Vodka
Vodka goes in and out of fashion, but not its popularity with drinkers. It remains the biggest-selling spirit in the U.S, and even the Scots drink more vodka than whisky. In the U.S., according to the Code of Federal Regulations, vodka is defined as “neutral spirits so distilled, or so treated after distillation with charcoal or other materials, as to be without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color.” Nevertheless, there are subtle differences between vodka made from potatoes and from grain, for example, two of the most common base products for distilling into vodka. (In recent years, a wide variety of other bases have been used to make vodka.) Infused vodka has usually been infused with natural products (e.g. real lemons), while flavored vodka can mean it contains either natural or artificial flavorings. Rules regarding the acceptable strength of vodka differ slightly around the world. Within the European Union, vodkas can be bottled at as low as 75 proof, while in most countries outside the European Union, and in the U.S., vodka must be at least 80 proof.
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Shochu is still tentatively making its way to U.S. shores and U.S. palates, but it isn’t often when we encounter aged versions. Iichiko is the top-selling brand of shochu in Japan (much in the way that Jack Daniel’s is the top selling whiskey in the U.S.), and it’s probably the top-selling brand of shochu here,…
Goodnight Loving Vodka is a product that I’m awfully close to, and I mean that literally: The distillery’s CFO lives a few doors down from me, and the distillery is based on a ranch near Fredericksburg, about an hour away. Here in Texas, you can find Goodnight Loving in a large number of bars and…
Northern California’s Griffo Distillery enticed us with its recent release of whiskey distilled from Lagunitas’ The Waldos beer, so we’re diving back into the distillery’s offerings with a deeper dive into some of its more mainstream, permanent releases. Let’s not sit on ceremony as we delve into a collection that spans vodka, gin, whiskey, and…
At this point, the celebrity spirits market is undeniably crowded, with enough whiskey and agave-based brands to make the average consumer’s head spin. And given the space’s maturity, a giant social media following likely isn’t enough to guarantee success. Some—truly a handful—of A-lister backed brands do manage to stand out on partnerships with major distilleries,…
Tin City can be found in Paso Robles, California. While the region is known for its wine production, there’s a thriving craft distilling scene here, too. The operation makes a huge range of products, including whiskey, gin, liqueurs, and ready-to-drink offerings, but it’s a pair of flavored vodkas (made from a corn distillate) that we’re…
Further proof that you can make vodka out of anything, High Desert is made from prickly pear cacti harvested in the high desert of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. That’s really the whole story: There’s a whole lotta cactus out there in the southern deserts, so good on ’em for trying to do something useful with…
Holistic Spirits soft-sells its celebrity backing, which boasts wellness entrepreneur Amy Holmwood and actor Woody Harrelson as its faces behind the stills. The company is (thank God) not making whiskey or tequila but rather flavored white spirits, including vodka and gin. The launch products include one of each — though if you didn’t read the…
In the 16 years since our first review, Poland’s Kröl has lost an umlaut and gained an acute accent. The new Król has also had a recipe change. Once made from rye, it’s now distilled from potatoes. So: Totally different product, it seems. Krol Vodka (2024) Review Nonetheless, 2024 Krol offers a pretty familiar package,…
Ready for a new ultra-ultra-premium vodka? Check out Belvedere 10, “an all-new luxury vodka of true liquid brilliance.” The vodka is distilled from organic diamond rye grown on a single field in Poland and is rested for 10 months after distillation before bottling. It’s that bottle that’s likely to draw your eye first and foremost:…
Ukraine’s Khortytsa (we reviewed the Platinum expression in 2016) is now just “Khor” — presumably an attempt to make the name easier to pronounce. Not a bad idea; I have trouble typing it, too. But Khortytsa, er, Khor, actually has three expressions, the other two of which we are finally reviewing today. Both are 80…