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Posts Tagged ‘Premium Vodka’

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The Year in Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 2, 2012

There are subtle aromas and flavours which can be appreciated when Vodka is sipped or when it is consumed as a shot. As well, when served with good food, vodka has the ability to enhance the gastronomic experience by cleansing the palate between bites allowing you to taste each morsel more completely. When I review Vodka on my website, I try very hard to convey my appreciation of these subtle nuances of pleasure which Vodka can provoke. I think I am doing something right, because my Vodka reviews are amongst the most popular on my website.

This Year I have separated the Vodka Awards from the Tequila and Gin Awards to give them more prominence. All spirit samples which I receive to review on my website are automatically considered for my awards. I do my review, and then I set aside the remainder of the spirit for the end of the year judging. This year, for the first time ever, I also received additional industry samples specifically for these awards.

Here are the recipients of my 2012 Rum Howler Awards for Excellence in the Production of Vodka. These Awards are for the best Vodka Spirits I encountered in the year 2012:

The 2012 Rum Howler Awards – The Year in Vodka

Budmo!

Posted in Awards, Flavoured Vodka, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on The Year in Vodka

Review: Khortytsa Premium Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 23, 2012

The Khortytsa Distillery is located in the City of Zaporizhzhia, in the south of Ukraine. The facility is relatively new, its first distilled products were rolled out in December of 2003. According to the company website, the distillery uses only high quality grain spirits produced by Ukraine’s best factories for vodka manufacturing. Although the facility and the brand are relatively new, they have made a significant impact in the global market where today, Khortytsa is found in 85 countries worldwide.

The Khortytsa Brand was recently introduced into Canada, and I was recently asked by the local importer, Ukrainian Drinks Ltd. to provide a few reviews of some of their selected products.The second of these products which I sampled is the Khortytsa Premium Vodka.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… When I took my first full swallow of the Khortytsa Premium Vodka, I noticed that the light sweetness and soft citrus remain at the front of the delivery. Although the vodka has this initial softness, it also imparted some significant spicy heat to my palate and to the back of my throat after the full swallow. The Vodka is smooth all the way down the throat …”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Khortytsa Premium Vodka

I have included a great new cocktail with the review, the Estate Cocktail.

Please enjoy the review and the new cocktail I have created. Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Khortytsa Premium Vodka

Review: Nemiroff Premium Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 29, 2012

Nemiroff Premium Vodka was introduced as an elite-class vodka when it first appeared in the Ukrainian market in March of 1999. According to the Nemiroff website, this premium vodka is produced from a triple distilled spirit which must undergo ten stages of purification/filtration. The final spirit is polished to for clarity with a specially prepared absorbent. As with all Nemiroff Vodkas, only natural ingredients and are used in its production.

I received a sample bottle, and was asked to review the Nemiroff Premium Deluxe Vodka the local importer of Nemiroff Vodka here in Alberta, Canada.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The nose of the Nemiroff vodka when served at this temperature displays a very mild lime citrus with touches of bread dough and a few vaguely sweet and minty scents above the glass. When the Vodka is introduced to my mouth it coats my tongue and my palate with a nice creaminess, and the flavour matches the nose, especially with those light wisps of lime citrus). A spicy grain-like warmth fills the mouth and back of the throat upon swallowing. There is a lingering aftertaste of lime soda….”

You may link to the full review here:

Review: Nemiroff Premium Vodka

Please enjoy the review, and the suggested cocktails which I have provided!

Cheers!

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Review: Zirkova Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 25, 2012

Zirkova Vodka is a relatively new Vodka brought to the market here in Canada by Multiculture Bevco owners of the Slava Ultra Premium Vodka and Zirkova Vodka brands. Although this company is based in Oakville, Ontario, the Zirkova is an authentic Ukrainian Vodka produced in the Cherkassy region of Ukraine at the Zlatogor Distillery from rye and wheat grain. This Premium Vodka is four times distilled with only the ‘center cut’ of each distillation brought forward to the final spirit.

I spent a little time with John Vellinga at the Rocky Mountain Food and Wine Festival this past fall. He is the founder of both the Zirkova and Slava Vodka brands and the CEO of Multiculture Bevco. I found that Mr Vellinga is passionate about his Vodka, and this passion was evident in our discussions as he went to great lengths not only in educating me about his Vodka production, but he also poured me several shots and cocktails to demonstrate the character of both of his Vodka brands in the glass.

I was given a bottle of Zirkova Vodka by the local distributor, River Valley Beverage Group for the purpose of a review here on my website. Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The Zirkova is not as creamy as some of the more recent vodkas my tasting group have tried. It is, however, very clean upon the palate, and as I swallowed this first sip, it was very clean in the throat as well. A mellow rye-spice ‘heat’ is present in my throat after I swallow. I detect no bitterness, only a very light aftertaste of rye and a delicate impression of lemon-lime flavour of citrus zest… “

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Zirkova Vodka

As well I have included a recipe for the Rustic Breeze, a cosmopolitan style cocktail with a nice raspberry twist.

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail recipe!

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Review: Highwood Premium Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 24, 2012

Highwood Vodka is a triple distilled wheat Vodka produced at the Highwood Distillery in High River, Alberta, situated near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains just 30 minutes south of Calgary. This vodka follows the recent trend of low-priced premium vodkas which take up the lion’s share of the market here in Alberta, Canada.

I used my Vodka Review Methodology, putting this spirit through the same paces as I have done for the higher priced spirits which I have reviewed. It turns out that the Highwood Vodka stands up to its higher priced competitors quite well.

Here is an excerpt from the resulting review:

“… There was very little aroma apparent as we raised our shot-glasses to our noses, light wispy bits of starch and grain perhaps, and maybe a touch a citrus zest in the air. As the vodka covered my tongue, my first impression was that this is a rather soft vodka which carries a nice bit of rye-like spice forward. I also seemed to be able taste just a hint of that lime citrus which I had noticed in the aroma…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Highwood Premium Vodka

I have included a a nice cocktail with this review, The Kamikaze.

Please enjoy the review and the accompanying cocktail!

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