Mojo Baja Lime Flavored Vodka

Here is a family tradition that we love: Jim Busuttil, owner and founder of Saint James Spirits, has applied his family’s expertise in small-batch wine production to the age-old techniques of spirits manufacture for his new vodka line. We tasted the Mojo Baja Lime Flavored Vodka, which went down smooth with the fresh taste of real limes. Every bottle is hand crafted from start to finish, employing the use of an alambic copper pot still. Saint James Spirits distills the Mojo Vodka three times and retails the attractive, frosted glass 750-ml bottle for $22. Mix it with tonic or soda for a drink to get your mojo working. For more information visit www.saintjamesspirits.com.

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Spirited Away

When it comes to vodka we are very picky. Usually we go for the proven Grey Goose and Belvedere—that is until we discovered Charbay Vodka. We've tried their fruit flavored offerings and were truly impressed. And no wonder, this vodka is personally hand-distilled by a 12th and 13th-generation father and son team, using a centuries-old family recipe and process. The Karakasevic family has been making spirits in Europe since the late XVIIth century and was publicly recognized and documented as a Noble House in 1751 by a decree of Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria.

Flavors in their single-batch line include lemon, blood orange, ruby red and key lime. You can taste the whole fresh fruit, which is important, as any hint of artifice will destroy a good vodka drink. Here are some additional facts from their website:

- Charbay "Mellow and Clean" Base Vodkais a high proof, neutral grain spirit five times custom distilled from 100 percent pure grain mash in the American Midwest. This five-column distillation process is an especially chosen technology capable of producing the characteristic, purity and smoothness of Charbay.

- Each of the four fruits are distilled into Charbay Base Vodka only once a year, during the peak of each fruit's own ripening season. Fruits are tree-ripened, picked and delivered to the distillery from orchards in California (Meyer Lemon and Blood Orange), Texas (Ruby Red Grapefruit), Florida and Veracruz (Key Lime).

For information visit www.charbay.com, email webinfo@charbay.com or call 800-M DISTILL (634-7845).

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Potato Vodka
Blue Ice vodka boasts a traditional flavor of potatoes, produced by a four-column distillation process and five-stage filtration process. Filtration involves a charcoal filter, filter press, garnet or crystal filter, travertine filter and submicron filter. Made with water from the pure blue ice crystals found in the Rocky Mountains, this vodka is made from premium Idaho Russet potatoes and gives a mellow finish with a smooth flavor. Blue Ice is available in California, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, New Mexico, NewYork, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah and Washington D.C., for a suggested retail price of $20. www.blueicevodka.com

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DNA by Wet Planet Beverages
"Have you been DNA-tested lately?" This is what people are asking these days. The infamous producers of Jolt Cola, Wet Planet Beverages, are market testing the world's only alcoholic spring water, DNA, in Los Angeles. Named after the unique genetic make-up of individuals, DNA is a refreshing and light combination of sparkling spring water, natural fruit flavor and alcohol. To the taste, there's not a trace of alcohol but beware: the alcoholic content is five percent. DNA was launched in Australia and is now also sold in clubs, bars, restaurants and specialty and major grocery stores in the U.S., Japan and UK. Visit www.wetplanet.com.

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Vodka by Ireland
Chilled vodka drinks remain the order du jour for the cutting-edge cocktail set. One new and exotic contender is Boru handcrafted Irish vodka. The only Irish vodka in the U.S., Boru comes in a standard 750-ml size, but the sexier option (and an excellent gift idea) is the Trinity for $24.95--three 200-ml bottles of original, orange and citrus-flavored vodkas stacked vertically to form one frosted-glass bottle shape. Look for it in bars and supermarkets.

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