Review
Avokado Vodka — Ukrainian Rye Meets Avocado
A Ukrainian rye vodka infused with real avocado and cucumber for a genuinely distinctive spirit. Unusual, surprisingly w...
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Bishop Mercer
March 14, 2026
Bishop Mercer
News & Industry Editor Industry News, Awards Coverage, Market Trends, Spirits BusinessBishop covers the business side of spirits with the curiosity of a journalist and the knowledge of an insider. Based in Edinburgh, he has built an extensive network of contacts across distillers worldwide, making him one of the first to report on new launches, acquisitions, and industry shifts. He handles news and industry coverage across Gin.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop. He previously worked in communications for Diageo before switching to editorial, and contributes to several trade publications.
Articles by Bishop Mercer (49)
Review
Bishop Mercer
March 14, 2026
Review
Nikka Coffey Vodka — Japanese Whisky Maker's Precision
Nikka's Coffey Vodka brings Japanese whisky-making precision to vodka production. Distilled from corn and barley in a tr...
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March 12, 2026
Review
Iceberg Vodka — Arctic Purity from Canada
Made from Ontario sweet corn and genuine Arctic iceberg water, Iceberg Vodka is a quadruple-distilled Canadian spirit of...
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March 1, 2026
Review
Finlandia Grapefruit Vodka — Nordic Citrus Refreshment
Finlandia's grapefruit variant adds juicy citrus brightness to the Finnish producer's clean barley base. A simple, refre...
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March 1, 2026
Review
Stefanof Imperial Vodka Bot.1970s — Italian-Made Faux-Russian Curiosity
Stefanof Imperial Vodka is a charming period piece — an Italian-made vodka from the 1960s, dressed up in Russian-style b...
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February 28, 2026
News
Vodka News
Bishop Mercer
February 27, 2026
Belvedere Launches New Single Estate Collection
Belvedere expands its terroir-driven vodka range with two new single estate expressions, showcasing how Polish rye varie...
Bishop Mercer
February 27, 2026
News
Vodka News
Bishop Mercer
February 27, 2026
World Vodka Awards 2026 Shortlist Announced
The International Wine & Spirit Competition reveals the shortlist for the 2026 World Vodka Awards, featuring craft disti...
Bishop Mercer
February 27, 2026
Review
Pau Maui Vodka — Hawaiian Pineapple-Base Tropical Spirit
Distilled from Maui Gold pineapples in Hawaii, Pau Maui is a genuinely tropical vodka with a distinctive fruity base. Th...
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February 22, 2026
News
Vodka News
Bishop Mercer
February 15, 2026
Grey Goose Unveils New Sustainable Distillery in Cognac
Grey Goose opens a state-of-the-art distillery in Cognac, France, featuring solar-powered stills and zero-waste producti...
Bishop Mercer
February 15, 2026
Review
Kavka Vodka — Classic Polish Heritage
A classically styled Polish vodka from a distillery with over 200 years of heritage. Kavka is a masterclass in tradition...
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February 14, 2026
Review
Virtuous Vodka Raspberry — Swedish Organic Fruit
Virtuous Vodka's Raspberry expression combines organic Swedish rye spirit with fresh raspberries for a clean, natural-ta...
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February 10, 2026
Review
Fair Quinoa Vodka — Fairtrade French Innovation
Fair Quinoa Vodka is one of the most genuinely innovative spirits on the market. Using Bolivian quinoa as the base grain...
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February 3, 2026
News
Vodka News
Bishop Mercer
January 22, 2026
New Craft Distillery Opens in Brooklyn Focused on Potato Vodka
A new craft distillery in Brooklyn focuses exclusively on small-batch potato vodkas, aiming to showcase terroir-driven A...
Bishop Mercer
January 22, 2026
Review
Three Sixty Vodka — Diamond Dust Filtered
A German wheat vodka distilled four times and filtered through diamond dust at a wallet-friendly price. Clean, smooth, a...
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January 18, 2026
News
Vodka News
Bishop Mercer
January 15, 2026
Craft Vodka Market Surpasses $5 Billion Globally
New industry report reveals the global craft vodka market has surpassed $5 billion in annual sales, driven by premium sm...
Bishop Mercer
January 15, 2026
Review
Sapling Vodka — British Wheat with a Conscience
Distilled exclusively from British wheat and quadruple-distilled for extra smoothness. Sapling plants a tree for every b...
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January 15, 2026
Review
Ciroc Strawberry Lemonade — Riviera Summer Pour
Part of Cîroc's Riviera series, this strawberry lemonade spirit drink is a summer-ready pour that prioritises fun over f...
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January 12, 2026
Review
Blavod Vodka — The Original Black Vodka
The original black vodka — triple distilled from grain and coloured with the Asian herb catechu. A visual novelty backed...
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January 11, 2026
News
Vodka News
Bishop Mercer
January 8, 2026
Polish Vodka Exports Surge in 2025
Poland's vodka exports have surged year-over-year, with producers like Belvedere, Chopin, and Zubrowka leading the charg...
Bishop Mercer
January 8, 2026
Review
Grey Goose Vodka — French Picardy Wheat Icon
The iconic French wheat vodka — single-origin Picardy winter wheat and Gensac spring water produce a supremely smooth sp...
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January 3, 2026
Review
Absolut Citron Vodka — Multi-Citrus Swedish Blend
A delicious multi-citrus flavoured vodka blending lemon, lime, grapefruit, and orange extracts with Absolut's signature ...
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December 29, 2025
Review
Ciroc Apple Vodka — Orchard Meets Vineyard
Ciroc Apple combines quintuple-distilled grape vodka with crisp apple flavours for a clean, juicy expression. The grape ...
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December 28, 2025
Review
Ciroc Vodka — French Snap Frost Grape Spirit
Ciroc is made from French snap frost grapes and five-times distilled for exceptional smoothness. The grape base creates ...
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December 25, 2025
News
Vodka News
Bishop Mercer
December 20, 2025
Chopin Wins Supreme Champion at International Spirits Challenge
The Polish potato vodka takes the top honour at the International Spirits Challenge, beating over 2,000 entries from aro...
Bishop Mercer
December 20, 2025
Review
Mikolasch Vodka — Lviv Heritage, Single Farm
Established in Lviv in 1842, Mikolasch is a single-farm Ukrainian corn vodka offering velvety texture and elegant citrus...
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December 20, 2025
Review
Moskovskaya Vodka — A Century-Old Recipe That Still Delivers
Moskovskaya is an honest, unpretentious vodka that has been made to the same recipe since 1901. At under £21, it does ex...
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December 18, 2025
Review
St George California Citrus Vodka — West Coast Sunshine
St George's California Citrus Vodka infuses their grain spirit with Valencia oranges, Seville oranges and bergamot for a...
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December 15, 2025
Review
Desi Daru Original Vodka — London-Made with Himalayan Water
Desi Daru is an English wheat vodka made in London with natural mineral water from the Himalayas. The Indian-inspired sp...
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December 12, 2025
Review
Chase British Rhubarb Vodka — Herefordshire's Finest Pink Spirit
Chase's British Rhubarb Vodka captures the essence of one of Britain's most beloved ingredients with real skill. The tar...
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December 9, 2025
Review
VRSD No.3 Vodka — Clean British Wheat with Mineral Precision
VRSD No.3 is a clean, crisp British wheat vodka with a distinctive mineral character. Versatile enough for cocktails and...
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December 3, 2025
Review
Absolut Elyx — Copper-Distilled Swedish Luxury
Absolut Elyx is what happens when the world's most famous vodka brand decides to make something truly special. Distilled...
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November 30, 2025
Review
Meili Vodka — Montana Spring Water Craft
Co-founded by Jason Momoa, Meili is a Montana craft vodka made with spring water from a 300-million-year-old aquifer. Th...
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November 30, 2025
Review
Haku Vodka — Japanese White Rice Spirit
A premium Japanese vodka distilled from 100% Hakumai white rice and filtered through bamboo charcoal. Haku is a spirit o...
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November 28, 2025
Review
Pravda Vodka — Carpathian Rye From Southern Poland
Pravda is a handmade Polish vodka of genuine distinction. The late-harvest 'sweet' rye and Carpathian spring water combi...
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November 19, 2025
News
Vodka News
Bishop Mercer
November 18, 2025
Absolut Launches Carbon-Neutral Production Initiative
Pernod Ricard's flagship vodka brand commits to fully carbon-neutral production by 2027, including wind-powered distilla...
Bishop Mercer
November 18, 2025
Review
Davna Vodka — Polish Rye and Wheat Heritage at a Fair Price
Davna is a crisp, creamy Polish vodka blending rye and wheat for a subtly peppery palate with hints of sweet cereals. At...
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November 18, 2025
Review
Ciroc Red Berry Vodka — French Grape Spirit Meets Summer Berries
Ciroc Red Berry combines the brand's five-times-distilled French grape vodka with fresh raspberries and blackberries to ...
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November 5, 2025
News
Vodka News
Bishop Mercer
November 2, 2025
Tito's Surpasses Grey Goose as America's Best-Selling Premium Vodka
The Austin, Texas distillery reports record sales, overtaking Grey Goose in the US premium vodka category for the first ...
Bishop Mercer
November 2, 2025
Review
Portobello Road Toasted Coffee Bean Vodka — London Potato Spirit Meets Colombian Coffee
Portobello Road steeps its British potato vodka with Colombian coffee beans for 24 hours, creating a rich, deeply flavou...
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October 22, 2025
Review
Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka — The Versatile Cocktail Workhorse
Smirnoff Vanilla does what it says on the tin — reliable Smirnoff Red with a decent vanilla flavouring. It is not going ...
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October 20, 2025
Review
Cambridge Meadow Mist Nettle — Wild Botanical Vodka
The nettle expression in Cambridge's Meadow Mist range captures wild-harvested nettles in a small-batch wheat vodka. A g...
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October 20, 2025
News
Vodka News
Bishop Mercer
October 15, 2025
Reyka Wins Gold at San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Iceland's craft vodka takes home a double gold medal at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its ...
Bishop Mercer
October 15, 2025
Review
Long Table Distillery Texada Vodka — Lemongrass-Infused Canadian Craft
A distinctive Canadian craft vodka distilled with fresh lemongrass and filtered over Texada Island limestone. Genuinely ...
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October 15, 2025
Review
Grey Goose La Poire — French Pear Elegance
Grey Goose's pear expression marries Anjou pear essence with the brand's signature Picardy wheat base. Elegant and restr...
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October 15, 2025
Review
Sauvelle Crafted French Vodka — Cognac Country Craft
Sauvelle — meaning "wild and beautiful" in French — is a micro-distilled wheat vodka from the Cognac region, filtered th...
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October 12, 2025
Review
Finlandia Lime Vodka — Citrus Freshness from the Nordic North
Finlandia Lime delivers exactly what you would expect from this Finnish brand — a clean, well-made flavoured vodka with ...
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October 8, 2025
Review
Smirnoff Red Label Vodka — The Global Standard
A case sold every two seconds worldwide — Smirnoff Red is the global vodka benchmark. Triple distilled and ten-times fil...
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October 8, 2025
Review
Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka — Dutch Tropical Infusion
Van Gogh's Pineapple vodka benefits from an extended eight-week infusion process that gives the pineapple flavour a genu...
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October 5, 2025
Review
Connie Glaze Sand Filtered Vodka — Cornish Wheat Spirit with a Unique Twist
Connie Glaze is a clean wheat vodka from Cornwall's Southwestern Distillery, distinguished by its unusual sand filtratio...
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September 15, 2025