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Mary Jane’s Primo Hemp Vodka: Booze Meets Grass

February 12, 2014 3 Comments

What do you think about Vodka made with hemp?

Well, there is one, and it’s called Mary Jane’s Primo Hemp Vodka™ on sale in Canada.

With the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington many wonder which state will be up next in going pro-cannabis (Speaking of “going pro” the outcome of the Super Bowl suggests Washington might handle their grass a bit better than those Coloradans– but I digress).

Let’s look at another approach.

What is the story behind Mary Jane’s Primo Hemp Vodka?

An entrepreneur in Canada named S.R. Collier (founder and CEO) developed a vodka brand with a 4.20% infusion of Hemp, which is introduced during distillation. That negligible amount of THC (the chemical responsible for marijuana’s effect) and the distillation process do not affect the buzz but rather give the brand some “fun, naughty and interesting marketing hype,” according to Mr. Collier.
I have not had the opportunity to try it yet but from what I am told it provides a distinctive and unique taste with overtones of hazelnut. Collier explains that the Hemp oil yields an “ultra smooth” profile.

Are you wondering why this Mary Jane Vodka isn’t available in the United States? Enter the alcohol regulatory authority.

The product was submitted to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for formula and label approval. The formula was approved but due to the label containing the image and phrase ‘Mary Jane’ (slang for marijuana) the product was ultimately rejected. Who knew the TTB are so hip?

But wait a minute. This is the same regulatory agency that approved alcohol labels with such names as Fokker Ale, Fuchen Liqueur, Chockin’ Chicken, Fat Bastard, Big Dick Beer, along other classy names. Never mind, Mary Jane’s Primo Hemp Vodka cannot be sold in the US under that name. But, the product itself is okay. Check out Robert Lehrman’s blog for more information.

Enter Washington’s Revolution Spirit.™

It turns out that our founding fathers (Washington and Jefferson included) grew Hemp on their farms. The crop was useful for rope, paper, and clothing. Hemp was long promoted in Virginia as an alternative cash crop to tobacco. According to some sources, Washington, not only grew Hemp, but also actively promoted its growth. It’s claimed that in letter to his plantation field manager, he wrote: “Make the most of the Indian hemp seed, . . . and sow it everywhere!”

So, Mr. Collier has changed the name of his product to Washington’s Revolution Spirit.™ for US distribution. The TTB approved that label and it uses the Mary Jane’s Primo Hemp Vodka formulation currently used in Canada. Same recipe, different name.

Very clever idea, eh?

By the way, the brand is for sale including the brand names, websites, intellectual property, glass molds, inventory, and so on. Let me know if you’re interested.
Check out the different labels:

Selecting a Wine for Thanksgiving

November 25, 2013 1 Comment

A husband and wife are walking back and forth in the wine section just before Thanksgiving. They are obviously having a hard time deciding what to buy.

At a different time and place somewhere in the world, the owners of a vineyard have worried about the harvest, pressing, fermentation, testing, blending, fining, filtration, bottling and dozens of other things the vintner and owners are concerned about. They taste, refine and taste again. On and on it goes until they are satisfied. A great wine is born.

At the same time, the marketing and sales people are concerning themselves with the name, packaging and brand identity. They fuss over the label; they agonize about the back label copy; they pray for good reviews.

We now return to the retail shop where this wine is on the shelf. Our consumer couple is staring blankly at the shelves. We eavesdrop on their conversation:

He: What difference does it make? Pick one.

She: I’m confused. Should we pick it by price? Or, based on these little cards with ratings?

He: I don’t know. Price doesn’t always mean anything. Do you know what the Johnsons like?

She: No idea. Let’s ask the sales guy.

He: Are you kidding? Does he look like he knows anything about wine? I might ask him about beer but… It’s like asking for directions. Forget it. Let’s decide ourselves.

She: How about this one? It’s a cute name.

He: Dancing Elves? Looks more like Fornicating Elves to me.

She: If it were up to you, you’d probably pick Farting Bears.

He: Okay. Enough. Just pick one.

She: I got it. Look at this bottle. It’s all in earth tones. Marge’s dining room décor is orange, yellow and brown — this one will match her table setting!

He: Great. Let’s go. The game starts soon.

Somewhere in the world there is the sound of gunfire. Another vintner has blown his brains out.

(This posting originally appeared on December 10, 2010. I thought it appropriate for the season. By the way, it is my 200^th posting.)

Sweet Potato Vodka – More than just for Thanksgiving

November 19, 2013 No Comments

“The Best Yam Vodka on Earth,” is the slogan for Covington Vodka from North Carolina.

It might not replace Granny’s sweet potato pie at the Thanksgiving dinner, but you could enjoy the dish and the meal a bit more.

The driving force behind this handcrafted entry in the cluttered vodka market is Jim Eason, a seasoned veteran of the spirits and wine world. Jim’s travels have taken him from retailer to distributor to manufacturer with a stop along the way to work with SKYY Vodka, back when it was just a start-up brand.

Jimbo, as his friends know him, says this about Covington:

“After giving it a great deal of thought and talking to my farmer friends, we decided to create a great vodka from the fruits of our labor, so to speak. Sweet potatoes make an excellent vodka – and why not – folks have been making potato vodka for over 300 years.”

Turns out that North Carolina is the number one producer of sweet potatoes in the US and accounts for over 50% of what we consume. Covington uses 20 pounds of the vegetable in each 750 ML and is made in small batches from locally grown product.

If you’re expecting sweet or funky tasting vodka, forget it. It’s smooth and has some interesting undertones. It won a Gold Medal this year at the San Francisco Spirits Competition.

For more about Covington Gourmet Vodka go here.

I wonder if Granny would mind if I poured some into her dish?