In 2002 the Greater New York Chapter of Tasters Guild International tasted and evaluated 13 premium vodkas. In 2004 the tasting was repeated with 11 additional vodkas added and a singly blind evaluation system was used. That meant the tasters knew the brands that were being contested but no one, with the singular exception of myself, knew what vodka was being poured in each glass and I did not participate in the voting.
New brands seemingly appear every week, much to the delight of vodka devotees and disciples. The Adams Beverage Group stated that there were almost 300 new vodka brands introduced in the US in the last 5 years; it was time for another update. Sponsored by TheFiftyBest.com this time we had 31 vodkas, again all imports, all 80 proof and all without flavors. The 13 tasters invited were all professional vodka drinkers. They included: a world-class chef and restaurant owner, a well read wine and spirits journalist, a Columbia University administrator, an employee of a major NYC retailer whose specialty is vodka, two professional bartenders, a male member of the NYPD who is affectionately known as “The Vodka Whore” and the publisher of TheFiftyBest.com. We mingled them with a number of vodka aficionados.
The products were served neat, at room temperature, with water on the side and rice crackers to cleanse the palate following each taste of a brand of vodka. Then, everyone involved was asked to evaluate each product. Tasters were given the opportunity and option of a retest, if needed. There were snack breaks and food available after every 10 vodkas. The order of service was randomly selected through a lottery system. The scoring was done on a 5 point system with 5 as the best. The entire total was added up and the winners were determined from 1 to 31 solely based on the score received. There was no interaction amongst the tasters until their scorecards had been completed. The tasting notes that follow the rankings are a summary of the results and all replicate commentary has been eliminated while contrasting opinions have been summarized. Prices quoted are for 750ml sizes. Prices will vary by state. Country of origin is given & a few tidbits added for each brand. Websites are also listed.
History: The word, vodka, is a derivation of the Russian word for "little water." Vodka came to be a huge part of the Russian culture, as it was being distilled even before the word vodka came into general use. Polish historians claim that vodka was first produced in 1405 and history coupled with rumor state that it reached Russia from Poland. Vodka can be made from potatoes or various cereal grains that contain starch, principally corn, rye and wheat but it can also be made from fruits and vegetables if you feel like setting up your own distillery in a corner of the backyard and/or kitchen some time later today.
A common property of vodkas produced in the USA and Europe is the extensive use of filtration prior to any additional processing, such as the addition of flavorings. Filtering is sometimes done in the still during distillation, as well as afterwards, when the distilled vodka is filtered through charcoal and other media. The U.S. government officially describes vodka as "a neutral spirit, so distilled, or so treated after distillation with charcoal and other materials as to be without distinctive character, aroma, taste or color." However, this is not the case in the traditional vodka producing nations; so many distillers from these countries prefer to use very accurate distillation but minimal filtering thus preserving the unique flavors and characteristics of their products. This tasting proved vodka’s range of aroma, texture and flavor. The governmental definition was correct on one point however - vodka does not have any color. Today, vodka is the largest category of distilled spirits (25%) on the market. The super-premium category (over $25) is the fastest growing segment.
Although vodka is traditionally drunk neat in Eastern European and Nordic countries, its popularity elsewhere owes much to its usefulness in cocktail and other mixed drinks, such as the Bloody Mary, the Screwdriver, the vodka tonic and the vodka martini.
The Art of Tasting Vodka: while many prefer to drink their vodka ice cold, it is best, for tasting purposes, to pour it into a glass at room temperature. Cold tends to dampen the aroma and deaden the taste buds. Mix the sample with an equal amount of water. Then look at the liquid - it should be clear and bright absent any cloudiness. Second - smell or "nose" the vodka by swirling it in the glass. Watch out for sharp, pungent odors or a perfumed smell. Third - take a small sip and roll it around your tongue. Look for a pleasant flavor and, yes, it varies from person to person. Fourth - draw a little air over the vodka to release its flavors, then swallow it and evaluate the finish. Fifth - vodka should look pure, feel smooth on the tongue, with no "bite," and be pleasant but not overpowering nor have an off-aroma or flavor and little aftertaste.
THE TASTING: This tasting dispelled some myths about vodka! To begin with, the notion of "triple distilled" or "triple filtered" is pure hype. The process of distillation is a continuous one, recirculating the solution until all the alcohol is vaporized out. We tasted vodkas that were distilled and/or filtered 4, 6 even 8 times. Also, the source of the vodka (potato, wheat, rye, grapes) does not affect the final product. It was difficult for me to find out technical information for many of these vodkas. Many times the website was all about fancy graphics.
When using a sugar product, the fermentation is direct from sugar to alcohol. When using a starch base, the fermentation is starch to sugar (maltose, sugar from grain), then sugar to alcohol. After fermentation, to separate the alcohol from the water in the resulting solution, it is distilled (boiled). Since alcohol has a lower boiling temperature than water (176 degrees), the alcohol vaporizes, leaving the water behind. The vapor is then collected in tubes and cooled; the condensation is collected, boiled again to remove even more water and drawn from the still. Lastly, the most startling one that I have heard was that imported vodka may have up to 2½ % "various ingredients" added, ingredients that do not have to appear on the label. However, American made vodka cannot have any "flavors" added...it must be by law colorless, odorless and tasteless. So much for what you might hear from time to time. It is all about the water, the bottle, the label, the marketing. Vodka is the easiest and cheapest spirit to produce (with high profit potential). There are no oak barrels or long aging process. It is all about the image.
1. The clear (no pun intended) winner is Russian Standard- Russia- $25- www.russianstandard.com- Smooth, sweet finish, rough, clean, intense, exciting, classic.
2. Absolut- Sweden- $22- www.absolut.com -Wheat based- Intense, sweet almond, burns, sweet tones, smooth, pleasant, classic.
3. Effen- The Netherlands- $32- www.effenvodka.com – Wheat based- filtered through peat, not charcoal. Neutral, grassy, smooth, hot peppers, polished, citrus, pure, mellow.
4. Three way tie- (4-6) Xellent- Switzerland- $33- www.xellent.com – Rye based- 3 times distilled- glacier water from the Swiss Alps. Bread like, smooth, bitter, intense, harsh, refined.
5. Smirnoff- $15- www.smirnoff.com - ONLY domestic vodka included- 10 times filtered- complex, full-bodied, clean, spicy, harsh, good aftertaste, mellow..
6. Jewel of Russia- Russia- $28- www.jewelofrussia.com - Wheat & rye based- Quadruple distilled, 5 step filtration- Metallic, alcoholic, smooth, spicy, peppery, clean, classic.
7. Puriste- Austria- $40- www.puriste.com – Wheat based- 6 times distilled- water from the Austrian Alps. Good finish, smooth, long aftertaste, no nose, and complex.
8. Four way tie- (8-11) - Tanqueray Sterling- United Kingdom- $15- www.tanqueray.com – Wheat based- 3 distillations. Citrus, silky, spicy, bitter, sweet, harsh, balanced, dirty, smoky.
9. Finlandia- Finland- $22- www.finlandia.com – Wheat based- glacier spring water. Salty, spicy, slightly bitter, smooth, tangy, mellow, tasty.
10. Reyka- Iceland- $28- www.reykavodka.com - Wheat based- filtered through lava rocks. Spice, woody, alcoholic, bitter, smooth, toasted almonds, pepper.
11. Imperia- Russia- $35- Premium brand for Russian Standard- Wheat based- filtered through quartz crystals, 8 times distilled. Clean, minerals, spicy, refined, flavorful, balanced, neutral, rubbing alcohol.
12. Four way tie (12-15) - Potacki- Poland- $38- www.potackivodka.com – Rye based, unfiltered. Full flavor, grassy, bitter, fruity, clean finish, floral, no taste, too sweet.
13. Chopin- Poland- $32- www.chopinvodka.com -Potato based- distilled 4 times. Licorice, floral, spicy, citrus, honey, alcoholic, rough, rubbing alcohol, smooth.
14. Belvedere- Poland- $30- www.belvederevodka.com – Rye based, 4 distillations. Sharp, acidic, smooth, cedar, spice, intense, rough, flavorful.
15. Vox- The Netherlands- $28- www.voxvodka.com- Wheat based- 5 times distilled. Lemon, smooth, short finish, peppery, no flavor, silky.
16. Two way tie (16-17) - Ketel One- The Netherlands- $26- www.ketelone.com – Wheat based. Clean finish, anise, vegetal, smooth, intense, soft & subtle, neutral, bitter.
17. Van Gogh- The Netherlands- $28- www.vangoghvodka.com – Wheat, corn & barley- three distillations. Clean, smooth, bitter, complex, spice, fire, biting, rich, intense.
18. Two way tie (18-19) - Boru- Ireland- $20- www.boru.com – Wheat based- distilled 5 times. Clean, rough, citrus, smooth, intense, alcoholic, sharp, classic, berry like.
19. Fris- Denmark- $24- www.frisvodka.com – Wheat based- freeze distilled 6 times. Light, clean, bitter aftertaste, smooth, buttery, good finish, off nose.
20. Three way tie- (20-22) - Zyr- Russia- $32- www.zyrvodka.com – Wheat & Rye based- 9 filtrations, 5 times distilled. Citrus nose, smooth, slightly bitter, refined, pleasant, simple.
21. Iceberg- Canada- $20- www.iceberg.net – Sweet corn based. Sweet, butterscotch, intense, rough, fruity, refreshing, bubble gum.
22. Three Olives- United Kingdom- $20- www.threeolives.com – Wheat based- quadruple distilled & filtered. Citrus, sharp, smooth, harsh, kitty litter, spice, rich, rough.
23. Five way tie (23-27) - Grey Goose- France- $30- www.greygoosevodka.com -Wheat & Rye based (in Cognac) - Salty, alcoholic, smooth, peppery, citrus, hot, rough, great flavor.
24. Svedka- Sweden- $14- www.svedka.com – Wheat based- distilled 5 times. Citrus, hot, short aftertaste, spice, tart, classic, rough finish.
25. Stolichnaya Elit- Russia- $60- www.stoli.com – Wheat & Rye based- 4 distillations. Freeze filtered. Balanced, smooth, burns, easy drinking, hard to drink, good finish.
26. Ciroc- France- $35- www.cirocvodka.com – Grape based- 5 times distilled, cold fermentation. Marketing taken over by Sean Coombs. Lemon, lime, almonds, fruity, citrus, slight burn, floral notes, short finish.
27. 42 Below- New Zealand- $22- www.42below.com – Wheat based. Only Southern hemisphere vodka tasted. Citrus, rough, spicy, bitter, floral notes, slight burn. Smooth.
28. Level- - Sweden- $30- www.levelvodka.com – Wheat based. From makers of Absolut. Burning, smooth, herb like, perfume, mellow, citrus, rough, one note spice.
29. Three way tie- Citadelle- France- $30- www.citadellevodka.com – Wheat based, distilled 5 times. Vegetal, hot finish, sweet, peppery, citrus, green, brash, oily.
30. Ston- Estonia- $22- www.stonvodka.com – Wheat based, 4 times distilled, filtered through limestone. Wheat, fiery, balanced, harsh, earthy, grainy, spicy, clean.
31. Sputnik- Russia- $26- Not yet available in US- Winter wheat based. Distilled 3 times. Hot, bitter,
burns, nutty, heat, rough, no nose, full bodied.
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