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Archive for the ‘Vodka’ Category

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#72 Nemiroff Lex Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 14, 2015

Lex is the Super Premium Vodka from Nemiroff which was introduced to in Ukrainian Markets in 2003. It is a very interesting premium vodka spirit produced from grain alcohol which has been aged in wood for six months. The spirit undergoes eleven stages of purification, and then the resulting vodka is enhanced with aromatic spirits from natural oats and the Linden blossom. According to the Nemiroff website, the recommended manner in which to enjoy the Lex Vodka is to sip it slowly, savouring its unique qualities neat. Complicated cocktails and/or drinking the Lex as a ‘shot’ style vodka is not recommended.

Nemiroff LexOf course as you read my review you will see that I disagree (and I also think that spirits companies should perhaps refrain from suggesting to the consumer that he or she should limit the ways in which to enjoy their spirits). As well as being a great sipping vodka, I found that the Lex Vodka was also a great ‘shot-style’ vodka and an even better cocktail spirit.

Here is a link to my review of the #72 entry in my 2015 Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown.

#72 – Nemiroff Lex Vodka

“… The initial aroma of the vodka presented tantalizing glimpses of a spicy grain in combination with a warm sweetness and a mild lemon citrus. I am thinking that this sweet lemon citrus must be the Linden Blossom which the Nemiroff website says is evident in the aroma of the vodka …”

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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits

Posted in Awards, Extras, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on #72 Nemiroff Lex Vodka

#84 Pristina Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 2, 2015

Pristina Vodka is a quadruple distilled wheat Vodka produced in High River, Alberta in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains just south of Calgary. I have been a fan of Highwood Distillers for a while now; but I was not prepared for what greeted me when I opened a sample bottle Highwood’s Pristina Vodka. Maybe it was the uninspiring bottle and label, or maybe it is just a case of us Canadians being a little too self-conscious to believe we can be as good as everyone else in the world. Whatever the reason, when I put the Pristina in a flight of Vodka samples at a tasting where it was up against an Authentic Russian Vodka called Black Stallion, an Authentic Polish Vodka called Alchemia Czysta, and a popular super premium Vodka made in France called Grey Goose, I was not expecting what happened.

Pristina Vodka TonicWhat happened was that every person at my tasting chose the same Vodka as their favourite, and every person at that same tasting said it wasn’t even close. That favourite, the clear head and shoulders winner without reservation in everybody’s opinion, was of course the Pristina Vodka from Highwood Distillers. Pristina is a gem of a Vodka which deserves far more attention from Vodka lovers than what it receives.

Here is a link to my review of the #84 Spirit in my Rum Howler 2015 Top 100 Spirits Countdown:

#84 – Pristina Vodka

“… I was happy to taste no vegetal tones and to feel no burn at all in my throat. The swallow was clean and completely smooth. The back of my mouth received a mildly spicy warmth; but my throat felt no heat, even with a substantial swallow of the Pristina Vodka. This reaction was consistent amongst those who tasted the Vodka with me. There is a warming of the throat that occurs; but it is a sort of spreading warmth that feels good, not a burn that climbs down the throat. As well, there was not any sort of cloying metallic aftertaste …”

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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits

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#100 Ultimat Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 16, 2015

This year, I thought I would do something special, a list of the 100 best spirits I have tasted and reviewed since opening my website about 6 years ago. To that end, I began working on my Rum Howler 2015 Top 100 Spirits List at the beginning of July, and I put the final touches on it in early September. This list is the largest countdown list I have ever attempted, and I plan to bring you each spirit on the list, one day at a time, with the final spirit, the best that I have tasted, to be revealed on Christmas Eve.

SAM_0622 Ultimat cocktatilAs with my previous lists, I will publish reviews for each spirit in reverse order, or as I like to call it, countdown style. The first spirit to enter my Rum Howler 2015 Top 100 Spirits countdown is Ultimat Vodka.

Ultimat is a Polish vodka (owned by The Patron Spirits Company), produced from the rather unusual mixture of both grains and potatoes. The grains (rye and wheat) are said to supply complexity and smoothness, while the potato spirit is said to lend a richness to the vodka which makes this spirit a new experience for the Vodka connoisseur.

You may read my review of this great spirit here:

#100:  Ultimat Vodka

“… is absolutely smooth even when taking a large swallow. Of course flavour impressions when sipping or shooting vodka are only that, impressions; but I tasted hints of anise, lemon balsam, and a light bread-like quality. The aftertaste was still lightly minty, although a touch of sourdough bread seemed to linger as well …”

I hope everyone enjoys my 2015 Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown List as I will reveal a new spirit each day on my way to revealing the best spirit I have tasted since opening my website. And to make it easier to follow along, I have created a separate page which will list the entire reveal as it happens.

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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits

Posted in Awards, Extras, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: Opulent Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 10, 2015

oppulentOpulent Vodka is an American made spirit produced from what their website calls ‘American-bred corn’. The spirit apparently undergoes an ‘intense distillation process’ which is repeated five times after which it is reduced to bottling proof using deionized water. The vodka appears to be produced by Johnson Brothers Wine and Spirits, which I believe is under the umbrella of companies owned by Crosby Lakes Spirits Company, of Minnesota.

When I sampled Opulent Vodka for the first time, I was also sampling three other vodka spirits, Polar Ice, Iceberg and Skyy Vodka. I created a set of tasting notes for each spirit, and from those notes, and from a second set of tasting notes which I prepared in my private tasting room when I sampled Opulent in isolation from the other spirits afterwards, I prepared this review.

Opulent Greyhound

Opulent Greyhound

Here is a link to the full write-up:

Review: Opulent Vodka

“… I decided that the vodka has a surprisingly spicy bit even at the cold serving temperature. Fortunately that mint-like quality I noticed when I inspected the breezes above my glass manifests itself into a soothing menthol-like quality as you sip. There is also a pleasant lemon-like sweetness as well …”

Please enjoy the review which concludes with a nice cocktail suggestion, the Greyhound.

Chimo!

 

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Review: Skyy Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 5, 2015

Skyy Minted Daiquiri SAM_1670Skyy Vodka was originally created by Maurice Kanbar who formed Skyy Spirits LLC. in 1992 to market the spirit. The Vodka is quadruple distilled from American grain, and is also apparently filtered three times though California limestone prior to bottling. In 1999, the Compari Group (headquartered in Milan, Italy) purchased the brand, and Skyy is now a product of the Campari America Division.

When I sampled Skyy Vodka for the first time, I was also sampling with three other vodka spirits, Opulent, Iceberg and Polar Ice Vodka. I created a set of tasting notes for each spirit, and from those notes, and from a second set of tasting notes which I prepared in my private tasting room when sampled Skyy in isolation from the other spirits afterwards, I prepared this review.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Skyy Vodka

“… I had previously chilled them to about 2 degrees Celsius. At this temperature Skyy Vodka is slightly thickened, and when I brought it to my nose I noticed an obvious lemon-lime scent combined with a bit of grainy spice. As I sipped, my feeling was that the spirit had a somewhat bitter pithy (that white stuff on the back side of a citrus peel) flavour and aftertaste …”

I hope you enjoy my review which includes a nice recipe suggestion, the Minted Vodka Daiquiri.

Chimo!

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