Why not? Actually the answer is a lot more complicated than that. Many of our competitors go the cheap and fast way to extract their vanilla as we discussed earlier. There is no question that Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, especially the kind that Turtles Bakeree uses is 50% to 100% more expensive than the cheapest vodkas and/or grain alcohols on the market. Some even go as far as diluting their alcohol medium with water. For those who choose cutting it, we believe do so to the detriment of the finished product. Do you think those producers have your taste buds in mind? Imagine if Guinness cut their product with water to save on material cost? How would you, the consumer react?! Same thing here. Turtles Bakeree's desire is to enhance the taste of the vanilla extract, not dilute it.  Yes, we could have chosen the cheaper root in choosing the medium, and the process, but instead we chose the most expensive route. Why?  Because taste matters!

 

In comparison to a vodka or a grain alcohol like Everclear, there is very little taste enhancement to the finished product. It is a pure vanilla taste.  You might ask what's wrong with that? Well, maybe for you that's ok because "it's good enough". With PLUS ONE'S Vanilla Extract, we want to be better than "good enough." One really needs to examine the bourbon making process for a minute to appreciate why Turtles Bakeree is so committed to your flavor experience.

 

For Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Mash is King (not to be confused with CASH).  What is a mash bill? A mash bill is the recipe for the amount of grains used to make a Kentucky bourbon (or a beer or Scotch Whiskey). In the United States there are rye whiskeys made with at least 51% rye and Bourbon whiskeys made with at least 51% corn -we have chosen the Bourbon Whiskey and the distiller we use has a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. Are you starting to see the picture?  We are talking about massive amounts of unique flavoring being instilled (not to be confused with distilled) into the vanilla beans, and if you are a bourbon whiskey drinker than you know one of the most pronounced flavors of bourbon is oftentimes a smokey vanilla flavoring.  Where does the smokey flavor come from?  Yup, the charred white oak whiskey barrell the mash has been aging in and the bourbon itself.  Enhanced flavoring does come with a higher cost, but for those discerning bakers like Turtles Bakeree, we will never cut corners when it comes to providing our customers with only the best ingredients that money can buy.

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As a result of the mash bill our distiller uses, the finished product has a proof of 80% and an alcohol by volume content of 40%.  Remember, in order to be classified by the FDA as a Vanilla extract, the FDA requires a minimum abv of 35%.

Whiskey blenders prefer a higher abv to bring out the flavorings, which is why Turtles Bakeree does the same thing with PLUS ONE. We strongly encourage you to read the ingredients on your vanilla extract that you look to purchase as all vanilla extracts are not created equal.