Obama’s in the White House. Hope, change, and all those other buzzwords are on the tip of everyone’s tongue. The economy’s in the toilet, but hey, we’ll take the foregoing as excuse enough for a new “luxury vodka,” and one with a distinctly domestic focus.

With the possible exception of the military-focused Brave Spirits, Americana is the most patriotic spirit we’ve ever received here. Bottled in a red white, and blue bottle and bearing a name that you can’t mistake for anything but pride in one’s country, this is as close as it gets to marrying Rosie the Riveter and adopting a flock of bald eagles.

Oh, so you want to try it? Yeah, OK, sure. Overall, it’s indeed a premium spirit, created not from crushed apple pies but from a combo of wheat, barley, rye, and corn. Distilled four times, it’s then filtered in charcoal seven times and bottled for your approval. I needn’t mention the country of origin, right?

The nose is fainly medicinal, and the body very smooth. Moderate sweetness is surprising from a spirit with such a convoluted origin, and there’s only a hint of medicinality on the finish. It drinks very well straight but works exceptionally well in complex cocktails, where it doesn’t get in the way of whatever else you’re using in your recipe.

The bottle and branding may seem like a gimmick, but give this one a try anyway. I think you won’t be disappointed.

80 proof.

A- / $30

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