Review Nemiroff Ukrainian Wheat Vodka   (86.5/100)
A review by Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
Posted on April 7, 2011

The Nemiroff Ukrainian Wheat Vodka was developed in keeping with Slavic traditions of classical vodka. It is produced from the pure wheat grain spirits and specially prepared pure artesian water. When I read the information on the Nemiroff Website concerning the Ukrainian Wheat Vodka,  I discovered that this particular Nemiroff Vodka is promoted as a high-quality classic vodka which hopes to give the consumer an opportunity to explore its mild wheat bread taste. This is because the flavour of the Vodka is strengthened by aromatic extracts of freshly baked ‘palyanytsia’ wheat bread.

It is with this in mind that I began my exploration of the Ukrainian Wheat Vodka.

The First impression  (8.5/10)

I have a nice graphic of the Nemiroff Wheat Vodka pictured to the right. Like the previously reviewed Rye Honey and Honey Pepper Nemiroff vodkas, we have a stylish rectangular bottle with a slightly flared bottom. The bottle is topped with a plastic screw cap topper, and the label is clear and attractive.

According to my sample bottle the spirit is a 40 % abv (80 proof) and it is sold in a 750 ml configuration.

The First sip    (17/20)

I kept the Nemiroff Wheat Vodka in my freezer overnight and sampled it in an over sized shot glass the next afternoon with my friends. During the tasting session, I allowed the Vodka to warm slightly so that its temperature was just a little over zero degrees Celsius. The spirit is very creamy at this temperature, and it coats the palate with a slightly buttery mouth feel. There is very little flavour although I did detect an indistinct impression of fresh sweet-bread dough. As I swallowed the first sip of the wheat Vodka, I did not feel any appreciable burn but there was a slight aftertaste of bread dough and starch. I am not averse to a very gentle mild flavour in Vodka, and the light flavour seems to match my expectations based upon the promotional materials I had read which spoke of the flavour of ‘palyanytsia’ wheat bread.

Taking a Shot   (17/20)

The first full swallow (shot) was very pleasing. I expected to taste some vegetal tones and to feel a mild burn in my throat, but instead the swallow was clean and smooth. The back of my mouth was warmed; but my throat felt very little if any burn, even with a substantial swallow of the wheat vodka. This reaction was consistent amongst those who tasted the Vodka with me. We also tried the vodka at warmer temperatures. More vegetal flavours were apparent as the Vodka approached room temperature, and the aftertaste did become more assertive. However, the aftertaste did not become bitter or metallic; rather it seemed to give a taste impression somewhat like wheat flour and/or starch. I noticed that well after I had tasted the vodka I still noticed a light aftertaste which seemed to have settled into that familiar flavour of sweet-bread dough that I noticed on my first sip.

Out for Dinner   (17/20)

The Nemiroff Wheat Vodka paired very well with food. My friends and I  had some platters of cheese, some cauliflower and broccoli spears, a tray of fresh buns with real butter, and some chicken wings, sausage and ham. I have learned from my previous tastings that it seems to be the bread which somehow tastes fresher when paired with good vodka, and this was indeed the case as the fresh buns we had brought tasted particularly good. The salty ham also seemed to be ideally suited for the wheat Vodka. The light aftertaste I had noticed earlier when sipping and taking a shot of vodka did not deter our enjoyment of the food rather it seemed to fit in well. My friends and I were well pleased by the experience.

Cocktails   (27/30)

I can strongly recommend the Nemiroff Ukrainian Wheat Vodka for cocktail mixing. At my tasting event, my go to Vodka cocktail, the Cosmopolitan, tasted very nice with the Wheat Vodka, as did the traditional vodka cocktail, The Screwdriver (Vodka and orange juice).  After my Vodka tasting, I made a few other bar drinks as well, (Electric Lemonade, and a  Balalaika). The cocktails tasted good, and they tasted the way they are supposed to with no odd after taste or bitterness associated with them. After my initial tasting session, I experimented a little more with recipes like the Harvey Wallbanger, and the performance of the vodka in a cocktail never disappointed me.

(See the recipes for the Screwdriver and the Harvey Wallbanger below)

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Final Score 86.5/100

(Excellent for Shots and Mixing Cocktails)

If you are interested in comparing more scores, here is a link to my other published Vodka Reviews.

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The Screwdriver

1 1/2 oz Nemiroff Ukrainian Wheat Vodka
3 oz  Orange Juice (1 Large Navel Orange Freshly Squeezed)
ice

This is one of the easiest of cocktails to prepare.
Squeeze one Large Navel Orange and place the juice in a tumbler with ice
Add the Vodka and Stir
Garnish with an Orange Slice if desired

(And please enjoy responsibly.)

The next cocktail builds upon the first:

The Harvey Wallbanger

1 1/2 oz Nemiroff Ukrainian Wheat Vodka
3 oz  Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
1/2 oz Galliano
ice
Orange Slice for Garnish

Pour the Vodka and the Orange Juice over ice into a tall glass
Float the Galliano on top
Garnish with an Orange slice if desired

And please remember to enjoy responsibly; my aim is to help you choose better drinks not to help you choose more drinks!!

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As usual you may (loosely) interpret my score as follows.

0-25     A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49   Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59  You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn’t.
60-69   Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74    Now we have a fair mixing Vodka.  Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79    You may begin to serve this to friends, again for cocktails only.
80-84    We begin to enjoy this Vodka in shots, although cocktails are preferable.
85-89    Excellent!  Shots or cocktails!
90-94    You may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+       I haven’t met this bottle yet…but I want to.

Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and  Bronze medal  scale as follows:

70 – 80    Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
81 – 89     Silver Medal (Recommended  for shots and mixing)
90 – 95     Gold Medal (Highly Recommended for Vodka Shots and Sublime Cocktails)
95.5+       Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)