Review: Religion Tequila Blanco
Religion Tequila Blanco was released in 2012. It is one of four tequila expression they currently produce. The others are Religion Reposado, Religion Anejo, and Religion Manuka Honey, a tequila made from a 100% agave tequila base infused with New Zealand Manuka honey. Auckland New Zealand liquor entrepreneur Aidan Uttinger created the brand. That helps explain the Manuka honey flavored tequila variety. It is now produced at Premium de Jalisco located in the mountains of Mazamitla Mexico. Religion Tequila was previously made at NOM 1457 and NOM 1426. The bottle I’m reviewing today was crafted at their current distillery NOM 1558. Religion Tequila Blanco is made from 100% organic Weber blue agave grown in the Highland region. The pinas are split and slow steam cooked in a brick oven. Once the juice is extracted, it is fermented in stainless steel tanks with a leavening stock developed in their laboratory for 2-3 days. A small batch double distillation follows. First in a stainless steel still then in a copper pot still. Read more 
Review: Voltage Vodka
Voltage Vodka is crafted by March First Brewing and Distilling in Cincinnati Ohio. The name comes from the date the brewery and the state of Ohio were both founded. March First currently produces Beer, Hard Cider, Hard Seltzer, and a line of spirits that includes Sycamore Whiskey, Cooper Island Rum, and Voltage Vodka. Voltage Vodka was launched December 2017. It is distilled from wheat and a small amount of Ohio grown apples. The 100% apple juice used is a blend of apples including Johnathan and Winesap. Read more
Review: Miami Club Coconut Grove Rum
Miami Club Coconut Grove Rum is made from the original Miami Club rum base which is produced from sugar cane harvested from local fields. A 2/3 molasses and 1/3 sugar cane juice blend is fermented and double distilled using a family recipe dating back to 1911 in Puerto Rico. The spirit is slow aged in French limousine and American white oak barrels for 2 years while it is simultaneously infused with the music of Miami. Salsa, samba, and Caribbean rhythms are played 24/7 through vintage Bose 901 speakers to activate the barrels for a richer deeper flavor yield. A 7 step filtration process follows including among other things coconut shells and a secret oxygenation technique used to aerate the spirit. Real Miami grown coconut is infused with the rum before bottling at 60 proof. Read more
Review: Vizzy Hard Seltzer
Vizzy Hard Seltzer was just released. This is Molson-Coors second nationally produced hard seltzer. Henry’s Hard Sparkling Water was their first. Like most hard seltzers Vizzy is made from a fermented cane sugar base. What sets Vizzy apart is the addition of acerola cherry, an antioxidant rich super fruit. Acerola cherry is grown in California, Texas, Florida, Central and South America and contains roughly 30 times more vitamin C per cup than an orange. Each 12 oz. can of Vizzy contains 18 mg of vitamin C. That’s 20% of the recommended daily requirement. Like White Claw, Vizzy contains real fruit juice concentrate in each flavor variety. Vizzy is available in four flavors including Pineapple Mango, Blueberry Pomegranate, Black Cherry Lime, and Strawberry Kiwi. It is sold in a 4 flavor 12 can variety pack and individual flavor 6 packs. So how does it taste? Read more
Review: Teremana Blanco Tequila
Teremana Blanco Tequila was just released. This is a tequila I’ve been waiting on for two years. TMZ first announced April 2018, Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock, had filled documents to lock down the name Mana for his new tequila. While he was unable to get clearance for Mana, I like the Teremana name and the inspiration behind it. Tere for the red volcanic earth his agave is grown in, and mana, a nod to the Polynesian spirit that guides us. Instead of finding a distillery to create a tequila, The Rock built this brand literally from the ground up. He built a new distillery, Distilera Teremana. The agave field is in the highest elevation of the Highland Region. He teamed with his ex-wife and Business Manager Dany Garcia, Former Founder of Avion Tequila Ken Austin, and Former President of Avion Tequila Jenna Fagnan in crafting the brand. The agave is hand selected at the optimal brix level, trimmed and then slow roasted for 3 days in traditional brick ovens. Once cooled the pinas are shredded to extracted the juice, which is open air fermented in stainless steel vats. The spirit is small batch double distilled in copper pot stills made by a local artisan on the premises of the distillery. The harvested leftover agave fiber is used to fertilized the soil. Instead of replanting baby agave immediately, corn is planted to maintain a healthy soil base. Once the corn is harvested new baby agave is then replanted. Read more
Review: Headwind Craft FWD Pacific Northwest Vodka
Headwind Craft FWD Pacific Northwest Vodka was launched October 2019 by founder Jason Dyke. Jason has a spirits background that includes time with Diageo, Constellations Brands, and Bacardi. Prior to creating Headwind he led the strategy and development of Pendleton Whisky. Headwind is crafted in the heart of Portland Oregon from 100% corn. The spirit is distilled six times and filtered twice using the finest Oregon water. The first filtration smooths and rounds out the liquid. The second through authentic Pacific Northwest Hazelnut charcoal imparts subtle character indigenous to the Pacific Northwest. Each bottle of Headwind Vodka is uniquely wrapped in birchwood and hand- labeled with individual batch and bottle numbers along with the bottling date. A bottle looking this good usually comes with a premium price. With a suggested retail price of $21.99 that’s not the case. If price, back story and bottle design aren’t enough, Headwind Vodka was also just awarded a 2020 Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition. Read more
Review: Wheel House Sacramento Vodka
Wheel House Sacramento Vodka is crafted with a blend of corn and wheat malt by Founder and Distiller Greg Baughman. Greg hand built the 160 gallon side mount tall copper still the spirit is distilled in. A wheel house is the part of a boat that shelters the person at the wheel. The vodka is named to honor the river boat captains that transported liquor and thirsty patrons up and down the American River during Prohibition. When Greg opened Gold River Distillery in 2014 with his first product, Wheel House Gin, they were the first legal distillery in Sacramento County since Prohibition. Vodka was his second product. When it was released in 2015 the original name was Wheel House 916 Vodka. 916 is the area code of Sacramento. Read more
Review: Maggies Farm White Rum
Maggies Farm White Rum is crafted in the Historic Strip District of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The rum and distillery are named for a Bob Dylan penned song, later covered by Rage Against the Machine. The distillery began production October 2013. It is made from Louisiana grown turbinado cane sugar. The sugar is open air fermented with a Caribbean-derived yeast over a three week period with a secondary high-ester fermentation. The spirit is distilled through a Hoga 100% copper pot still hand made in Spain. A gradual proofing method allows the spirit to rest over longer periods for further flavor development and ester retention. The rum is aged for 3-6 months in stainless for additional smoothness and ester development and is non chill filtered before bottling at 80 proof. Founder Tim Russell donates $1 from the sale of every bottle to animal rescues in your area. Read more
Review: Madam Pattirini Gin
Madam Pattirini Gin was launched in 2017. It is produced at Ogden’s Own Distillery in Ogden Utah. This distillery also produces Five Wives Vodka, Underground Herbal Spirit, Porters Fire Whiskey Liqueur, and Porters Peach, Apple, and Huckleberry Liqueurs. Madam Pattirini Gin is named after Brigham Morris Young the 35th child of Brigham Young, a.k.a.Madam Pattirini. After serving a couple of missions for the Mormon Church Brigham Morris Young began publicly performing in drag as a singer under the pseudonym Madam Pattirini an Italian opera diva. It is made from a neutral spirit base that is infused with juniper, Bergamot, coriander, cardamom, Nigerian ginger, and Sicilian lemon in small, under 1000 bottle batches. Read more
Review: Trader Joes Versatile Spirit Vodka
Versatile Spirit Vodka is one of three house brand vodka’s only available at Trader Joes. The others include The Art of The Still Organic Vodka, and Vodka of The Gods. Versatile Spirit is made from 100% California grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay. The vodka is distilled in California by Healdsburg Distillers of Granton California. A quick internet search shows no distillery in Granton California and no Healdsburg Distillery, so the actual distillery that created this vodka is unknown. Read more