Review: The Art of The Still Vodka
The Art of The Still Vodka is one of three private label brands of vodka sold at Trader Joe’s. The other two are Trader Joes Versatile Spirit Vodka, and Vodka of the Gods. While more expensive per ounce than the other two brands The Art of the Still is hardly a premium priced vodka. It is made from single vintage organic yellow corn. The vodka is distilled 4 times at US Distilled Products in Princeton Minnesota. US Distilled Products is one of the largest blenders and bottlers of alcoholic beverages in the US. They produce hundreds of Private Label and Contract Manufactured brands. A couple of the vodkas produced there include UV, and Prairie Organic Vodka. Read more 
Review: NEFT Vodka
NEFT Vodka is one of the most hyped vodka’s we have ever reviewed. NEFT received a 98 rating from The Tasting Panel Magazine, as well as scoring two consecutive Double Gold Medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2018 and 2019. Vinepair.com also named NEFT one of their 20 Best Vodkas. NEFT has been on our radar for some time. Jeff Mahony acquired the brand the end of 2018, and he has significantly increased distribution. NEFT, Vodka was conceived of by Alexander Kuzmina a third generation petroleum engineer from Western Siberia. Neft is the Russian word for oil. This explains the oil barrel Neft is packaged in. The container itself is more than just a nod to the oil industry, or a marketing gimmick. Aluminum is unbreakable and lighter weight than glass, reducing freight costs. Aluminum is more recyclable, chills faster and keeps the vodka cold longer than glass for picnics and trips to the beach. NEFT is crafted at Destillerie Freihof, a 130 year old family run distillery in Lustenau Austria. It is made from 4 grains of ancient rye species, Rapidly, Amato, Pollino, and Askari. The 100% NON GMO rye is farmed locally in Lower Saxony. NEFT is distilled three times in a copper pot still. A proprietary carbon-layer filtration process follows. Oxygen rich Alpine spring water from beneath the Rhawtian Alps of Austria is blended to proof the spirit. It takes 50 years for this water to make its way traveling through slate and granite from its source to their secured aquifer. No additives or sweeteners are added. NEFT donates 50 cents from every barrel sold to one of six charities they support. Read more
Review: Natural Light Seltzer
Natural Light Seltzer was first released August 2019. Their product lineup currently consist of three flavors. Catalina Lime, Aloha Beaches, and House Rules. To say A-B is all in on Hard Seltzer is an understatement as they also produce Bud Light Hard Seltzer, Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer, and Kona Spiked Island Seltzer. Priced significantly lower than the competition, Natural Light Seltzer is hoping to ride the same value priced wave Natural Light Beer has navigated for years. Natty Light was the 8th best selling beer in the US in 2019. Natural Light was actually Anheuser- Busch’s first light beer when it was released in 1977. Bud Light was launched in 1982. Natural Light Seltzer is made from a malt beverage base. Natural flavors are added before canning at 6% alcohol with 133 calories per 12 oz. serving and 4 carbs. Natty seltzer is sold in 12 and 24 can packs and also a 25 oz, single serve can. Read more
Review: Disaronno Velvet Cream Liqueur
Disaronna Velvet Cream Liqueur was just released. This is the second line extension for Disaronno. The first, Disaronno Riserva was launched in 2015. It was a blend of scotch sourced from the Highland and Speyside Region and Disaronno. After blending together it was aged in Marsala wine barrels. Disaronno was first commercially bottled in 1900 but it is based on a recipe said to date back to 1525. Until 2001 it was named Amaretto di Saronno. While the exact recipe is a secret, it is made from a pure alcohol base made from sugar beet or sugar cane. Vanilla and bitter almond are the only two named ingredients. Bitter almonds are actually apricot pits. The pits are crushed to extract the oil. In crafting Disaronna Velvet, Disaronna Originale is blended with real dairy cream before bottling at 34 proof. That is the same alcohol content as Bailey’s Irish Cream. Read more
Review: Silo Vodka;
Silo Vodka is made from 100% Non GMO Vermont corn grown in North Clarendon Vermont at Grembowicz Farm. The Good Food Foundation has awarded Silo Vodka a 2020 Good Food Award for Spirits. Everything is done from grain to glass including milling, mashing, distilling and bottling in the Barn Distillery that was built in 2013 by Peter Jillson and Anne Marie Delaney in Windsor Vermont. The spirit is distilled on a custom build stainless steel and copper Carl Still built in Germany. Silo’s process aims to be as sustainable as possible. They recycle the water they use throughout the process and ship spent grains to local farmers to use for feed. Read more
Review: Hue-Hue Coffee Rum
Hue-Hue Coffee Rum was released February 2018. It is pronounced Way-Way. The white rum base is made from molasses and is distilled in the Caribbean. It is shipped to Eastside Distilling in Portland Oregon. Cold brew free-trade , single origin Arabica coffee beans grown at Finca El Paternal Estate in HueHuetenango Guatemala are sourced and lightly roasted through Portland Roasting Company. The beans are slowly brewed in a stainless steel vat and stirred slowly with a paddle before steeping for 48 hours. The concentrated brew is then blended with the premium silver rum and demerara sugar. Only 4 grams of demerara sugar is used to produce a 750 ml bottle of Hue-Hue. Read more
Review: Sup Hard Seltzer
Sup Hard Seltzer claims to be the Worlds first Organic Hard Seltzer. It is currently available is four flavors including Black Cherry, Peach, Lemon, and Cucumber. Their complete ingredient list reads Filtered Mineral Water, Organic Alcohol, Organic Fruit Extracts, Organic Monk Fruit, and Stevia Leaf Extracts. For the record Monk Fruit is a small round fruit native to Southern China. Monk Fruit extract like Stevia is 150-200 times sweeter than sugar. The process starts when they ferment organic cane sugar with Champagne yeast. Mineral water and organic flavors from real fruit are blended with the cane alcohol. CO2 is added before canning. While Charlestown MA is noted as the home of Sup Hard Seltzer it is actually brewed and packaged by Milwaukee Brewing Company in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Each 12 Oz. can of Sup weighs in at 95 calories with 0 grams of sugar and 5% Alcohol. Read more
Review: Armont Vodka
Armont Vodka is crafted at Young and Yonder Spirits in Sonoma County California with Non GMO corn. It is distilled six times, proofed with four stage filtered water, and filtered seven times. Armont is distilled in a 150 gallon 20-plate. The Husband and Wife team of Joshua and Sarah Opatz formed the company in 2013 in a small warehouse in Cloverdale California. In 2017 they moved the distillery to Downtown Healdsburg California. Joshua is the son of a winemaker and viticulturist. After a decade in Banking and Finance Josh shifted his career interest and started Young & Yonder. Sarah’s background is in PR, Advertising, and Design. She is also a distiller and creates the packaging for all of their spirits. Young and Yonder Spirits also makes H.O.B.S. Gin, Fellows and Foragers Absinte, Stave Robber Bourbon, and Y/Y Distillers Series Lime Vodka. Read more
Review: Smirnoff Red White and Blue Seltzer
Smirnoff Red White and Blue Seltzer is a Limited Edition release that joins a Smirnoff Spiked Seltzer lineup that already includes Cranberry Lime, Berry Lemonade, Pina Colada, Raspberry Rose, Strawberry Rose, White Peach Rose, and Pink Apple Rose. This is not Smirnoff’s first Red White and Blue beverage. They introduced Smirnoff Red White and Blue Vodka May 2016, and followed that up with Smirnoff Ice Red White and Blue. Red White and Blue first became a flavor variety in 1955 with the release of the Original Bomb Pop a three colored frozen ice treat made with Cherry, Lime, and Blue Raspberry flavor. Popsicle Brands came out with their own version they named Firecracker. Firecracker was made with Cherry, Lemon, and Blue Raspberry flavors. Unlike most Hard Seltzers which start with a cane sugar alcohol base Smirnoff is brewed as a premium malt beverage. Natural flavors are added before filling each slim 12 oz, can that changes colors when it is cold. Smirnoff Red White and Blue Seltzer weighs in at 90 calories with 0 grams of sugar, 1 carb., and 4.5% alcohol. Currently it is only available in it’s own six or twelve pack. I’m curious to see which direction Smirnoff takes the citrus flavor. Will it be team Bomb Pop Lime, or team Popsicle Firecracker Lemon. Read more
Review: Sesion Blanco Tequila
Sesion Blanco Tequila was introduced in Australia in 2015 by husband and wife Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall and their friend Tim Freeburn. While this is not the first Australian launched spirit we have reviewed, it is certainly the first Australian launched tequila we have reviewed. Sesion is now available in the US. I’m going to classify this as another celebrity owned tequila brand as Jennifer Hawkins was Miss Universe 2004, and she has appeared on Dancing with the Stars Australia, and hosted Australia’s Next Top Model. Jake Wall’s resume includes time as a Project Developer. Tim Freeburn is described as a tequila expert and friend of the couple. The threesome traveled to Mexico and partnered with members of the Beckmann Family to develop the Sesion Brand which currently includes Sesion Reposado, and Sesion Mocha. Sesion is produced and bottled at Tierra de Agaves. This distillery also produces Lunazul and Tributo Tequila. The Master Distiller is Francisco Quijano and Master Agave Farmer is Jose Fernandez. There are several things that drew me to this tequila. The back story, bottle design, and the fact that Sesion won a Double Gold Medal at the 2019 SIP Awards. I even like the name. Let’s see if Sesion Blanco lives up to my lofty expectations. Read more