Top 10 Fourth of July Spirits

Top Ten Fourth of July Spirits for 2010

On July 4, 1776, the United States declared independence from Great Britain. Britain’s tax obsession, especially on booze, is one of the reasons Americans fought England for independence. It is amazing how many Americans don’t know the history of our country and they continue to drink English Gin. A lot of soldiers died in the American Revolution.

Fourth of July is a day of celebration so let’s celebrate with some amazing American-made liquor. The following list: American-made distilled spirits owned by real American entrepreneurs that everyone should drink on Fourth of July.

1. Bluecoat Gin, Pennsylvania (Entrepreneur: Andrew Auwerda)

 

Bluecoat is an American Dry Gin, unique in flavor profile and unsurpassed in character, five times distilled in the birthplace of America – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bluecoat American Dry Gin is craft distilled using organic juniper berries, giving it earthy, spicy juniper notes. When combined with a proprietary blend of organic American citrus peels and other organic botanicals, the result is a gin worthy of the term American Premium.

Why do people drink gin from England? In 1776, the Americans fought and destroyed the British for independence. A lot of dead and injured Americans resulted. The war was fought, on some level, over the British taxes on liquor that drove a lot distillers to Kentucky and Tennessee.  The British were bullies.

2. Johnny Love Vodka, California/Las Vegas (Entrepreneur: T.J. Diab)

We love this vodka line of flavors. It is the vodka that everyone should be drinking on Fourth of July — it doesn’t get anymore American with those iconic lips.

Johnny Love Vodka prides itself on making the most unique and exotic flavored vodkas imaginable which embody a new age spirit with a timeless feel. The results, aside from their 80 proof, triple distilled Premium, are mouth watering varieties such as Tangerine, Passion Fruit, Apple, and their renowned pineapple-coconut blend, trade named Johnny Love Aloha. They can be found in most states, as well as served on Alaska Airlines.

3. Blade Gin, California (Entrepreneur: Davorin Kuchen)

Blade Gin is a California gin. Bold enough to stand alone in a Martini with a Tangerine twist and Cilantro sprig or a great team player to mix with premium tonic or citrus mixers. A symphony of flavors from Master Distiller Davorin Kuchen blending California Grape Eau de Vie, Citrus, Ginger, Cilantro and several other ingredients from a secret family recipe.

4. Valentine Vodka, Michigan (Entrepreneur: Rifino Valentine)

As Detroit’s first micro distilled spirit since Prohibition, Valentine Vodka is handcrafted from a proprietary blend of Midwestern grains. Meticulous care goes into every bottle. Rifino Valentine is devoted to making only the finest spirits in small, handcrafted batches, focusing on quality rather than quantity.

Few know about the pivotal role that Detroit played in the history of distilled alcohol. The ‘Noble Experiment’ of Prohibition signed into law in 1919, changed the landscape of Detroit for the next 20 years. Literally overnight, Detroit became a mecca of illicit liquor. The city eventually would become the Northeast’s largest supplier of illicit moonshine. Even Al Capone bought most of the liquor for his multi-billion dollar bootlegging industry from the gangs that ran Detroit bootlegging. But it was the way in which Detroiters smuggled the liquor into the country that made it unique.

With its close proximity to Canada, where liquor was still legal, Detroiters devised unique and innovative ways to bootleg liquor. The moonshine was smuggled in the holds of fishing boats, airplanes, and even towed underwater in barrels attached to cable systems. Bootleggers became even so brazen as to build entire pipelines from Canadian distilleries to Detroit bottlers. This brazen flouting of the law saw Detroit become alive with speakeasies and blind pigs.

Even Detroit’s most prominent citizens imbibed illicit liquor in the city’s underground clubs. When a speakeasy on Mack and Maxwell was busted by officials, not only was the Mayor of Detroit hauled away in handcuffs, but also the Chief of Police.

5. Death’s Door Gin, Wisconsin (Entrepreneur: Brian Ellison)

Death’s Door Distilled Gin is produced by Washington Island Brands– a small group of farmers, restaurateurs, and local food advocates that are dedicated to restoring the agricultural economy of Washington Island, Wisconsin and celebrating the food and flavors of the Great Lakes region.

Death’s Door Distilled Gin is made with wild juniper berries that are hand harvested from the open fields and forests of Washington Island and captured in spirit in a distilled infusion with other Wisconsin botanicals. Chef Leah Caplan, the creator of the gin’s flavor palette shared, “The flavors came together naturally and the results are crisp, clean and refreshing.”

Death’s Door passage is the treacherous strait between Green Bay and Lake Michigan where many a sailing schooner came to an untimely end. Today you can still experience the thrill of crossing Death’s Door on the ferry link between Door County and Washington Island, a passage that connects one to place and re-orients one towards a simpler life.

Share the flavor and the story of Death’s Door Distilled Gin with friends both old and new. Your spirited tale will help to support the local foods movement as you enjoy the bounty and the spirit of Washington Island – which just seems right.

6. La Sorciere Absinthe Bleue, California (Entrepreneur: Davorin Kuchen)

The Snow Fairy. La Sorciere Bleue Absinthe is clear, more subtle than most absinthe. Wormwood, Fennel, Anise, tar Anise, Lemon Peel among others balance differently in the Blueu making it smooth, easy to mix in cocktails yet intense enough to have straight up as a martini, louched and with a lemon zest. There are 20% more herbs than regular absinthe. Georgeous, thick cream white louche. Perfect with a lemon zest on top. The first Absinthe Bleueu production in the US.

7. Leopold’s Small Batch American Gin, Colorado (Entrepreneurs: Todd Leopold & Scott Leopold)

Handcrafted, hand bottled, hand labeled, and hand numbered, this small batch gin is truly unique. First, it is an American Gin. Master Distiller Todd Leopold handcrafts every batch in a small 40-gallon copper still, blending uniquely American botanicals like hand-zested Florida Oranges and California Pummelos. These components lend citrus notes to the gin, and helps to distinguish our American Gin from its English counterparts.

Second, Leopold Brothers distill all of its botanicals in fractions, meaning that they distill each component of the gin separately and then blend them together to create the finished spirit. Unlike mass-produced gins where the flavors can appear to be muddled together, and stronger spices can overpower the balance of the gin, distilling in fractions allows each individual note to be highlighted. The result is a softer, more refined, and more approachable spirit.

In the spring of 2009, the Wall Street Journal held a blind tasting of all available American Gins. Leopold’s was selected as their very favorite.

8. Charbay Tahitian Vanilla Bean Rum, California (Entrepreneur: Miles Karakasevic)

You won’t find Charbay spirits everywhere. When you do, you’ll know that restaurant, bar or store truly believes in offering you the finest in handcrafted spirits. CHARBAY Tahitian Vanilla Bean Rum over ice, as easy as it gets. Gentle flavors so true to the Tahitian vanilla bean and rum flavers so mellow you’ll wonder why didn’t you start sipping it sooner. Taste the ‘Miles & Marko’ style of distilling.

This is a great rum–and the best way to enjoy this micro rum is on an early sunny Saturday morning (it will make you feel you are on vacation for the whole day). Remember, you can’t drink all day unless you start in the morning!

9. Cold River Vodka, Maine (Entrepreneurs: Lee Thibodeau, Donnie Thibodeau)

Cold River Vodka belongs to the super-premium vodka category, one of the fastest growing segments of the spirits industry. This growth is fueled by the sharp increases of sales in the super-premium category during the last decade or so. Many companies attribute this to the aging of the US population. Older drinkers are looking for the sort of quality and authentic taste that is the hallmark of our Vodka.

There is also a younger segment that enjoy fine spirits across all categories that embrace the local (domestic) nature of craft distillers. Cold River, with its emphasis on the qualities of craftsmanship, integrity of process, and distinctive taste profile, is a logical choice for discerning drinkers everywhere.

10. Cascade Mountain Gin, Oregon (Entrepreneur: Jim Bendis)

Juniper has long been recognized for its medicinal properties and it is generally accepted that gin was first produced in Holland in the mid-1500s by Dr. Franciscus Sylvius as a treatment for the stomach, kidneys and just about anything else that could benefit from a stiff drink.

Over the centuries many different versions of gin (with a variety of extra flavors) have been introduced — including the gin & tonic developed to make malaria medicine palatable — but ultimately if it isn’t juniper, it isn’t gin.

Cascade Mountain Gin is a return to the original flavor and spirit of gin. It’s crafted with wild, handpicked juniper berries from the Central Oregon high desert plateau. While most gins use extracts and artificial flavorings, Cascade Mountain Gin is made with only fresh, natural ingredients.

Those who know gin will appreciate the subtle and full flavor. The aroma of Cascade Mountain is clean and pure without the perfume or chemical smells that come with the use of extracts and commercial flavorings. Cascade is the gin for the serious martini connoisseur.