Review: Straw Boys Irish Vodka
Straw Boys Irish Vodka was launched in 2015. It is crafted at the Connacht Distillery that sits on the banks of the River Moy. The Connacht Whiskey Company is the result of a dream shared by four men, three Americans, and one Irishman, to bring pure pot still Irish whiskey back to the west of Ireland after a 100 year absence. While they wait for their own produced whiskey to mature they have sourced Irish whiskey distilled from a secondary source, and they craft a gin, poitin, and vodka. The Straw Boys name comes from an age old tradition in Ireland where a fun bunch of young men appear suddenly at a wedding to dance with the bride and groom. They depart as swiftly as they arrived. Their name comes from the straw hats used to hide their identity. Their appearance is said to bring good fortune. Straw Boys Irish Vodka is created using select wheat and is batch distilled in copper pot stills and hand bottled at the distillery. Read more 
Review: Nemiroff Vodka
Nemiroff Vodka is distilled from soft winter wheat and filtered water from proprietary artesian wells. The spirit then goes through an 11 stage filtration process at their distillery in the Vinnytsia Region of Central Ukraine, known for its 1000 lakes and clear sparkling water. The history of the distillery dates back to 1872 when the Earl Gregory Stroganoff opened a small distillery in Nemyriv, the center of the country now known as Ukraine. It soon became the largest distillery in the region. In 1992 the distillery was reopened. While they continue to use the expertise and traditions of the past they have invented new technologies and products. In 1997 the unique recipe of Nemiroff Original was created. Read more
Review: Tru Organic Vodka
Tru Organic Vodka is crafted from organic wheat, distilled with a state of the art column still, and gently charcoal filtered. Pure water filtered through reverse osmosis is blended to reduce to proof. The Greenbar Distillery was one of the countries first legal distilleries since the repeal of Prohibition when they opened in Monrovia California in 2004. The distillery relocated to the LA Art District in 2012, and was the first legal distillery to open in Los Angeles. This version of Tru Vodka is no longer produced, but you may still find a bottle at your local liquor stores. The husband and wife team of Melkon Khosrovian and Litty Matthew recently changed the formula and the packaging of this vodka. I will be posting my review of their new Greenbar Tru Vodka tomorrow. Read more
Review: Bainbridge Legacy Organic Vodka
Bainbridge Legacy Organic Vodka is named for the Washington State Island the vodka is crafted on. Bainbridge Organic Distillers was Washington States first distillery producing USDA certified organic spirits when it was founded as a family business by Keith Barnes and his son Patrick in 2009. Since the beginning, every task in the making of distilled spirits has been done onsite with their own hands. From the selection of grain varieties and lots, to grinding, mashing, fermenting, and distilling. They also produce 2 gins, 2 whiskeys and an Organic Vanilla Vodka. Bainbridge Legacy Organic Vodka is made from soft organic white wheat grown on family farms, and pristine water from the islands deep aquifers. It is small batch distilled four times in a 300 gallon Vendome copper pot still. Read more
Review: Kanon Organic Vodka
Kanon Organic Vodka is distilled once from locally grown organic wheat. Each batch is divided into three parts, the head, the heart, and the tail. Only the heart which is pure ethanol is kept. The heads and tails are recycled into biogas for local buses. Pristine spring water is blended before bottling at the Gripsholm Distillery in Akers Styckebruk Sweden. In 1580 King Karl IV of Sweden built the Akers Styckbruk Foundary to produce cannons for the Swedish Army and the distillery to make vodka for its workers. By 1775 King Gustaf III had monopolized alcohol production to fund his many wars. Unable to pay his debt, he made Gripsholm a Royal Distillery. It soon became the largest distillery in Sweden producing over 1 million liters of vodka a year. King Gustaf was shot and his successor outlawed the private production of spirits. The distillery remained closed for over 200 years. Kanon owner Peter Hjelm began construction of the new distillery in 2008 and shipped his first case of Kanon Organic Vodka to New York in 2010. Read more
Review: London Vodka
London Vodka is made at the London Alcohol Company, by one of London’ oldest distilling family’s. It is said to be made in accordance to a recipe developed in 1910 by London Chemist Mr. Leslie Matthews. English Ambassador to Russia, Sir George William Buchanan commissioned this vodka out of a need to produce a vodka to entertain Russian Diplomats when they visited London. It is made from the finest winter wheat harvested exclusively in the fields of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire Counties, and the purest water sourced from the Elsenham Well. No distilling or filtering information is available, but the Union Jack painted label will make this bottle easy to find in liquor stores. Read more
Review: Chopin Wheat Vodka
Chopin Wheat Vodka was introduced March 2011 along with Chopin Rye Vodka. Both join their original Chopin Potato Vodka, that was launched in the US in 1997. All three are produced at a distillery that dates back to the 19th century. This distillery was acquired by the Dorda family in 2003. It sits on 17 acres in the countryside village of Krzesk in the Eastern Podlasie Region of Poland. 100% of Chopin’s alcohol is produced from raw hand selected materials. Most companies purchase bulk alcohol from large commercial distilleries. Chopin Wheat vodka is crafted from winter wheat naturally grown within 25 miles of the distillery and purified artesian well water. It is distilled four times in a copper column still in the spring, and filtered 5 times before bottling on site. When I think of Poland I think of Polish Vodka. When I think of Polish Vodka I think of rye or potato based vodkas. I am interested in seeing how a Polish wheat vodka compares. For the record Belvedere, Sobieski, Potocki, Wyborowa, and Zubrowka, produce rye vodka in Poland. Luksusowa, Lyna, Vesica, and Chopin distill their potato vodka in Poland. Read more
Review: Vox Vodka
Vox Vodka was launched by Jim Beam Brands in selective markets in 1999, and rolled out nationally in 2000. Vox may be best known for the award winning Austrian made glass bottle the vodka rests in, but Vox has also scored high with several reviewers. The Beverage Testing Institute for one, named Vox the top vodka in 2008 and awarded a score of 97 in their review. Vox is made from wheat and distilled five times at a distillery in the Netherlands with a 400 year history of distilling vodka. Once distilled a neutral micron cellulose filtration follows, filtering the impurities without affecting the aroma or flavor. Read more
Review: Boru Vodka
Boru Vodka is made in Ireland from locally grown wheat and pristine spring water. It is distilled five times and filtered through ten feet of Atlantic Oak charcoal. Boru is named after High King Brian Boru who in 1029 at the age of 88 lead the Battle at Clontarf, near Dublin, where they defeated the Danish Vikings, liberating Ireland forever. King Boru however died in this battle. Read more
Review: Leaf Alaskan Glacial Water Vodka
Leaf Alaskan Glacial Water vodka, is one of two vodka’s crafted at the Temperance Distillery in Temperance Michigan. Their other vodka is crafted with Rocky Mountain Mineral water. These two vodkas are both made from organic wheat that is distilled five times. The only difference between the two vodka’s is the water used. Their Alaskan vodka uses water that starts out as four glaciers that melt and wind their way down the mountain into Alaska’s Blue Lake. Read more