​What makes Core Vodka different that most other vodka?

It's all about the apple. Because Core Vodka is distilled from apples (in the form of hard cider), it tastes slightly different with a distinctive aroma than most vodkas. Being made from fruit as opposed to grain, Core Vodka has a delicate aroma of banana custard and creme bruleé, a sweet bouquet leads to a smooth mid-palate and a dry, disappearing finish.

If vodka is supposed to be flavorless, doesn't all taste the same? 

By and large, vodka is flavorless. But there are noticeable differences to the trained palate when it comes to aroma and smoothness. The smoothness of Core Vodka comes from 15 years of expertise using precise German engineered distilling equipment. The distinctive aroma of Core Vodka comes from "cogeners" in the distillation process.

What are cogeners?

Congeners are chemical compounds that are produced during the fermentation and distillation process of alcoholic beverages. They are responsible for the unique flavors and aromas of different alcoholic beverages Congeners include alcohols, acids, esters, and aldehydes. Trace amounts of cogeners (5%) give vodka it's subtle nuances. The cogeners in Core Vodka make it smell sweet and fruity with subtle tropical floral notes.

Should I care where my vodka is produced vs. distilled?

If you look carefully at the back of a vodka bottle, the label will say the the product is either 1. produced by a certain company or 2. distilled by said company. If the label says "produced by", it means the alcohol originally came from another (usually larger) distillery and was merely diluted, filtered and bottled by the vodka brand owner. If the label says "distilled by", it means the product was distilled by the brand owner. However, some vodka brands buy bulk ethanol, distill it again themselves, just to label their product "distilled by".

Why does it cost more to make vodka from apples than from grain?

The first reason is that apples must be hand-picked, they are delicate and must be refrigerated. Grain is mechanically harvested and grown across the country on a massive scale. Apples are a specialty crop, grown only in specific regions. Another reason is that grain is more efficient than apples at making ethanol, because there are more fermentable sugars in beer than hard cider.

What makes gin a gin? Why does Core Gin taste different than other gins?

Simply put, gin is juniper flavored vodka. Core Gin tastes different because the base vodka that we use comes from Core Vodka which comes from apples. The result is a smoother, sweater, softer base on which we build the botanical flavors. We use 4 botanicals: juniper berries, coriander seed, lemon grass and dried orange peel. 

Where does "Jack" come from, as in Applejack?

Jacking meant fortifying or adding alcohol to a wine or cider. One way of jacking a cider was to add brandy. The other way was to freeze distill the cider, known as traditional applejack. Applejack must be 1. made in the USA, 2. must be distilled in whole or part from apples, and 3. must be aged in oak barrels for a period of time that is still in dispute.

What's the difference between Applejack, Calvados and apple brandy?

Both Applejack and Calvados are types of apple brandy. Calvados is made only in France, whereas Applejack is only made in the US. Stylistically Calvados has more "apple-y" flavor because it's distilled at a lower proof than Applejack. Applejack has a lighter flavor because it's distilled above 80% alc. 

Is there a difference between Schnapps and Schnaps (other than the spelling)?

Yes, spelled with one "P", Schnaps is fruit brandy, usually unaged and usually from a Germanic country. Spelled with two "P"s, Schnapps is American liqueur, generally grain based, sweetened and flavored either naturally or artificially (as in Peach Schnaps). Even though they are homonyms, Schnapps and Schnaps are totally different spirits.