Koloa Rum Co. | Piattelli Vineyards | Cedar Ridge
From the Garden Isle of Kaua’i in the sunny Aloha State, Koloa Rum Co. has been serving the “Spirit of Aloha” since 2009. Making use of the abundant natural resources of Hawai’i, Koloa Rum is crafted from pure cane sugar and rainwater from Mount’ale’ale.
The first commercial sugar production operations in Hawai’i were established in Kōloa in 1835 and rum production began around this time. In fitting with this tradition, Kōloa Rum was the first licensed distillery on the island of Kaua’i where sugarcane production is a way of life. Being deeply rooted in Hawaiian heritage, Kōloa promotes sustainable agricultural practices to provide support and diversity to the local agricultural industry, and preserve natural open spaces.
Kōloa offers a variety of handcrafted premium Hawaiin rums and ready-to-drink rum cocktails. These unique and delicious offerings include: Kaua’i White, Gold, Dark, Coconut, Spice, Coffee, Cacao, Reserve 12 Barrel Select Aged Hawaiian Rum, and ready-to-drink Mai Tai, Pineapple Passion, and Rum Punch.
Kōloa is dedicated to supporting and building their Ohana, by bringing people together, creating great memories, and sharing the Aloha way of life.
Piattelli Wines are some of the finest South America has to offer. For close to twenty years Piattelli has lead the way in developing bold, complex, and delicious wines in the Mendoza and Cafayate regions of Argentina. These regions were selected specifically to grow only the very best of grapes, organically and with the purest melt water off the Andes Mountains.
Head winemaker, Valeria Antolin, a 4th generation winemaker, has been at the helm of production for Piattelli Mendoza since 2003. Piattelli-with the help of Valeria-takes French winemaking technique and applies it to an ideal climate for grape growing in the valleys of Mendoza and Cafayate. This marrying of tradition and modernity leads to some beautiful, award-winning wines.
A Minnesota favorite, the Reserve Malbec, is a near perfect wine. With a deep burgundy hue, and a simple yet elegant bottle design, the Malbec has a smooth, long finish; filled with notes of blackberry, lavender, and a hint of smoke.
Another standout, and staple, from Piattelli is the Torrontes; a light and crisp white made with Torrontes grapes, uniquely suited to grow in the cool valleys of Argentina. Floral notes of orange blossom and tropical flavors of pineapple and peach make this a delicious pour, perfect for a lovely early-summer day in Minnesota.
While the wines themselves are the star of the show, the price-point is what makes Piattelli truly stand out from the competition. Piattelli Wines are rare in that they can be enjoyed by anyone, from the most experienced connoisseur to a relative novice.
Founded in 2005, Cedar Ridge became the first licensed distillery in Iowa since prohibition. Cedar Ridge was started by the Quint family, who have farmed and distilled spirits for generations. They believed it was time for the number one corn producing state, Iowa, to share its Bourbon Whiskey with the world. Releasing its first batch of Cedar Ridge whiskey in 2010, the distillery has quickly become a leader in craft spirits winning awards such as, American Distilling Institute’s “2017 Distiller of the Year” and “Best American Craft Whiskey” at the 2016 New York World Spirits Competition.
Cedar Ridge is truly authentic by nature. Being grown, and stored on site at the Quint family farm in Winthrop, Iowa, Cedar Ridge’s process is affected by their location and weather. After being twice distilled, Cedar Ridge Whiskey is transferred to barrels that are stored in non-temperature controlled rick houses. This allows Iowa’s consistently inconsistent weather to aid in the expansion and contraction of the barrels, helping the whiskey to take on the rich aromas and flavors of the barrels more quickly than other regions.
Being that Iowa is home to the some of most fertile soil in the world, Cedar Ridge whiskey has access to the highest-quality corn on Earth. This helps make Cedar Ridge Bourbon one of the finest bourbons you can find. The fine craftsmanship of bourbon at Cedar Ridge is a reflection of Iowa’s mentality of doing the best with what nature gives them, while maintaining minimal waste.
Cedar Ridge’s award winning lineup of whiskey includes: Iowas Straight Bourbon Whiskey, The Quintessential Single Malt, Straight Rye Whiskey, Wheat Whiskey, Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon, Slipknot No. 9, Slipknot Reserve, and Sir Maple Bourbon. The best bourbon comes from the best corn and grain, accessible to Cedar Ridge in the heart of America’s Grain Belt.
