View Full Version : Potato Whiskey
How on earth did this get by the TTB?
https://www.ttbonline.gov/ALFD/publicViewImage.do?id=10327003000001
Last time I checked, Potatoes weren't a grain.
Anyone heard of or tried it?
Bourbon Boiler
04-02-2012, 17:47
and it's from a company with "Clear Spirits" in the name. Maybe "Aged Vodka" didn't market test well.
That said, it's clear enough what they are doing that the TTB couldn't say there was an intent to decieve.
That said, it's clear enough what they are doing that the TTB couldn't say there was an intent to decieve.
Yes, they're clear about it being made from potato, but it clearly doesn't meet the definition of whiskey, which requires the distillate to be from grain. If you're going to have potato whiskey, why not grape whiskey, sugar whiskey, apple whiskey...or for that matter potato rum? It's very weird.
White Dog
04-02-2012, 18:01
and it's from a company with "Clear Spirits" in the name. Maybe "Aged Vodka" didn't market test well.
That said, it's clear enough what they are doing that the TTB couldn't say there was an intent to decieve.
Deception isn't the issue. Does whiskey need not be distilled from grain?? I thought it had.
(Wow, SKU. You beat me by a second!)
(Wow, SKU. You beat me by a second!)
That's why they call me the fastest whiskey geek this side of the Pecos.
Bourbon Boiler
04-02-2012, 20:59
Here's the text defining the whisky class:
"
Spirits distilled from a fermented
mash of grain at less than 95%
alcohol by volume (190 proof) having
the taste, aroma and characteristics
generally attributed to whisky and
bottled at not less than 40% alcohol
by volume (80 proof)"
How on earth did this get by the TTB?
https://www.ttbonline.gov/ALFD/publicViewImage.do?id=10327003000001
Last time I checked, Potatoes weren't a grain.
Anyone heard of or tried it?
Why are you so sure it did get by TTB? Yes, I can see the COLA, but has anyone seen this product in the marketplace? I would object to TTB, but not before I know this product is actually on sale somewhere.
It looks like it became a vodka along the way.
Why are you so sure it did get by TTB? Yes, I can see the COLA, but has anyone seen this product in the marketplace? I would object to TTB, but not before I know this product is actually on sale somewhere.
Yup. It's for sale in Colorado: http://www.superiorliquormarket.com/303--WHISKEY-POTATO-750ML_p_20453.html
Don't you think it's weird that the Boulder Distillery's web site has nothing on it about its products?
I have queried TTB, with a copy to Boulder Distillery. I'll let you know what happens.
Don't you think it's weird that the Boulder Distillery's web site has nothing on it about its products?
Yes, though I look at a lot of micro websites and they vary a lot. Some of them don't update very much so only have a few of their first product up, but most of them at least have some product description. The only thing they have is "Home of 303 Vodka, 303 Whiskey and Rob's Mtn Gin.
macdeffe
04-03-2012, 09:07
I can't even find a reference for it being aged..
Steffen
I can't even find a reference for it being aged..
Steffen
If you can violate one rule, why not all of them?
Eddu claims to be whisky made from buckwheat, which is not really a grain (it's not a grass) either despite having "wheat" in the name.
http://www.distillerie.fr/en/eddu_silver.html
Surprised no American micro has tried that yet.
Eddu claims to be whisky made from buckwheat, which is not really a grain (it's not a grass) either despite having "wheat" in the name.
http://www.distillerie.fr/en/eddu_silver.html
Surprised no American micro has tried that yet.
Ah, but they have. Heston Farms in West Virginia makes Buckwheat Moon, a buckwheat whiskey. http://hestonfarm.com/distillery
So, their homepage has this image on it. Moonshine out of a pig's behind? Sounds tasty!
http://hestonfarm.com/sites/all/themes/hestonfarm/images/homepage-distillery.jpg
While the EU rules specify cereal grain, the U.S. rules just use the word 'grain.' An argument can be made, therefore, that while not a cereal, the buckwheat seed is a grain under the meaning of the law. Problem is, that opens the door to lentil whiskey, and no one wants that.
I have received acknowledgment from TTB. They're looking into it.
So, their homepage has this image on it. Moonshine out of a pig's behind? Sounds tasty!
http://hestonfarm.com/sites/all/themes/hestonfarm/images/homepage-distillery.jpg
Reminds me of a flask from antiques roadshow a few years ago:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200603A28.html
callmeox
04-03-2012, 12:41
While the EU rules specify cereal grain, the U.S. rules just use the word 'grain.' An argument can be made, therefore, that while not a cereal, the buckwheat seed is a grain under the meaning of the law. Problem is, that opens the door to lentil whiskey, and no one wants that.
I have received acknowledgment from TTB. They're looking into it.
You involved the feds? Have you no respect for the livelyhood of the poor artisan who is simply trying to carve out a meager existence?
You involved the feds? Have you no respect for the livelyhood of the poor artisan who is simply trying to carve out a meager existence?
It's the worst kind of elitism.
CorvallisCracker
04-03-2012, 13:25
There is an awful lot of people who believe Irish whiskey is made from potatoes...
(when I first keyed that in I used the word "astonishing" rather than "awful" but then considered the long list of other silly things people believe...and went back and changed it...)
I sampled it last year and did not much care for it, didn't even taste like a whiskey to me. The tell was that when I asked the rep what they would compare it to, they had no answer. Maybe I got stuck with a dimwit rep because they didn't seem too knowledgeable on the whiskey side of things, but I really didn't care for their attempt at whiskey at all. Their vodka is fair, but I haven't had anything spectacular from them, their Gin made me cringe too.
http://www.drinkspirits.com/distillers/boulder-distillery-303-vodka/
Seems to me that if you created a spirit from a potato...it's vodka (which just means alcohol.) If you age it, then it's aged vodka.
They can call it whiskey...don't mean it is whiskey (said in my thickest Texan accent.)
However, on second thought, what if they just added potato to a grain mix?
CorvallisCracker
04-03-2012, 16:38
Seems to me that if you created a spirit from a potato...it's vodka (which just means alcohol.) If you age it, then it's aged vodka.
Vodka must be distilled at a minimum 95% ABV (190 proof).
So what would you call a vodka distillate that was produced at a lower proof?
It might be they queried the TTB on this point, who came back with, "Oh, hell, call it whiskey if you want."
It might be they queried the TTB on this point, who came back with, "Oh, hell, call it whiskey if you want."
Yeah, I've heard that the TTB process can be, how should we say, less than rigorous. Apparently the industry practice if you have a label rejected is to send the exact label back again and hope it lands on someone else's desk.
Vodka must be distilled at a minimum 95% ABV (190 proof).
So what would you call a vodka distillate that was produced at a lower proof?
Potcheen, maybe?
So what would you call a vodka distillate that was produced at a lower proof?
Straight up "hooch" ;)
I see this all the time on shelves here in CO. And it frustrates me every time. It's not whiskey if its made from potatoes! :smiley_acbt: I hope the regulations aren't becoming more lax...
I also tried it at a local festival, back before I knew anything about it. Let's just say I didn't enjoy it.
ILLfarmboy
04-04-2012, 15:11
There is an awful lot of people who believe Irish whiskey is made from potatoes...
(when I first keyed that in I used the word "astonishing" rather than "awful" but then considered the long list of other silly things people believe...and went back and changed it...)
WTF?.............
spence21989
04-24-2012, 08:56
How on earth did this get by the TTB?
https://www.ttbonline.gov/ALFD/publicViewImage.do?id=10327003000001
Last time I checked, Potatoes weren't a grain.
Anyone heard of or tried it?
I went to the distillery a few months back. The whiskey is not whiskey. It tasted like caramel flavor was added yuk! On the other hand, Rob's Mtn. Gin is very good IMO.
On another note, has anyone tried Fireside Colorado Straight Whiskey? It is pretty new (last month or so?). It is from Mile High Spirits and it looks like they were originally a private labeler.
http://www.privatebranddistilling.com/our-brands/
I'm going to their new storefront the afternoon to pick up a bottle.
I went to the distillery a few months back. The whiskey is not whiskey. It tasted like caramel flavor was added yuk! On the other hand, Rob's Mtn. Gin is very good IMO.
On another note, has anyone tried Fireside Colorado Straight Whiskey? It is pretty new (last month or so?). It is from Mile High Spirits and it looks like they were originally a private labeler.
http://www.privatebranddistilling.com/our-brands/
I'm going to their new storefront the afternoon to pick up a bottle.
Interesting. I wonder who makes it? It's described only as "whiskey distilled from grain."
spence21989
04-24-2012, 12:54
Interesting. I wonder who makes it? It's described only as "whiskey distilled from grain."
They say they have one of only 3 fully glass stills in the world. I think that they have been a private label company for long enough that they very well may have made this whiskey (stated as a 4yo).
I will ask and will report back on what I find and the quality.
They say they have one of only 3 fully glass stills in the world. I think that they have been a private label company for long enough that they very well may have made this whiskey (stated as a 4yo).
I will ask and will report back on what I find and the quality.
It doesn't look like they had a licensed distillery until this year, so they must have gotten the juice from somewhere else.
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