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 
Review: Vavoom Vodka
After years of development and product design Liquor Entrepreneur Luke Battiloro has released Vavoom Vodka to the US market. The signature bottle evokes the figure of a beautiful young woman stretching skyward. It is handcrafted by Bruni Glass in Milan Italy . Priced at $169.99 Vavoom Vodka is the most expensive vodka I’ve had the pleasure of sampling and reviewing. While the price tag may seem a little high, each of us spends more on a per ounce basis for much lower quality vodka each time we order a vodka cocktail at our favorite night club, restaurant, or bar. $169.99 is also a bargain when compared to several top of the line bottles of tequila, whiskey, and wine on the market today. Vavoom is made from 100% corn, distilled five times, and finished 3 times through a coconut activated carbon filtering process. The carbon activated from coconut shells boasts tiny pores which are perfectly sized to trap and filter out the contaminant molecules. While no specific source is given for where Vavoom is crafted, still images provide clues hinting at a distillery in Nova Scotia Canada. Read more
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: 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: 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: Five Wives Vodka
Five Wives Vodka is made from 100% corn and Utah mountain spring water sourced from a spring inaccessible by vehicle. The water is hiked out five gallons at a time. The spirit is distilled in stainless steel column stills at Ogden’s Own Distillery in Ogden Utah. Five Wives Vodka was launched in 2011. The distillery also produces Five Wives Sinful, cinnamon, and Five Wives Heavenly, vanilla flavored vodka. Their spirits portfolio also includes a gin, several whiskies, and fruit liqueurs. 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: Ving Vodka
Ving Vodka is made from 100% organic non GMO corn and purified water. It is small batch distilled in a copper pot still. A multiple filtration process follows. Ving is named for its creator Flo Vinger, a professional dancer from New York City and the CEO of Ving. Ving also creates a Kale, Lemon, and Cucumber infused vodka. Flo worked for four years perfecting her vodka that is distilled in Ventura California. Read more
Review: King St. Vodka
King St. Vodka, AKA Kate Hudson’s Vodka was created by Kate Hudson and David Kanbar, co-creator of Skinnygirl with Bethenny Frankel. David also created Bulldog Gin. King St. is crafted in Santa Barbara California at Cutlers Artisan Spirits by Master Distiller Ian Cutler. Cutler also produces their own line of spirits, including Gin, Vodka, Whiskey, Bourbon, Coffee Liqueur, and Apple Pie Liqueur. The King St. name pays homage to memories Kate had from her former home on King Street in New York City. The inspiration for the brand came from an impromptu cocktail party Kate hosted when she was not 100% happy with her vodka options when whipping up a batch of dirty martinis. She discovered none of the brands were founded by women. King St. is made from GMO free corn. It is distilled seven times, filtered, and cut with alkaline water. One look at the floral bottles label tells me I may not be the target market for this vodka, but I’ve never been one to judge a book or bottle by it’s cover. Read more
Review: Monkey in Paradise Vodka
Monkey in Paradise Vodka was launched in early 2016 by Alex Kowtun, Frank Gomez, and Seth Goldberg. The MIP name and bottle graphic design peaked my interest. After reading about their production methods, and seeing the many awards they have already won, including a Double Gold Medal from The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, I was psyched to try it. MIP is made from the highest grade American corn and is distilled seven times in copper stills, and seven times carbon filtered. The water is demineralized with a proprietary five ppm reverse osmosis system. This extreme level of purification takes 11 gallons of water to produce 1 “Paradise Pure” gallon for the distillation process. The charcoal filtration takes place at four different proof levels allowing the alcohol and water to rest together between proof levels. Read more