Uncle Ed's Damn Good Vodka
Uncle Ed's Damn Good Vodka is the original — the Classic — 40% ABV (80 proof), 1L, distilled from corn in Boise, Idaho by fifth-generation distillers. Sweet corn softness, a clean rounded palate and the smoothness the brand credits to its artesian Rocky Mountain spring water. No added sugar, nothing to hide behind. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 1L
- Base: Corn — non-GMO per brand copy, naturally gluten-free
- Water: Artesian Rocky Mountain spring water (current official wording)
- Producer: Uncle Ed's LLC, Boise, Idaho — founded by brothers Edward and Walter Kerpa
- Brand claims: No added sugar, zero carbs
From a Hawaii Farm to a Boise Still
The Uncle Ed's story starts on a sustainable farm on Hawaii's Big Island, where Edward Kerpa grew unusual fruit and tonics and his brother Walter saw a company in Ed's values and vodka-making skill. The distilling settled in Boise, Idaho, where the Classic is made today. Edward died in August 2021; the brand now moves forward with the band Common Kings and the Kina'ole Foundation, supporting Native Hawaiian communities under the Return Aloha banner. Entered as the "Original Straight," the Classic took a Silver Medal (86 points) at the Bartender Spirits Awards 2022, and the brand reports a Gold at the PR%F Awards 2024. Earlier brand descriptions describe filtration four times through organic coconut husk — a softness you can taste in the glass. Browse the flavored expressions alongside it in our vodka collection, or visit the Uncle Ed's Damn Good vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Soft sweet corn with light mineral and citrus. Palate: Clean and rounded — poppy seed and white floral notes over a creamy texture. Finish: Smooth and clean, the corn sweetness fading last.
How to Enjoy
The house Martini test: stir it ice-cold with a twist and it holds its own. It is equally at home in a Moscow Mule or a Vodka Soda, where the rounded corn character reads as softness rather than burn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Uncle Ed's Damn Good Vodka made from? Corn — the brand describes a non-GMO corn base, which also makes the vodka naturally gluten-free, proofed with artesian spring water in Boise, Idaho.
Who was Uncle Ed? Edward Kerpa, who founded the brand with his brother Walter around their Hawaii farm. After Edward's death in 2021, the brand continued with partners Common Kings and the Kina'ole Foundation.
How strong is the Classic vodka? 40% ABV (80 proof) in this 1L bottle — full strength, unlike the brand's 60-proof flavored expressions.
The original damn good bottle, in the full liter — buy Uncle Ed's Damn Good Vodka online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.