Wild Blueberries Instill Cold River Vodka
with the Spirit of Maine
The mystique of Wild Blueberries is celebrated at Cold River Vodka in Freeport, Maine every day of the year, but the holiday season is a prefect time to enjoy its uniquely flavored spirits. According to managing partner Bob Harkins, Cold River’s Simply Blue Cocktail is a winner for holiday parties. It flaunts the advantages of Wild Blues with Blueberry Vodka — the drink’s featured ingredient, and the sole divergent offering in this award-winning company’s premium vodka line.
Cold River Blueberry Vodka uses Wyman’s Wild Blueberries, which the company considers the perfect complement to the farm-fresh potatoes from Downeast Maine at the heart of its hand-crafted spirits. “A Wild Blueberry is so much more robust that a cultivated blueberry,” said Harkins. “The bottom line is that they both bring fantastic flavor, aroma, and an overall better quality level to our vodka.” Blueberry Vodka is made by steeping Wild Blueberries in alcohol, which is then filtered off the blueberries. A small amount of sugar allows the natural blueberry taste to take center stage, and the result is “true” 80 proof vodka with an aromatic blueberry bouquet and a subtle blueberry flavor.
The use of Maine potatoes and Maine Wild Blueberries don’t just provide flavor, they also represent the company’s commitment to the state’s agriculture. “When we say that both Maine potatoes and Maine’s Wild Blueberries are such crucial pieces of the spirit of Maine, it’s so much more than a sound bite,” Harkins said. “That’s what we’re all about — we need to keep those Wild Blueberry and potato fields in Maine vital and thriving.”
With its Cold River Blueberry Vodka, this Maine distillery makes the most of its local ingredients — so much so that the desire to include it in other dishes may be irresistible. If you agree, Harkins suggests a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream topped with Wild Blueberries, and 3-4 tablespoons of Blueberry Vodka. “Sometimes the simplest desserts are the way to go,” he said.
