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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It’s probably safe to say that Dr. Zzyzx is not a real person. Dr. Zzyzx (“zy-zix, to rhyme with Isaacs”) is rather a creation of Sespe Creek Distillery in Oxnard, California (and inspired by a quirky California town of the same name), where they’re specializing in making vodka flavored with some oddball ingredients. Incidentally, Sespe…
Absolut spinoff Our/Vodka has been on a tear since its 2010 introduction. The bold idea: To make vodka in small microdistilleries constructed all around the world, giving each metro area access to its own, locally-produced spirit — with each vodka carrying its own unique profile. Our/Vodka now his six distilleries up and running worldwide, including Berlin,…
Mac and cheese is such an U.S. staple that it has its own one syllable moniker. Like Cher or Elvis, we also have Mac. I recently went down a sake/shochu/mac rabbit hole and damn, it was delicious. I first spoke with Marc Smookler, the owner/founder of Sake Social, by far the largest online retailer in the…
That’s not a typo there. Heeet is so hot it neeeds threee eees. The brainchild of MerryGo Spirits in Rigby, Idaho, Heeet (aka Blazing Heeet) is a Fireball alternative for those who really want the essence of cinnamon Red Hots in their drink. While cinnamon schnapps are a common sighting, cinnamon vodka is a rarer…
Detroit-based Valentine Distilling was founded in 2007, and while it produces gin and whiskey, today we’re looking at its flagship products — two vodkas, named after the distillery proper. Recently rebranded with upscale bottles and labels, Valentine is pot distilled in small batches from a blend of corn, wheat, and barley. Let’s taste. Valentine Vodka…
The folks behind Seersucker Southern Style Gin have launched two extension products: both are based on their gin recipe, flavored with either lemon or lime. They say this is a first: “After a year of research and development, we’re proud to be the first brand to offer a gin blended with all-natural juice,” says Trey Azar,…
While we’ve reviewed countless whiskeys, tequilas, and even pomegranate wines from Ukiah’s Charbay, we’ve only formally reviewed a single bottle of their vodka — which might actually be what the distillery is best known for. It’s time to correct things, by taking a deeper dive into five Charbay vodka expressions, from straight vodka to their…
We’ve reviewed nearly all of the Austin-based Deep Eddy vodka line, except for this duo of flavors — orange and peach. As with all Deep Eddy vodkas, these are bottled with a significant amount of natural color and even sediment, driven by the flavoring element inside. Both are 70 proof. Deep Eddy Orange Vodka –…
I guess this was inevitable: One of the biggest wine producers in California, Francis Ford Coppola, decided to make spirits, too. Three of them, in fact, all named after famous women of history, a nod to the many great women that have impacted Coppola’s life and career. The spirits include a vodka, gin, and brandy…
As the name suggests, Straw Boys is vodka from Ireland, made from wheat and distilled in copper pots. (The distillery, Connacht, based in County Mayo, also makes poitin, gin, and Irish whiskey, among other delights.) Straw Boys Vodka is a solid example of the spirit. The nose is quite clean, with a light herbal note…