath has become as well known for its beer cans graphics, as its tasty craft beer. City Water Hard Seltzer was launched November 2019 and is currently available in four flavor varieties including Grapefruit, Mixed Berry, Lime Coconut, and Valencia Orange Cranberry. They spent 8 months developing the brand experimenting with numerous flavors suppliers, different flavor concentrations and different flavor combinations before selecting their four favorite flavors. City Water is made from filtered Lake Michigan water, cane sugar alcohol, and natural flavors. Each can weighs in with 5% alcohol 110 calories and 1 carb. 1% of sales goes for the planet, 1% goes to support the arts, and 1% goes to the Great Lakes. Read more
Review: Captain Morgan Sliced Apple
Captain Morgan Sliced Apple was just released. It is one of 13 Captain Morgan varieties in the current Captain Morgan lineup. It should not be confused with Captain Morgan Apple Smash, their over sweet 60 proof flavored rum designed for shooting. Captain Morgan is one of several spirit brands owned by Diageo including Smirnoff, Crown Royal, Baileys Irish Cream, and Ketel One. If anyone knows how to extend a product line it’s Diageo. Three of those brands Smirnoff, Crown Royal, and Baileys Irish Cream already have an apple flavored version of their original. The Captain Morgan Spiced Rum base is made from sugarcane molasses. It is distilled in St. Croix in a continuous still and is aged for 1 year in oak barrels. A proprietary blend of Caribbean spice is added before bottling at 70 proof. Captain Morgan Slice apple is made with premium rum, natural apple flavor, spice and natural flavors. Read more
Review: Howler Head
Howler Head is produced by Wooler Brands in North Charleston South Carolina. It is made from a Kentucky Straight Bourbon base and is infused with natural banana flavor. Wooler Brands is betting “What is banana?” is the correct response to the future Jeopardy answer “Based on sales after Cinnamon, Apple, and Peanut Butter this is the next most popular flavored whiskey on the market today?” Each bottle weighs in at 80 proof and is guaranteed to not contain any Ape S#t. Their labels promise, not mine. Read more
Review: Baileys Apple Pie
Baileys Apple Pie was just released. Just as we were expecting a press release announcing the annual late September release of Baileys Pumpkin Spice, Diageo surprised us with the apple pie and vanilla ice cream inspired Baileys Apple Pie. This makes sense as Crown Royal Regal Apple, another Diageo owned product, is the second best selling flavored whiskey, behind only Fireball in sales. Apple Pie is one of 3 Limited Edition releases Baileys has in their stable of 10 Irish cream liqueurs they sell in the US. That’s more flavor varieties than they sell in any market they serve, including the UK. Baileys Apple Pie starts with the same Irish dairy cream, triple distilled Irish whiskey and spirits recipe they use to create Original Baileys Irish Cream. Natural flavors are blended before bottling at 34 proof. Read more
Review: Bud Light Platinum Seltzer
Bud Light Platinum Seltzer is one of four new hard seltzers released this week, just in time for Labor Day. We recently reviewed Coors Seltzer and Bud Light Seltzer Remix. The fourth has not made its way to our local market but we hope to be getting our hands on that one too. Bud Light Platinum Seltzer, like Bud Light Platinum Beer at 6% alcohol, is a higher proof beverage. Most Hard Seltzers weigh in with 4-5% alcohol and 80-110 calories. Bud Light Platinum Seltzer tips the scales at 8% alcohol with 170 calories. It is made with cold fermented cane sugar, natural flavors, agave, and malted rice. It is currently available in three flavors Wild Berry, Citrus, and Blood Orange. Bud Light Platinum Seltzer is sold in 3 flavor 6 can variety packs. Read more
Review: Porters Peanut Butter Whiskey
Porters Peanut Butter Whiskey was just released. It is not made with real peanuts so the spirit is safe to drink for those with peanut allergies. Those of you with children in school know just how real peanut allergies are as some schools even ban peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from students lunches. Peanut Butter is one of five flavored whiskeys created by Ogdens Own Distillery in Ogden Utah. The others include Porters Fire, Porters Peach, Porters Apple, and Porters Huckleberry. Each starts with a Canadian Whiskey base and they weigh in at 66.6 proof. Peanut Butter flavored whiskey has been on a roll with seemingly a new brand arriving every month. This is our 12th peanut butter whiskey review and it wont be our last. Read more
Review: Bud Light Seltzer Remix Variety Pack
Bud Light Seltzer Remix Variety Pack was just released. This 12 can pack includes three new flavors Pineapple, Cranberry, and Grapefruit. Bud Light Strawberry Seltzer completes the mix. I’m a little curious as to why Bud Light didn’t just come up with a fourth new flavor since Strawberry is already included in Bud Light Seltzer’s original 12 can variety pack. Bud Light is not the first hard seltzer to include the same flavor in two different variety packs, Smirnoff includes Raspberry Rose in both of their 12 can Spiked Sparkling Seltzer variety packs. Bud Light also introduced DJ Khaled as it’s spokesperson for the Remix Variety Pack. Bud Light launched their hard seltzer line January 2020 and they are already the third best selling brand with an estimated 9% market share. Bud Light Seltzers are made from a cane sugar alcohol base with malted rice and natural flavors. Bud Light beer is also made with malted rice. Bud Light Seltzers five-step filtration process ensures a clean finish. Each flavor weighs in with 100 calories, 5% alcohol, and 2 carbs. Read more