ingredients

I bet more than 95% of vodka (consumed in the US) is distilled from grain. After all, the big ones like Stolichnaya, Absolut, Smirnoff, and Grey Goose all seem to be distilled from grain. Here is a notable exception, however. This vodka, made by Island Distillers, of Honolulu, Hawaii, is distilled from sugar cane. Another exception, cutting against the grain, is Glacier vodka, distilled from potatoes. Does the commodity matter much? After all, vodka is supposed to be “neutral.” The rule says: “‘Vodka’ is neutral spirits so distilled, or so treated after distillation with charcoal or other materials, as to be without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color.” It is amazing that the regulations insist upon fastidious disclosure as to the commodity from which distilled when it’s not clear that it has any impact on the taste or quality. Possibly, it’s crucial to put it on the label because it’s not otherwise discernible. In any event, there is probably no doubt that it costs many times more to make neutral spirits from cane, potatoes or just about anything else compared to a tanker full of grain neutral spirits.

We bring you this vodka for several reasons. According to the label it is “fair trade certified” and “sustainable.” But mostly because it highlights quinoa. The back label bills quinoa as “the mother of all grains, a superfood long worshipped by the Inca people. …”

Lo and behold, quinoa does in fact pop up at number five on WebMD’s list of top ten “superfoods.” Near yogurt, eggs, nuts, kiwi, and other leading superfoods, quinoa is described as:

one of the best whole grains you can eat. … “It is an ancient grain, easy to make, interesting, high in protein (8 grams in 1 cup cooked), fiber (5 grams per cup) and a naturally good source of iron,”… Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) also has plenty of zinc, vitamin E, and selenium to help control your weight and lower your risk for heart disease and diabetes. …

So far we see one other vodka distilled largely from quinoa, but very little in the way of quinoa beer, other than this one.

This post will start short but is likely to grow long over time. Very long. We will try to show the enormous range of foodstuffs from which wine is produced. With each post we will add to the list, and I predict it will grow way past 50 60. Today we add Hibiscus wine to the list.

1. Agave wine
2. Apple wine
3. Apricot wine
4. Aronia berry wine
5. Avocado wine
6. Banana wine
7. Blackberry wine
8. Blueberry wine
9. Buffaloberry wine
10. Cantaloupe wine
11. Cherry wine
12. Cranberry wine
13. Dandelion wine
14. Elderberry wine
15. Elder flower wine
16. Fig wine
17. Gooseberry wine
18. Grape wine
19. Hibiscus wine. Made by Collin Oaks Winery of Princeton, Texas.
20. Jasmine fruit wine
21. Kiwi wine
22. Linden flower wine
23. Lingonberry
24. Lychee wine
25. Mango wine
26. Mangosteen wine
27. Marionberry wine
28. Onion wine
29. Peach wine
30. Pomegranate wine
31. Pear wine
32. Pepper wine
33. Persimmon wine
34. Pineapple wine
35. Rhubarb wine
36. Strawberry wine
37. Tomato wine
38. Watermelon wine