A great many brands hint at it, but Frank-Lin has gone right to the heart of the matter, launching Sex in a Bottle. The Hula Girl is very direct and to the point, especially compared to something like Tease brand wine. Frank-Lin has about 11 variations of this distilled spirits specialty, approved over the past year. Sex in a Bottle (above) is “luscious peach” flavor, made with grain neutral spirits, rum and flavors. Bikini Bling has a pina colada-type flavor.
Continue Reading Leave a CommentMADD Comment; Top 5 Things to Know
It is likely that all beer, wine and spirits labels will change dramatically in the near future. TTB has been working on new rules since CSPI and other groups submitted a petition in 2003. The new rules would require a “Serving Facts” panel on every container. This panel would include a lot more information, such as the typical serving size, number of servings per container, calories, carbohydrates, protein and fat. Because this is a big, controversial change, TTB has received more than 18,000 public comments during the past few years. There are far too many comments for most people to review, and so we will highlight and summarize the most noteworthy comments here. The most recent proposal and comments are here. This is comment 1 in a series; to see others, click on the “serving facts” tag below.
- MADD has “no objections to the responsible use of alcohol by adults.”
- Thousands die each year due to misjudging (or ignoring) rules of responsible consumption.
- “Standard drinks” labeling will better educate consumers.
- There should be equivalence among beer, wine and spirits, based on a standard drink equal to 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol.
- The facts panel should require a moderation message such as “no more than two drinks for men, one drink per day for women.”
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Continue Reading Leave a CommentTags: policy, serving facts/allergens
Who is Ed Hardy?
Who is Ed Hardy and why is he on so many wine and spirits labels? His website says Ed Hardy is:
known as “the godfather of modern tattoo”, for his sophistication, depth and sense of experimentation. California native Don Ed Hardy is recognized around the world for his technical brilliance and mesmerizing imagery. Don Ed Hardy pulls from life experience to meld American, Japanese, Cholo, tattoo, surf and hotrod iconography. This broad spectrum of taste and experience, coupled with an ongoing investigation of various art histories and a mastery of technique, give his work a unique range and depth.
The colors on that site nearly melted the monitor. It turns out that tattoo art, on alcohol beverage packages, goes way back. Sailor Jerry Rum goes back at least a few decades. This article points out that Ed Hardy learned tattoo techniques from none other than the original Sailor Jerry.
Continue Reading Leave a CommentBeer with Potatoes
We thought this was a good label because it does an excellent job of answering the age-old question: “Why Brewed with Potatoes?” That’s what we wanted to know, and this label is happy to oblige. It helpfully explains that potatoes add sugars that supply dryness to this extra-dry stout. Long Island Potato Stout is made by The Blind Bat Brewery of Centerport, NY. It is classified as a Malt Beverage Brewed with Potatoes. TTB has also approved Finnegan’s Ale Brewed with Potatoes. It is made by Summit Brewing Company in Saint Paul, MN. Note that TTB has asked Summit to add “Product of USA,” probably because of the large reference to Irish Amber and several four-leaf clovers.
Continue Reading Leave a CommentTags: ingredients, unlikely combinations
Vodka Distilled from Milk
Yes, it’s official. You can make spirits from just about anything. Duncan Holaday is determined to show us how. Here is Vermont White Vodka, distilled from 100% Milk Sugar, according to the label. The website for Duncan’s Spirits, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, says:
Inspired by traditional Tuvan milk vodka, this hand-made vodka is triple distilled from pure milk sugar and Vermont spring water. Crystal clear, smooth and with a delicate nose, this vodka is excellent straight and chilled, perfect in a white Russian. After a year and a half of designing, building and perfecting, the distillery burned to the ground the night before their first delivery. Daunted but not defeated, they rebuilt the distillery, this time with more efficient stills and a wood-fired steam boiler for power. Within six months they were distilling again, and in August 2001, Vermont Spirits made its first appearance in Vermont liquor outlets.
Tuvan milk vodka is mighty obscure; good luck finding any information beyond this. To go with the White, Duncan’s also has Vermont Gold. It is “Distilled from 100% Maple Sap.” Sounds expensive.
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