Amére Nouvelle company: Bittermens origin: Brooklyn, NY, USA abv: 30% (60 proof) average price: $30 for 375 mL details:  The Amére Nouvelle is an American version of Amer Biere, an aperitif commonly enjoyed in Alsace that is flavored with cinchona, quinine, and gentian.  Amer Picon is a famous example of this style.  Picon has been [...]

Averna Amaro Liqueur origin: Italy abv: 32% (64 proof) average price: $30 for 750 mL amaro: Amaros – the name is Italian for ‘bitter’ – are most often drunk after dinner, as a digestif. They’re made by steeping botanicals (herbs, roots, flowers, bark, and/or citrus peels) in alcohol, and then adding sugar to round out the flavors [...]

Aviation Gin distillery: House Spirits Distillery origin: Portland, Oregon, USA abv: 42 % (84 proof) average price of Aviation Gin: $28 for 750 mL details:  Aviation Gin hails from Oregon and counts itself among the best of the recent American introductions into the gin market. It is flavored with spices sourced from the Oregon Spice Company: [...]

Azuñia Tequilas distillery: Azuñia origin: Amatitan, Jalisco, Mexico distilled from: Weber Blue Agave details:  In the heart of Jalisco, Mexico, lies the world’s most perfect soil and climate for growing Weber Blue Agave. What makes this region so special?  The Tequila Volcano, which was active over 200,000 years ago, makes for mineral-rich soil that is unlike any [...]

  Banks 5 Island Blend distillery: Joseph Banks Rum Corporation origin: blend of five different rums from distilleries located on the islands of: Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Guyana, and Java. bottled in: Holland abv: 43% average price: $28 to $31 for 750 mL details:  Over twenty independently-sourced rums from 5 islands (Jamaica, Trinidad, Java, Barbados, Guyana) are [...]

Barbancourt Rhums distillery: la Societe du Rhum Barbancourt origin: Haiti distilled from: pure sugarcane juice (not molasses) details: Barbancourt Rhum is made from pure sugarcane juice (read: not molasses), double distilled, and aged in oak casks.  Over 600 hectares of land, including some fields at Domaine Barbancourt, the company’s plantation, are dedicated to cultivating sugarcane for [...]

Barsol Pisco distillery: Bodega San Isidro origin: Peru distilled from: grapes abv: 41% (82 proof) awards: multiple Gold & Silver Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the International World Spirits Competition average price: $43 for 750 mL details:  Pisco is an un-aged, Peruvian brandy made from distilling fresh wine, which comes from grapes [...]

Batavia Arrack van Oosten distillery: produced in Java, Indonesia, but bottled in Holland origin: Java, Indonesia and Holland distilled from: sugarcane and local red rice abv: 50% (100 proof) average price: $30 for 750 mL notes: It all starts in Java, a lovely Indonesian island with a rich heritage and culture.  Local red rice is boiled and [...]

Becherovka distillery: Jan Becher Company origin: Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic abv: 38% (76 proof) average price: $23 for 750 mL details:  Becherovka is an all-natural liquor that inherits its distinct flavor from the 30+ herbs and roots that are blended to create the unique infusion.  It’s pale yellow in color and comes in a really [...]

Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey distillery: Bernheim origin: Kentucky, USA distilled from: 51% wheat; remaining mixture: 49% barley and corn abv: 45% (90 proof) average price of Bernheim Wheat Whiskey: $30 for 750 mL details:  Whereas other American whiskeys contain primarily corn, barley, or rye in their recipes, Bernheim is the only type of straight whiskey which [...]

Big Bottom Straight Bourbon finished in Port Casks the label proclaims: “distilled in Indiana, but perfected in Oregon” torn between two houses: the whiskey is distilled at Lawrenceberg Distillers Indiana (LDI), in Lawrenceberg, Indiana, but it’s aged at Big Bottom Whiskey in Hillsboro, Oregon.  LDI is a well-known distillery that produces such whiskies as Bulleit [...]

Bittermens Bitters origin: Brooklyn, NY, USA average price: $20 for 4 ounces details:  American-made bitters crafted from dried fruits, herbs, and stems.  This stuff is the real deal.  Flavors include: Tiki, Burlesque, Hopped Grapefruit, Boston Bittahs, and Xocolatl Mole. Xocolatl Mole: Inspired by the classic Mole sauces of Mexico, this bitter was originally designed to pair [...]

Bittermens New Orleans Coffee Liqueur company: Bittermens Spirits origin: Brooklyn, NY, USA abv: 24% average price: $28 for 375 mL details: Colin and I really love coffee spirits and liqueurs, so I was thrilled to find out Bittermens was working on a coffee liqueur recipe that showcased New Orleans, a city we both love.  Now [...]

Bols Genever distillery: Lucas Bols origin: Amersterdam, Holland distilled from: rye, wheat, and corn history: Established in 1575, Lucas Bols is one of the world’s oldest distilled spirits brands, and the first registered company in Holland. In 1664, Lucas Bols began distilling genever – a whisky-like triple distillate of rye, wheat and corn (what the Dutch [...]

  Broker’s Gin distillery: Broker’s origin: Birmingham, England abv: 47% (94 proof) average price of Broker’s Gin: $20 for 750 mL details: Broker’s is a London Dry style gin made in a 200-year-old gin distillery using a traditional copper pot still.  The base ingredient is a triple-distilled pure grain spirit made from English wheat.  To infuse [...]

Brooklyn Hemispherical Bitters origin: Brooklyn, NY average price: $20 for 4 oz details:  Brooklyn Hemispherical Bitters are made in the classic style, drawing flavors from roots, vegetables, fruits, and herbs.  Their hand-crafted bitters are made seasonally with local and organic ingredients whenever possible. Flavors include: Black Mission Fig, Meyer Lemon, Sriracha, Blueberry, and Rhubarb.

Bruichladdich Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskies distillery: Bruichladdich origin: Isle of Islay Argyll, Scotland, UK details:  The famous distillery produces multiple whiskies that fall into two categories: classic (un-peated) and peated. notes: Bruichladdich Distillery was built in 1881 by the Harvey brothers– three brothers who came from a whisky lovin’ family, or shall we say, a [...]

Buffalo Trace Straight Kentucky Bourbon distillery: Buffalo Trace origin: Kentucky, USA distilled from: corn, rye, and malted barley awards: Double Gold at 2009 SF World Spirits Competition; Gold at 2008 LA Wine & Spirits Competition average price of Buffalo Trace Bourbon: $22 for 750 mL details:  The name Buffalo Trace pays tribute to the mighty buffalo and [...]

Bulleit Straight 95 Rye Mash Whiskey distillery: Bulleit (but made at the facilities of Lawrenceberg Distillers Indiana (LDI)) origin: Lawrenceberg, Indiana, USA distilled from: 95% rye, %5 malted barley abv: 45% (90 proof) awards: 2001 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold average price of Bulleit Rye Whiskey: $28 details:  In the 1830s, as a [...]

Cadenhead’s Old Raj Gin origin: Scotland abv: offered in two versions: 46% and 55% average price of Old Raj: $55 for 750 mL saffron-infused gin: Labeled by many as the best gin in the world, it’s hard to find anyone willing to write a negative review about Old Raj.  First off, you must understand this gin is created [...]

Cardamaro origin: Italy abv: 17% average price: $20 for 750 mL amaro: Amaros – the name is Italian for ‘bitter’ – are most often drunk after dinner as a digestif. They’re made by steeping botanicals (herbs, roots, flowers, bark, and/or citrus peels) in alcohol, and then adding sugar to round out the flavors and make the product [...]

Carpano Antica Formula distillery: Branca origin: Italy abv: 16.5% (33 proof) average price: $33 for 1 Liter details:  Antica Formula is a red vermouth made from an original recipe by Antonio Benedetto Carpano, the man credited with inventing vermouth in Turin in 1786. Carpano originally developed vermouth by mixing herbs with a base wine and [...]

Heering Cherry or Cherry Heering origin: Sweden abv: 24% (48 proof) average price: $30 for 750 mL details:  Since 1818 Cherry Heering has been made only with natural ingredients, including elderberry extract and Danish grown cherries.  No artificial flavor or colors are added to either of the distillery’s products (they also make a coffee liqueur). [...]

  Clear Creek Distillery’s Apple Brandy: 8 Year Eau de Vie de Pomme distillery: Clear Creek origin: Oregon, USA distilled from: apples abv: 40% (80 proof) average price: $35 – $43 for 750 mL (depending on where you are) details:  A very worthy competitor to the best Calvados from France. Clear Creek Distillery crushes and [...]

Clear Creek Distillery’s Kirschwasser (Cherry Brandy) distillery: Clear Creek Distillery origin: Oregon, USA distilled from: cherries abv: 40% (80 proof) average price: $45 for 750 mL kirsch:  Kirschwasser is a colorless brandy made from the double-distillation of cherries.  Sometimes Kirsch is referred to as “German Cherry Schnapps,” so let me distinguish between American and German [...]

  Clear Creek Distillery’s William’s Pear Brandy distillery: Clear Creek Distillery origin: Oregon distilled from: pears abv: 40% awards: Double Gold medal winner at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition, 2000. average price: $40 details: This is classic eau de vie de poire.  Clear Creek Distillery uses Williams (Bartlett) pears from their orchards in Parkdale, Oregon. They crush and ferment [...]

Clear Creek Douglas Fir distillery: Clear Creek origin: Oregon distilled from: brandy with Douglas Fir buds abv: 47.73 % average price: $50 for for 375 mL details:  Inspired by an obscure Alsatian distillate called Eau de Vie de Bourgeons de Sapin, Steve McCarthy worked on developing the perfect Oregon version of a tree spirit, an Eau [...]

Clear Creek Fruit Liqueurs: Blackberry, Loganberry, Cassis, Cherry, Pear, Raspberry and Cranberry. distillery: Clear Creek origin: Oregon details:  Fruit liqueurs from Clear Creek Distillery combine fruit grown in the Pacific Northwest with some of the distillery’s finest brandies.  As of now, the distillery offers the following liqueurs: Blackberry, Loganberry, Cassis, Cherry, Pear, Raspberry and Cranberry. We [...]

Cocchi Americano origin: Italy abv: 16.5% average price: $20 for 750 mL details:  This aperitif has been produced in Italy since 1891. It is based on an all-natural recipe containing white wine, sugar, and booze-soaked herbs and spices, which include Artemisia flowers, gentian roots, and peels of bitter orange. Small batches of wine are spiced [...]

Combier Liqueur D’Orange distillery: Combier origin: Saumur, France details: Original Combier, the world’s first triple sec (pre-dating Cointreau by 15 years), is made according to the exact specifications of a proprietary recipe created in Saumur, France in 1834 by Jean-Baptiste Combier and his wife Josephine. Over the years, many have attempted to imitate the authentic taste [...]

Del Maguey Single Village Mezcals company is based in: New Mexico, but the mezcals are produced in Mexico owned by: Ron Cooper (credited with revitalizing mezcal as an internationally significant spirit) origin: whatever village is on the label (all from Mexico) labels: designed by Ken Price, a Los Angeles-based artist distilled from: agave average price: varies [...]

Dimmi Liquore di Milano origin: Italy distilled from: wheat grown in the Lombardy region abv: 35% (70 proof) average price: $39 for 750 mL details: Dimmi is a wheat distillate spirit that undergoes two infusions.  The first includes licorice, orange peel, rhubarb, ginseng, and vanilla.  The second infusion is more floral, with peach and apricot blossoms [...]

Domaine de Montreuil Reserve Calvados du Pays d’Auge origin: France distilled from: apples abv: 42% (84 proof) average price: $50 for 750 mL calvados: Calvados is an apple brandy traditionally made in the Lower Normandy region of France from cider that is made with carefully selected apples.  There are hundreds of varieties of apples used [...]

El Dorado Rums distillery: Demerara Distillers origin: Guyana (South America) distilled from: sugarcane details:  The history of rum in Guyana is a troubled one.  It’s the same old story: famous European explorers searching for the “City of Gold” land on the shores of an uncolonized territory, introduce new crops (such as sugarcane), suddenly assert control, and then boom– tribal [...]

Flor de Caña 7 Year Old Rum distillery: Flor de Caña origin: Chichigalpa, Nicaragua distilled from: molasses abv: 40% details: Flor de Caña rums are produced with the finest molasses from sugarcane cultivated in fields adjacent to the distillery in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua.  The 7 Year Old is distilled five times and then aged for 7 years [...]

Four Roses Straight Bourbons: Single Barrel and Small Batch distillery: Four Roses origin: Lawrenceberg, Kentucky details: Single Barrel:  Four Roses bourbon bottled from a single barrel… hence the title “Single Barrel.”  I just blew your mind.  Mashbill of 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley.  A rich, flavoursome cask strength bourbon (meaning the bourbon is [...]

Glenmorangie 12 Year Old Nectar D’Or Extra Matured Whisky and Lasanta 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky distillery: Glenmorangie origin: Tain, Scotland, UK (Highland region) notes: Founded in 1843, Glenmorangie is an award-winning distillery that has been striving to produce perfect Scotch for over 160 years, and their devotion to keeping their product pure [...]

Gran Classico Bitter origin: Switzerland imported by: Tempus Fugit Spirits (Petaluma, California) abv: 28% (56 proof) average price: $34 for 750 mL details:  Gran Classico is based on the original “Bitter of Turin” recipe dating from the 1860’s.  This rich, slightly viscous aperitif is tart with the bitterness of citrus peel and a sweeter finish that [...]

Green Chartreuse origin: France distilled from: only 2 monks know, and they’ve sworn a vow of silence abv: 55% (110 proof) average price: $60 for 750 mL details:  Crafted by Carthusian monks from 132 herbs, roots, and botanicals, this fragrant liqueur takes its green color naturally from the chlorophyl of the plants. The original intent [...]

Hangar One Vodka distillery: St. George Spirits origin: Alameda, California distilled from: viognier grapes and midwestern wheat average price: $35 to $45 (depending on flavor) for 750 mL details:  It’s a little strange, especially if you’re expecting the standard grain-distilled vodka. But we like strange.  And there are really only a handful of words that [...]

Hendrick’s Gin distillery: Hendrick’s (owned by William Grant & Sons) origin: Girvan, Scotland abv: 44% (88 proof) average price: $35 for 750 mL details: To make this beloved Scottish gin, two spirits from two rare stills are married and then infused with cucumber and rose petals, in addition to other botanicals, to craft an aromatic, sweet gin [...]

High West Double Rye and Rendezvous Rye distillery: High West origin: bottled in Park City, Utah, USA distilled from: see below awards: Rendezvous Rye won Double Gold at 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition details: Double Rye:  Marriage of two straight rye whiskies that combines the feisty properties of a high rye 2-year-old and the saddle smooth [...]

Hudson Four Grain Bourbon distillery: Tuthilltown Spirits origin: Gardiner, New York, USA distilled from: corn, rye, wheat, and barley abv: 46% awards:  Whiskey Magazine’s Craft Whiskey Distillery of the Year; American Distilling Institute’s Best US Artisan Distiller of 2010; Food and Wine Magazine’s Best New American Whiskey 2010 average price of Hudson Four Grain Bourbon: [...]

Junior Johnson’s Midnight Moon Moonshine distillery: Piedmont Distillers (they also make Catdaddy Moonshine) origin: Madison, North Carolina distilled from: corn average price: $21 for 750 mL details:  Junior Johnson was one of the best race car drivers of the 1950s and 1960s.  He was also a moonshiner.  And even though Junior was a fast driver [...]

Krogstad Aquavit distillery: House Spirits origin: Portland, OR, USA abv: 40% (80 proof) average price: $28 for 750 mL awards: Gold Medal and Best in Class at San Francisco World Spirits Competition history: Aquavit is a traditional Scandinavian spirit infused with anise and caraway seed. details: Following the traditional Scandinavian method, Krogstad Aquavit (named for [...]

Luxardo Maraschino distillery: Luxardo origin: Italy abv: 32% (64 proof) average price: $32 awards: 2011 Bronze Medal at the International Spirits Challenge in London, UK; 2011 Silver Medal at San Francisco World Spirits Competition details: It is one of the very few liqueurs in the world produced by distillation. Luxardo still produces this wonderful liqueur according to the original formula used [...]

Mae de Ouro Cachaça distillery: Fazenda origin: Brazil distilled from: sugarcane juice (99.995%), corn (0.005%) abv: 40% (80 proof) average price: $31 for 1 Liter cachaça: Like rhum agricole, cachaça is made from pure, fresh sugarcane juice– not molasses.  Molasses is the byproduct of boiling sugar, and it’s the main component of rum.  Cachaçha and rhum [...]

Martin Miller’s Westbourne Gin distillery: Martin Miller’s origin: just west of Birmingham, England distilled from: barley, mostly from East Anglia (United Kingdom) abv: 45.2 % average price of Martin Miller’s Westbourne Gin: $35 for 750 mL details: This multi-award winning high-strength gin comes from the heart of England’s Black Country.  Infused with juniper, orange and lemon [...]

McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt Whiskey distillery: Clear Creek Distillery origin: Oregon, USA distilled from: peat malted Scottish barley abv:  42.5 % (85 proof) awards: 2004 Best Small Batch Whisky in the World in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible average price of McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt Whiskey: $55 for 750 mL details: Distilled from a fermented mash of [...]

Old New Orleans Cajun Spiced Rum distillery: Celebration Distillation origin: New Orleans, Louisiana distilled from: molasses made from Lousiana-grown sugar cane abv: 40% (80 proof) average price of Cajun Spiced Rum: $30-$35 for 750 mL details: Old New Orleans Cajun Spice Rum is made in small batches from molasses that comes from the finest Louisiana-grown sugar [...]

Pig’s Nose Scotch Whisky distillery: The Spencerfield Spirit Company origin: Scotland. abv: 40% (80 proof) distilling: The backbone of this whisky is Invergordon grain whisky, acknowledged as one of the highest quality and lightest grain whiskies in Scotland, which has been aged in fresh oak barrels for at least five years. To compliment the base whisky, the [...]

Plymouth Gins: Original, Navy Strength, and Sloe Gin distillery: Black Friars Distillery origin: The Barbican, Plymouth, England notes:  The building dates back to the early 1400s, with the most intact part of the distillery, the Refectory Room – a medieval hall with a fine hull-shaped timber roof built in 1431, being one of the oldest [...]

RHUBY (or RHUBARB TEA) distillery: Art in the Age (represented by Greenbar Collective) origin: Art in the Age (Philly); Greenbar (Los Angeles) created by: Steven Grasse (the man behind Hendrick’s Gin) distilled from: pure cane sugar abv:40% abv (80 proof) average price: $34 for 750 mL details: RHUBARB Tea features a botanical bounty of beets, carrots, [...]

Rittenhouse 100 Proof Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey distillery: bottled by Continental Distilling Company, but owned by Heaven Hill Distilleries (they also produce Bernheim Wheat Whiskey) origin: Louisville, Kentucky, USA distilled from: at least a 51% rye mash mixture abv: 50% (100 proof) awards: North American Whiskey of the Year at the 2006 San Francisco World Spirits [...]

ROOT distillery:  Art in the Age Spirits (represented by Greenbar Collective) origin: Philadelphia (flag-ship store) and Los Angeles created by: Steven Grasse (the man behind Hendrick’s Gin) distilled from: sugarcane abv: 40% (80 proof) average price: $35 for 750 mL history: In the 1700’s, it was called “Root Tea.” An herbal remedy made with sassafras, sarsaparilla, birch bark and other [...]

Rothman & Winter Orchard Apricot Liqueur distillery: Destillerie Purkhart origin: Austria abv: 24% abv (48 proof) average price: $25 for 750 mL details: The Purkhart’s are most famous for their “Blume Marillen,” an apricot brandy that they have produced for over 40 years.  To make the Orchard Apricot Liqueur, the Purkharts blend their apricot brandy [...]

Rusell’s Reserve 6 Year Rye distillery: Austin Nichols Distilling company (where Wild Turkey bourbon is distilled) origin: Lawrenceberg, Kentucky distilled from: mash mixture containing at least 51% rye abv: 45% (90 proof) average price of Rusell’s Reserve 6 Year Rye: $35 details:  Rusell’s Rye (as in Jimmy Rusell, master distiller of Wild Turkey bourbon) is [...]

SAGE distillery:  Art in the Age Spirits (represented by Greenbar Collective) origin: Philadelphia (flag-ship store) and Los Angeles created by: Steven Grasse (the man behind Hendrick’s Gin) abv: 40% (80 proof) average price: $35 for 750 mL details: Instilled with organic American botanicals including thyme, angelica, dandelion, rosemary, lavender, fennel, sumac, and, of course, sage.  Somehow they [...]

Siembra Azul Tequilas distillery: Siembra Azul origin: Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico (Highlands Region) distilled from: Blue Webber Agaves creator: David Suro-Piñera emigrated to Philadelphia in the 1980s from Jalisco, Mexico.  In Philly, he opened the city’s first upscale Mexican cuisine restaurant, which featured a list of over 135 brands of fine 100% Agave tequilas.  Obviously the man loves tequila. [...]

Smith & Cross Rum distillery: Smith & Cross origin: distilled in Jamaica, but bottled in London, England distilled from: estate-grown molasses abv: 57% ABV (114 proof).  Navy Strength (50% abv, or 100 proof) was the traditional strength required by the British Royal Navy. At this proof a spill of the spirits would not prevent gunpowder from igniting. [...]

SNAP distillery: Art in the Age (represented by Greenbar Collective) origin: Art in the Age (Philly); Greenbar (Los Angeles) created by: Steven Grasse (the man behind Hendrick’s Gin) distilled from: pure cane sugar abv:40% abv (80 proof) average price: $34 for 750 mL details:  The traditional recipe for Lebkuchen, or ginger snap, was invented by German monks in the 12th [...]

Square One Vodkas: Classic, Cucumber, Botanical, Basil distillery: Square One origin: Idaho distilled from: 100% organic rye abv: all are 40% (80 proof), except for the Botanical Vodka, which is 45% (90 proof) average price: $28 to $35 for 750 mL details: Square One is made in an Idaho distillery from organic American rye grown [...]

St. Elizabeth Allspice (Pimento) Dram origin: produced in Jamaica, bottled in Austria abv: 22.5% average price: $38 for 750 mL details:  St. Elizabeth’s is made with pimento — a dried berry more commonly known today as allspice .  The allspice liqueur, referred to as “Pimento Dram” in classic cocktail recipes, is a traditional rum-based Jamaican liqueur with rich [...]

St. George Absinthe Verte distillery: St. George Spirits origin: Alameda, California, USA abv: 60% (120 proof) average price: $75 for 750 mL history: In the late 1800s and early 1900s absinthe was considered bottled inspiration for the artists and writers of Paris and New Orleans.  Although beloved by many, it was scandalized and then outlawed [...]

St. George Breaking and Entering (B&E) Bourbon distillery: St. George origin: crafted in Kentucky, but blended and bottled in Alameda, California, USA distilled from: a mash of at least 51% corn abv: 43% (86 proof) average price of St. George B&E Bourbon: $34 for 750 mL details:  Although crafted in Kentucky, this bourbon was blended [...]

St. George Gins: Terroir, Rye, and Botanivore distillery: St. George Spirits origin: Alameda, California details: St. George Botanivore Gin: An herbaceous treat that earned its name from the 19 botanicals that go into creating its unique flavor. This gin was crafted to be a well balanced, versatile spirit that invites you to explore the subtleties of [...]

St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur distillery: St. Germain origin: France abv: 20% (40 proof) average price: $38 for 750 mL details:  St. Germain is made by infusing a base spirit with hand-picked, wild elderflower blossoms that grow in the French countryside.  Men scour the hillsides of France to forage and harvest enough blossoms to produce a [...]

Strega Liqueur origin: Italy abv: 40% (80 proof) average price: $35 for 750 mL details: Strega is an Italian liqueur that has been produced in Benevento, Italy since 1860. The recipe is a mix of somewhere around 70 herbs and spices which includes mint, ceylon cinnamon, iris, juniper, fennel, and saffron. Although Strega is aged in ash barrels to [...]

Tito’s Handmade Vodka distillery: Tito’s origin: Austin, Texas distilled from: 100% corn (grown right ‘cheer en Americuh) abv: 40% (80 proof) average price: $18 to $22 for 750 mL details: Tito’s Handmade Vodka is produced in Austin, Texas at the state’s first and oldest legal distillery. It’s made in small batches in an old fashioned pot [...]

Tru Organic Vodkas distillery: Modern Spirits origin: Monrovia, California distilled from: organic wheat abv: Straight is 40% (80 proof), but Lemon and the Vanilla are 35% (70 proof) average price: $40 for 750 mL details: Handcrafted in California with organic American wheat, pure water, and hand-processed ingredients.  They claim it takes 23 square feet of planted land [...]

WhistlePig Rye Whiskey distillery: WhistlePig Farm origin: Vermont, USA distilled from: 100 % Rye abv: 50% (100 proof) average price of WhistlePig Rye: $65 for 750mL details:  Aged a minimum of 10 years, WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey is a 100 proof, 100 percent rye whiskey hand bottled on a former dairy farm in Shoreham, Vermont.  [...]