Distillery News

Media Contact: Briggs Advertising (207) 443-2067

August 1, 2008

Potato Meets Blueberry -- It is Wild!

Giving a whole new meaning to "wild blueberries," a uniquely Maine spirit hits the shelves with the launch of Cold River Blueberry Flavored Vodka. Maine Distilleries and Wyman‘s have partnered to bring Maine‘s two most important agricultural products together for the first time ever in one bottle: Maine potato vodka flavored with 100% wild Maine blueberries. Maine Distilleries is the State‘s premier craft distillery, and Wyman‘s is the leading US grower, packer and marketer of wild blueberries. “Wild blueberries are so closely linked with the identity of Maine that it made our first flavored product not only an obvious choice, but a perfect one,” said Bob Harkins, Partner at Maine Distilleries. “The delicately balanced flavor of this fruit is the ultimate complement to our award-winning potato vodka.” “Our partnership with Wyman‘s is a natural one,” adds Partner Chris Dowe, “and it fits our mission to produce only the Best of Maine... Distilled.” Cold River Vodka recently won a double gold medal at the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was named Best American Vodka of 2008 by F. Paul Pacult in his new book, Kindred Spirits 2. It is one of the few vodkas in the world made from potatoes and the only one made exclusively from Maine potatoes and water from an aquifer fed by Maine‘s Cold River. Cold River Vodka is available in all New England States, Maryland, Washington D.C., Delaware, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, London, and British Columbia. Maine Distilleries was founded in 2005 by four Maine entrepreneurs: Donnie Thibodeau, who owns a potato farm in Fryeburg; his brother, Lee Thibodeau, a neurosurgeon in Portland; Bob Harkins, former Sunday River ski executive from Paris; and Chris Dowe, distiller, from New Gloucester. Cold River Blueberry Flavored Vodka will be produced in limited quantities and offered for sale at retailers and in fine restaurants in August to celebrate Maine‘s wild blueberry harvest. The distillery is located about two miles south of L.L. Bean in Freeport and is open to the public for tours. Each handcrafted batch is numbered and bears the signature of Chris Dowe, Head Distiller. For more information, go to http://www.coldrivervodka.com or call 207-865-4828. Web site: http://www.coldriverblueberry.com/

April 1, 2008

DOUBLE GOLD IN SAN FRANCISCO!

It's been years of patience and hard work, but we're starting to get some recognition from the rest of the world that Cold River Vodka is a truly exceptional product. Nothing brought that home to us more than last month when we were informed that Cold River had been awarded a Double Gold Medal at the 8th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the largest and most prestigious competition of its kind in America!  Trade writer, beverage consultant, and World Spirits Competition judge Robert Plotkin had some nice things to say about us: "Each year we evaluate scores of vodkas with scant little difference existing between them. Yet invariably one spirit catches our attention. Perhaps it's the nuances in the bouquet or its extraordinarily elegant finish, but something distinguishes it from the pack. Congratulations to Cold River Vodka on earning a Double Gold Medal. It is well deserved."

March 3, 2008

Rated best domestic vodka of 2008!

F. Paul Pacult's new book Kindred Spirits 2 just hit the streets and Cold River Vodka was included in his list of the 111 Best Whiskeys, Brandies, Liqueurs, and White Spirits in the World. Cold River listed as the 47th Best Spirit in the World overall! And Cold River is placed as the Best North American Vodka of 2008!

Kindred Spirits is a compilation of 2400+ of F. Paul Pacults detailed critiques and his list of the top 11th spirits of 2008.  This is a follow-up of F.Paul Pacult's Kindred Spirits that was published in 1997.

Needless to say, the crew here at Cold River Vodka is ecstatic about this recognition. We are always happy to hear someone loves our product but this type of recognition from one of the leading spritit critics in the world , confirms to us that we are doing something right.  It is gratifying to know that the industry recognizes we are producing a world-class product here in Freeport, Maine and it dirves us to continue to do the best job we can.

Cheers!

Chris Dowe - Head Distiller

January 7, 2008

TIME Magazine article

TIME Magazine, in their January 14, 2008 Vol 177, No2 published an article about small, artisinal distilleries, with a  paragraph of it on Cold River Vodka. You can find that article at www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1699866,00.html.

January 7, 2008

Play It Again Incredible Maine

MPBN has had so many requests regarding the Incredible Maine episode that featured the Cold River Vodka Story , that they have decided to put it back on the air!  MPBN will re-air the program on Saturday, March 8th at 10:30 AM.

December 21, 2007

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS YOUR COLD RIVER VODKA?

Do you love taking pictures? And do you love Cold River Vodka? If the answer to both questions is "yes"... we'd love to see where you might have enjoyed the Spirit of Maine!

December 11, 2007

BLUEBERRY STILL ON THE WAY

We are still working on getting our new Blueberry Flavored vodka out to the stores. Unfortunately, the paper work involved in the process sometimes takes three times longer than formulating the actual recipe! We don't think we are going to have it on the shelves before the Christmas holiday. Please bear with us. We are working to get it out as soon as possible. Look for future developments on our website as well as our newsletter. We'll keep you informed as we go!

August 24, 2007

FIVE STARS FOR COLD RIVER VODKA

F. Paul Pacult is America’s foremost expert on distilled spirits. He is author of "Kindred Spirits" and "Spirit Journal"; a wine, beer and spirits journalist; and an educator, lecturer and consultant. When we heard a few months ago that Mr. Pacult was planning to review Cold River Vodka, you can imagine our excitement. The review was published on August 18th... and we received five stars out of five-- "Highest Recommendation". Mr. Pacult cited Cold River's taste profile complexities before pronouncing Cold River one of "the best unflavored vodkas in North America" and "a coming superstar" Of course we have full confidence in our Maine-made product... but we couldn't be happier to hear the same opinion from such a spirits authority. Download the official press release.

June 30, 2007

TO RUSSIA, WITH SPIRIT

This weekend, Russian president Vladimir Putin will spend time with President Bush at the Bush home in Kennebunkport, Maine. When we heard that such an honored guest (and the president of a country so renowned for its vodkas) would be that close by, we decided to extend some Maine hospitality. Today (Saturday), Cold River Vodka's Bob Harkins and Chris Dowe are both in Kennebunkport, meeting with President Putin's entourage to present 8 bottles of the Spirit of Maine as a gift from Maine to these most esteemed visitors. "We thought that the president of a country that loves vodka as much as the Russians do should taste what we call 'The Spirit of Maine'," said Bob Harkins, CEO of Maine Distilleries. "We look forward to giving him and his people the gift of our locally-made, handcrafted potato vodka." Download the official press release.

June 6, 2007

COLD RIVER FINDS ITS FORTUNE

 The June issue of Fortune Small Business Magazine features an article and photo spread about a select few spirits from around the US. Cold River Vodka is among those six brands highlighted. It's great to see both our story and our vodka recognized on a national level and by a publisher as respected as Fortune. Click here to read and download the piece!

May 27, 2007

SILVER IN SAN FRANCISCO

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition took place in the famed City By the Bay in March of this year. Entrants included such esteemed vodkas as Belvedere, Chopin and Skyy... and for the first time, Cold River Vodka. We are very pleased to have learned that the Spirit of Maine received a Silver Medal in this world-class competition! And we're not resting on those laurels-- we've also entered Cold River into the International Wine and Spirits Competition, which takes place in England. In 2005, this competition--held in London-- received approximately 5,000 entries from over 50 countries. The Vodka results will be announced on July 23rd.

April 25, 2007

FEATURED IN INDIANA

We've really only just arrived in Indiana, but already Cold River Vodka is feeling welcome. The May 2007 issue of Indiana Beverage Journal features a terrific article about us, giving readers a chance to get to know our company and our product a little better. The Spirit of Maine continues to make its way across the country... click here to read and download the piece! 

April 5, 2007

TINY BOTTLES

After a period of layout and design, our very first 50ml bottles have been ordered and are on their way to the decorator. These mini versions of our now-classic Cold River bottle will make great gifts at any time of the year. We expect the bottles to arrive in May so that we can fill them and have them on the shelves by Memorial Day. And yes, it does take a tiny bottler to fill a tiny bottle. Watch for our newest size next month!

March 20, 2007

INDIANA WANTS US...

...and the feeling is mutual. On the heels of our arrival in Florida, Cold River Vodka has made its way into the midwest... come mid-April, you'll be able to find the Spirit of Maine in the great state of Indiana! We're proud to be available in the state known as the "Crossroads of America." Cheers, Indiana!

February 15, 2007

SUNSHINE STATE WELCOMES COLD RIVER

Barely a year from our first pour, it's exciting for us to see where Cold River Vodka is now available. In addition to our Maine friends who have been carrying the product all along, you can now find our vodka in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, South Carolina... and as of now, Florida. welcome aboard to our friends on the "other end" of the East Coast... we'll bet you won't find a finer or fresher Screwdriver anywhere than there in the citrus capitol of the world. Cheers, Florida!

January 19, 2007

THE DEFENSE RESTS... AND GETS A DISTILLERY TOUR

F. Lee Bailey, celebrity attorney and unabashed fan of Cold River Vodka, recently drove through a snowstorm from his home in Swampscott, Massachusetts to Freeport to see first-hand how we make the Spirit of Maine. On Martin Luther King Day, F. Lee and friend Jim Horowitz of Oxford Aviation came to our facility and had a great tour with Bob Harkins (President), Chris Dowe (Head Distiller), Cindy Giguere and Joe Swanson. After a deep discussion with Chris about the character of various vodkas, a few jokes and a trip through the Maine Distilleries Gift Shop (no one leaves empty-handed!), he headed back out into the snow and home.

January 4, 2007

SPIRIT OF MUSIC IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Locally-grown artists... hand-crafted vodka... every Thursday night at the Wildcat Inn and Tavern in Jackson, NH, Cold River Vodka is proud to present the Local Artists Series! Rock... "newgrass"... folk... blues... all performed by the musical cream of the Mount Washington Valley! In January, come on in to hear Jug, In House, Vacate and Sounds Clever!

December 1, 2006

COLD RIVER ON THE HALF SHELL

Angela Miller-Gray of Freeport has contributed a delicious new drink recipe to our collection-- the "Cold River Oyster Shot". You can find it on our Recipes Page. Head Distiller Chris Dowe's review: "Oh, yeah-- it's good." We recommend using Winter Point Oysters because they are well-known for their exquisite flavor and premium quality. Best of all, they're raised right here in Maine. You can purchase Winter Point oysters from Browne Trading Company in Portland and other fine seafood markets around the state.

October 22, 2006

HONORED ON THE WEB

Our advertising agency and marketing partner, Briggs Advertising of Bath, ME, has been recognized for their work creating, designing and executing the very website you are visiting! The 2006 "W3" awards are a nationwide website competition, for which coldrivervodka.com was named a Gold winner. Briggs also received a silver award for our branding campaign-- everything from the look of our bottle to the advertising we do. Visit the W3 site to see the listing of this award. Other winners in our category included Adidas, Burger King, New Balance, Gameboy, Accenture, Applebees, Verizon, the Smithsonian, Nike and many others. Congratulations to Briggs Advertising and everyone who has worked hard to keep our site beautiful and current! 

October 12, 2006

A GREAT SEASON FOR POTATOES

The last of the potatoes have been harvested at Green Thumb Farms in Fryeburg. The harvest began back in August, and wrapped up in early October. Farm owner Donnie Thibodeau said the harvest went well, and has yielded a very nice crop. "The potatoes have a good quality and size this year. The good crop bodes well for the alcohol. The better the potatoes, the more alcohol you can make per pound." The pattern of warm days, cold nights and plenty of sunshine have all worked together to produce a crop that came in bigger and earlier than expected. It's those potatoes and that pure spring water from the aquifer fed by the Cold River that gives our vodka its smooth, unique taste. So we're all very excited by Donnie's positive report!

September 18, 2006

SWEET VICTORY FOR THE MASTER MIXOLOGIST

Sunday night, September 17th, the winners of our summer-long Martini Mix-offs in Maine and NH gathered at 93 Townsend in Boothbay Harbor. At stake: the title of 2006 Grand Martini Mixologist. Returning to wow our judges with their Cold River magic were Robin Demello, Emily Bradley, Michael Feldmann, Michele Duval, Brian Foster and Brigit Cavanagh. When the dust had settled (and the many delicious concoctions had been shaken, stirred, strained and served), we had our winner. Congratulations to Robin Demello of Brownfield, ME (pictured 3rd from the left, below) for her sweet and wonderful "Baxter's Hunnetini"! Using Barenjager Honey Liqueur and crystalized ginger as a garnish, Robin poured her way right into Cold River history. Thanks to all who participated in 2006's mix-offs, as well as to the fine establishments who hosted us. We can't wait for next year!

July 31, 2006

TODAY, NEW ENGLAND--TOMORROW...?

Cold River Vodka has reached a major milestone: it is now being served in New England's three most populated states. As of mid-summer, Cold River Vodka is on the shelf in liquor stores and in upscale lounges and restaurants in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. It has been received so well in Maine and New Hampshire since its November 2005 launch that company officials decided to venture south with the product. Bob Harkins said, "We are thrilled with how well our hand-crafted product has been received in Maine and New Hampshire. We think it will also be received well in southern New England. Vodka drinkers are ready to taste something really good that will bring a little luxury into their day."

April 3, 2006

SPIRIT OF MAINE, TOAST OF MANHATTAN

Maine Distilleries partner Bob Harkins attended a media event at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown New York City recently. The event was an opportunity for writers from all over the country to learn about and taste Cold River Vodka. Blueberry martinis (dubbed "Mainetinis"--see picture below) were poured, and response was overwhelmingly positive. Bob fielded questions and talked vodka with writers from Money Magazine, the New York Times, USA Today, Travel + Leisure and others. And while nobody actually suggested renaming New York "The Big Potato," we still feel it was a very successful trip!

February 16, 2006

A MARTINI IS BORN!

Chip Gray, the owner of the Harraseeket Inn, and Don Racine, the dining room manager, joined a panel of judges from Cold River Vodka to decide the winner of our first Cocktail Recipe Contest just after Valentine's Day. At the bar in the main dining room at the Harraseeket, the panel carefully mixed and tested all the entries. (Tough work, but someone's got to do it!) The winning entry was the Pomegranate Martini submitted by Alison Dreifus, with 137 points out of a possible 160 points. The judges based their scoring on taste, originality, ease of preparation and appearance. Congratulations to Alison for her winning recipe that was not only easy to prepare, but looked good, tasted good and was very original using a healthy juice with Cold River Vodka! Dreifus' recipe comes out hot on the heels of new evidence about the health benefits of pomegranate juice, which has three times the antioxidant properties found in green tea or red wine, leading to reduced risks of heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure. Recent studies have also shown that drinking pomegranate juice may help prevent the return of prostate cancer after surgery or radiation and may even help alleviate depression and bone loss in menopausal women.

January 26, 2006

COLD RIVER VODKA RECOGNIZED AS SUCCESS STORY

Just two months after Cold River Vodka arrived on shelves, the Economic Development Council of Maine (EDCM) was citing Maine Distilleries as a success story. Bob Harkins, our company's CEO, was invited to speak on a panel about successful Maine business ventures at the council's annual meeting, held January 17 in Freeport. "Our initial success is the result of a good business plan, significant help from the State of Maine, hard work and lots of support," Harkins says. "We would have no story to tell were it not for the unwavering support of Cold River Vodka's customers who have already proven their loyalty to the product. For that, we thank everyone."

November 3, 2005

LAUNCHED!

Nearly 400 people gathered on November 3rd at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport for the First Pour of Cold River Vodka. The Governor joined the four partners and their families on the podium for a celebratory toast. The energy in the room was palpable as friends, family, media, and restaurateurs gathered together to taste the new, distinctive potato vodka... "the Spirit of Maine." Elegant hors d'oeuvres and ice sculptures surrounded the room, and with festive music by a jazz quartet from the western Maine Mountains, everybody was ready to party. The Governor spoke about how excited he was to be adding value to Maine's famous potatoes, and how the state will now have a tourist attraction at the Distillery that will rival Vermont's Ben & Jerry's. Chip Gray, the owner of the Harraseeket Inn, toasted Cold River as well as the State of Maine. The product is now available in stores throughout Maine. Watch for the vodka in New Hampshire by early December. Here's to Cold River Vodka!

November 3, 2005

SHAKEN, NOT MASHED

Cold River Vodka was featured in the Boston Sunday Globe Magazine section on Sunday, October 9 in a full-page feature article called ?Shaken, Not Mashed.? Featured as ?The Find? in the ?Inspirations? section of the magazine, writer Regina Cole wrote, ?Like Poland, Ireland, and other tuber-cultural regions, Maine now has a potato vodka of its own.?