Nothing says summer like a nice cool glass of something sparkly. Well, now you can make anything bubbly!

The SodaStream is a DIY home carbonating machine with no electrical parts, nothing too tricky or messy, and a small splurge price of around $100. The Fountain Jet Start-Up Kit, with which I had the pleasure of experimenting, is currently on sale for $89.99 (normally $139.99) -- and it's perfect for both you and your dad for Father's Day.

How it works: You get the lightweight Fountain Jet, two BPA-free bottles, and a 110-liter Carbonator which makes approximately 110 liters of seltzer. You can select from a number of flavors for sparkling water, or buy their syrups in all kinds of varieties: cola, diet cola, root beer, orange soda, diet grapefruit, tonic, and more.

You put cold water in the bottle, then the bottle and the Carbonator in the Fountain Jet, and press the button on the top to infuse the water with seltzer. Like sparkling water? You're done. If you want soda pop, you add syrup -- which I can honestly recommend; it truly tastes like root beer, cola, or whatever it says -- and you have soda pop!

Not only is it fun to make yourself, but their syrups have no high-fructose corn syrup or aspartame, and you're also doing the planet a favor by not adding cans and bottles to landfills -- and the servings come out to pennies-per-glass.

So what's luxurious about this? You can use it on anything -- turn your whites and even reds to sparkling cocktails or make the most alcoholic gin and tonic ever (by mixing a little tonic syrup into sparkling gin). Look through the gallery to see, and click here to shop for a SodaStream.

Endless self-promoter Kanye West -- who proves he has a sense of humor about himself after all -- spoofs his persona in a new line of Absolut ads. The first time I saw the print ad (which looked like, but didn't have the Absolut references, what you see here), I didn't get it at all, and I had no idea what was being advertised. A little research showed me the light. I can't show you much here, since you need to be 21 to get into these sites. Log on and check them out for yourself. And don't lie about your age -- it's bad karma.

About six months ago Deidre noted that Dr. Dre announced a new beverage venture. And just a few days ago the official announcement was made that it's come to fruition. Dr. Dre's cognac and vodka brands will hit liquor stores in the next 60 days, according to celebrity liquor marketer Drinks America Holdings Ltd. The products are the fruits of a joint venture between Wilton, Conn.-based Drinks America and Dr. Dre's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label. The marketing for the beverages will be tied in with the release of Dr. Dre's long-awaited "Detox" album. In late July, Dr. Dre told USA Today that the album would be out in "November or December." Aftermath Congac will come out first, followed by an 80-proof flavored and unflavored sparkling vodka.

[Via The Washington Post via Reuters/Billboard]

U'Luvka vodka has one thing over some of the other new vodkas on the market, it has a very recognizable bottle. U'Luvka is inspired by a 16th century royal Polish vodka enjoyed by monarchs. The vodka is Imported from Poland and made with rye, barley and wheat. It is distilled three times.

The vodka was launched in England in 2005. The accessories that go with U'Luvka are equally intriguing. It is meant to be served with legless glasses which allegedly stems from the tradition that during the 1500s at the royal court the fashion was to drink vodka from glasses without bases. That way once the glass is filled you can't stop drinking until it is empty. The companion ice bucket is designed to cradle the glasses which feature the same design that is on the U'Luvka vodka box (and gives you an out in case you can't finish the whole glass at once). The signature bottle of U'luvka retails for approximately $59.95 and the Friendship, Love and Pleasure presentation with two glasses is priced at $84.95.

One of the ways some bourbon makers are attracting new drinkers is by tapping into the booming wine market. Brown-Forman Corp. has released a new limited edition of Woodford Reserve bourbon that spends a few months aging in Sonoma-Cutrer wine barrels. The Sonoma-Cutrer Finish whiskey will be available in stores this summer for $89.99 per bottle, compared to about $30 for the regular Woodford Reserve. There will be 900 cases will be available.

It's not the first vodka we've seen that is dedicated to saving a species of great cat but Jaguar Vodka does it in a new way. The vodka is made from sugar cane and water from Barbados but, as Rick Dobbs of Martini Lounge points out, the spirit doesn't become rum because it doesn't have the sugar and spices added and the molasses taste is reduced. Some of the proceeds from the vodka go to helping to preserve the rainforest, the habitat of the jaguar and the company says they are working with the largest jaguar preserve in Central America to help preserve jaguar habitats. The vodka sells for around $30 and is currently in 12 states.

A few weeks ago I mentioned the new Voodoo Tiki line of tequilas. Now the big name in tequila, Jose Cuervo, has announced their entry into the flavored tequila business. They are launching three new tequilas:  Citrico, Oranjo and Tropiña. Citrico is citrusy, Oranjo has an orange flavor and Tropiña uses pineapple and other tropical fruit flavors. Th new tequilas will be introduced during the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour and sampling events will take place in cities this summer. The 750 ml bottle will retail for $16.99 to $18.99. The new flavors are expected to appeal to younger drinkers (21 to 30) who are already accustomed to drinking flavored vodkas. I enjoy some of the flavored vodkas but tequila, like gin, has such as strong base flavor that I am not certain how much adding additional flavors will add to the enjoyment. At least the flavors Cuervo chose seem like they would harmonize with the essential agave flavor unlike some of  Voodoo Tiki's more outlandish flavor options.
[via Promo Magazine]

One of the things the state of Maine is famous for is potatoes, now some entrepreneurs are turning the potato into vodka. Freeport Maine's Cold River Vodka is created by a neurosurgeon, a former U.S. ski coach and a potato farmer and it is selling well in its home state according to this article in on Maine Today. Bob Harkins, the former ski coach  knew the brain surgeon, Lee Thibodeau from college and his brother Don owns the Green Thumb potato farm in Fryeburg, Maine. When Don's potato business was struggling they decided to create the vodka with the help of Chris Dowe, a professional distiller whose wife is Lee Thibodeau's nurse anesthetist. Potato-based vodkas often have a bit of an uphill climb with consumers because they have a heartier taste that the smoother grain-based versions. The company launched last year and plans to create around 7,000 cases a year. There are plans to make it a regional and then perhaps national brand. Bottles sell for $31.99 each. The design of the bottle seems similar to Belvedere and other premium vodkas.