Blue Flame Vodka Part 2

Blue Flame Vodka. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Wine isn't the only product from Washington grown Merlot grapes. Brian Morton, owner of Blue Flame Spirits in Prosser has just released his first ever vodka made from Merlot grapes. MORTON: We can take Merlot grapes or cab-franc grapes or cab-sauv graves, what not, those grapes have a strong resonating flavor profile. Even when you distill them all the way out as you're doing that process you smell the grapes in your facility all day long. It's phenomenal. He says that almost all of the grapes he is using are with 15 miles of his front door so that is a help to support the local farmer. Vodka is just his first offering and will soon have gin and whiskey all made from local grain and fruit. MORTON: Right now I'm looking for a Washington supply rye farmer. And I know rye is a noxious weed and everyone curses and hates it but it makes some of the most sought after whiskey in the world. I don't need that much to start. Blue Flame Spirits is now open in Prosser and currently has limited edition bottles of their unique vodka but Morton looks forward to his whiskey release. MORTON: I can't wait 2 years down the road the amount of whiskey we're going to be able to release that we made by hand. The care that goes into making the whiskey really is a big deal. There's just so much you know you really are sharing a piece of your love for this industry every time somebody will be taking a bottle home. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.