By ANDREW GERARD
Blue Star Highway

Happy DiVine Vodka cocktail drinkers enjoy Round Barn's open house May 30. Photo by Andrew Gerard

Round Barn’s Fourth Annual DiVine Vodka Open House took place on Saturday and Sunday, May 29-30 at Round Barn’s main winery/brewery/distillery in Baroda, Mich.

This is the first year Round Barn has hosted a two-day DiVine Vodka event, but based on the crowds sitting out on the lawn and at picnic tables, and the energetic beer and wine tasting rooms, there was no lack of demand. Alligator Blackbird rocked the Barn on Saturday, and Double T’s BBQ cooked out. On Sunday, the day I was lucky enough to attend, The Van Dyke Review played laid-back oldies and the Hometown Deli provided food.  Guests relaxed, toured the winery and brewery and were quite happy to approach a reporter and tell him what a great time they were having.

Now to the vodka: I spoke to manager Monica Roberts about the DiVine Vodka open house, and the clear liquid that inspires it. I asked her how DiVine Vodka is different from other fine vodkas.

“DiVine is made from grapes, but is distilled the same way as grain or potato vodka, so it does not have a grape flavor,” Roberts said. “It is slightly smooth, with a slight sweetness from the grapes. DiVine mixes really well with fruit-based products.”

In 2009, DiVine won Gold at the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago, and in 2010 it received a gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Silver at the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition. DiVine Vodka is distributed throughout Michigan and northern Indiana and can be found in your fine local bars and liquor stores (assuming your local bars and liquor stores are indeed fine).

Specialty vodka drinks served at the open house included Bloody DiVine, Dreamsicle, DiVine and Tonic, DiVine Lemonade and the Hazy Lady – most could be served as slushies or on ice.

Now a leak: your faithful Blue Star Highway correspondent was able, through the grace of a kindhearted Round Barn associate, to try two secret potions recently created in the Round Barn laboratories. I cannot at this exact moment say what made up these magical mixtures, but I can hint that: A. Both are liquors, B. One is brownish and one is clearish, and C. They’re going to knock your socks off.

Beyond this, all we can really say is that you should check out www.roundbarnwinery.com regularly to see what the heck I’m talking about.