Review: Grey Goose Vodka

Grey Goose Vodka was created by Sidney Frank who recognized in the mid 1990′s that North America was ready for a new premium vodka brand. He based his new brand upon what he believed to be a North American perception of the superiority of French production. He therefore chose a distillery in the Cognac region of France which would use French Winter Wheat as the base for his Vodka’s distillation, and a water source which was filtered through limestone. To say that his new brand was a success would be a wild understatement, as Mr. Frank successfully introduced his Vodka to the world in 1997, and then successfully sold the brand to Bacardi in 2004 for an amount which was reported (by Forbes Magazine) to be in excess of two billion dollars.

Since then, Grey Goose has become the standard by which Vodka is judged. I know this because almost every time I receive a sample of Vodka from a person in industry, they tell me that their Vodka is ‘just as good’ as Grey Goose. Since Grey Goose is the standard, I thought that it was about time to put the spirit through the paces of my review system here on my website.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The flavour impressions which I encountered during my first sip were reinforced when I took a nice shot or swallow of a larger portion of the spirit. Ghostly impressions of wheat and starch and just a hint of sweetness. This is very good…”

You may read the full review here:

I have included a recipe which tastes extremely nice with the Grey Goose, The Vodka Daiquiri.

Please enjoy the review and the recipe which follows!

Review: Nemiroff Lex (Super Premium Vodka)

Lex is the Super Premium Vodka from Nemiroff which was introduced in Ukrainian markets in 2003. It is a very interesting premium vodka spirit produced from grain alcohol which has been aged in wood for six months. According to information supplied to me by Igor Kashkan (the local importer of Nemiroff Vodka), the spirit undergoes eleven stages of purification, and then the resulting spirit is enhanced with aromatic spirits from natural oats and the Linden Blossom. According to the Nemiroff website, the recommended manner in which to enjoy the Lex Vodka is to sip it slowly, savouring its unique qualities neat. Complicated cocktails and/or drinking the Lex as a ‘shot’ style vodka is not recommended.

However, I am a bit of a contrarian, and so I prefer to analyze this spirit in the same manner as I have analyzed the other Vodkas I have reviewed, and I will partake in shots and cocktails to arrive at my own conclusions and share them with you.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The initial aroma of the vodka presented tantalizing glimpses of a spicy grain in combination with a warm sweetness and a mild lemon citrus. I am thinking that this sweet lemon citrus must be the Linden Blossom which the Nemiroff website says is evident in the aroma of the vodka…”

You may read the full review here:

As well I have included a recipe suggestion (which really isn’t a recipe at all) called The Russian Soldier.  Please enjoy the review!

Review: Alchemia Imbirowa (Ginger Flavoured Vodka)

Alchemia Vodka is distilled in Poland by a company called, Bialystok S.A., which is apparently one of Poland’s largest producer’s of distilled spirits. Alchemia Imbirowa (pronounced eem-beer-ova ) is a premium grain distilled vodka from Poland infused with natural ginger root. The infusion process saturates the already distilled vodka with the flavouring ingredient allowing both colour and flavour to be imparted to the final spirit.

I was given a sample bottle of Alchemia Imbirowa for the purposes of this review by Paul Charabin of PB Beverages, an Alberta based company which imports and distributes a wide selection of spirits from around the world. The bottle I was given was the 750 ml size, and the label tells me the ginger infused vodka is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…There is far more sweetness than what was evident on the nose and the mouth-feel is somewhat syrupy. The ginger is also very apparent quickly heating the mouth with a peppery sharpness. I have been experimenting lately with flavoured syrups for cocktails and this reminds me of what I imagine a ginger syrup would taste like. ..“

You May read the full review here:

As well I have included a new twist on the classic Cosmopolitan which I have chosen to call the Ginger Cosmopolitan.

Please enjoy the review!

Review: Alchemia Czekoladowa (Chocolate Infused Vodka)

Alchemia Vodka is distilled in Poland by a company called, Bialystok S.A., which is apparently one of Poland’s largest producer’s of distilled spirits. The Alchemia Czekoladowa (pronounced chek-o-la-dova ) is a premium grain distilled vodka from Poland infused with naturally derived cocoa. The infusion process saturates the already distilled vodka with the flavouring ingredients allowing both colour and flavour to be imparted to the final spirit.

I was given a sample bottle of Alchemia Czekoladowa for the purposes of this review by Paul Charabin of PB Beverages, an Alberta based company that imports and distribute a wide selection of spirits from around the world. The bottle I was given was the 750 ml size, and the label tells me the chocolate infused vodka is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…I had three friends over when I sampled the Alchemia Czekoladowa. I poured each of them (and myself) a healthy shot of the flavoured Vodka and watched each bring the glass up to their nose and take a deep wiff. A satisfied smile broke out on each of their faces…”

You may read the full review Here:

Of course I could not resist a few cocktail experiments with this richly flavoured spirit, and at the end of the review I share two of them, The Chocolate Cola Martini and The Iced Chocolate Cocktail.

Please enjoy the review and the cocktails which follow!

Review: Nemiroff Birch Special Vodka

The Nemiroff Birch Special Vodka is one of the youngest of the Nemiroff flavours. It is advertised on the Nemiroff website as being built upon centuries-old traditions of Ukrainian ‘horilka’ distilling, and the use of high quality natural ingredients. Launched on the Ukrainian market in March, 2005, its recipe includes the light bitterness of birch buds, and the mellow flavour of the linden blossom. Some ingredients used in the blend to apparently trace back to the traditional Kievan Rus recipes of birch-bud-flavoured liquors.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The entry into the mouth is most unexpected based upon the aroma in the glass. Instead of being beguiled by a sweet sugary lemon citrus which carries hints of mildly bitter birch, I taste exactly the opposite. A decidedly bitter birch with overtones of sap leads out with the citrus sweetness trailing far behind…”

You may read the full review here:

The special taste of the Nemiroff Birch Special required me to construct a a new cocktail which I have named, The Blue Thunder Cocktail.

Please enjoy the review of this rather unique flavoured Vodka and the cocktail that follows!

Review: Siku Glacial Ice Vodka

Siku (in Greenland) means ice, and the Siku Glacial Ice Vodka is literally made from ice. The process begins with ice which has calved from Greenland’s  Qalerallit Glacier. This ice is harvested at sea, and then it blended with a five time distilled American (96 % alcohol) grain spirit transforming into Vodka via a proprietor stirring process at minus 25 degrees Celsius in small handcrafted batches. This blending process takes place in the Netherlands where the final spirit is bottled.

I was fortunate enough to be given a bottle of Siku Glacier Ice Vodka by Grant Schneider of Aligra Wine and Spirits. He wanted my opinion, and I thought I should share it here on my blog.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…When I took a shot of the Vodka, I was again impressed by the initial flavour impressions of lemon and lime citrus which were quickly devoured by a growing graininess. The vodka really has some ‘pop’ in the mouth…”

You may read the full review here:

I also included a great new cocktail I call the Blue Glacier.

Please enjoy my review and my new cocktail!

Review: Nemіroff Premіum Lіme Vodka

Nemiroff Premium Lime was introduced to the Nemiroff brand line-up in August of 2006.  According to the Nemiroff website, the Premium Lime Vodka undergoes 10 stages of purification and is additionally polished with the specially prepared absorbent. Additionally, real citrus and lime aromas are used in the production of Nemіroff Premіum Lіme.  The citrus aroma is the first and the most perceptible note of the new drink, it changes gradually into the central note of lime which brings about a subtle, but pleasant lime aftertaste.  As with all of the Nemiroff vodkas, all the ingredients of this  new vodka are completely natural.

I was asked to review the Nemiroff Premium Lime by Igor Kashcan, who is the importer of Nemiroff Vodka here in Alberta, Canada.  Here is an excerpt from the resulting review:

“…when the Vodka was introduced to my mouth it coated my tongue and my palate with a nice creaminess, but only the flavour of lime was forefront. Lime is a very aggressive flavour, and I suspect that this is why I was not able to detect any other underlying grain  flavours….”

You may read the full review here:

As well, I included a nice recipe which I heartily recommend for the Nemiroff Premium Lime, The De Lurey.

Please enjoy the review and cocktail!

Review: O2 Premium Sparkling Vodka

O2 Premium Sparkling Vodka bills itself as the world’s first Premium Sparkling Vodka. When I sampled this spirit at the Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival I was actually quite smitten by what I encountered, hints of citrus, and some awesome tiny bubbles filling my mouth. Anyone who has read some of my reviews, and the cocktails which I like to construct for the various spirits I have sampled, realizes that I am a soda loving  person. A spirit that combines my love of soda bubbles with a light crisp taste really has my attention from the get go.

I contacted the importer of O2 Vodka, Premium Imports, to see about getting a sample to review on my blog. After a few months they came through in spades with samples of each the O2 Premium Sparkling Vodka and the 945 Super Premium Sparkling Vodka.  Both versions have those wonderful champagne-like bubbles. These bubbles are supposed to stimulate the taste-buds accentuating the flavours of food the vodka is served with, and the flavours of the cocktails the vodka is served in.

I invited several of my good friends over for a Vodka Tasting where we put the O2 Premium Sparkling Vodka through the rigors of my review methodolgy.  Here is an excerpt from the resulting review:

“…The initial aroma from the glass is of a very light citrus, and my initial reaction to the Sparkling Vodka was positive as the first sip covered my tongue….”

You may read the full review here:

As well I have included a new recipe called, The Pomerenke. Please enjoy the review and the new cocktail.

Review: Russian Standard Vodka

Photo Courtesy Of Beam Global - Alberta

The Russian Standard Vodka Company was introduced in 1998 by Russian businessman and entrepreneur,  Roustam Tariko (the owner of Russian  Standard Bank). This is a traditional Russian Vodka made from hardy winter wheat cultivated on the Russian steppes. What is not traditional is that the spirit is quadruple distilled at the company’s distillation and rectification facilities in Saint Petersburg and then blended with the glacial waters from Lake Ladoga (whose waters were chosen for their renowned softness and purity). The Russian Standard Vodka is raised to a final level of  purification using a quadruple charcoal filtering process, and then it is finished in steel ‘resting’ tanks before bottling.

I was given a bottle of  Russian Standard Original Vodka to review on my blog by the Beam Global Team here in my home Province of Alberta. Beam Global is responsible for the sales and distribution of this spirit in my home province and across Canada.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“….An ever so light rye-like warmth teased my palate and my throat in a delightful manner. I noticed no burn at all; however, a slow building warmth seemed to grow in my throat afterwards. My friends all had similar experiences to mine, and we all liked that slow building warmth which followed the shot of vodka…”

You may read the full review here:

As well I have included a cocktail called the Sweet Moscow Mule.

Review: Nemiroff Ukrainian Wheat Vodka

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. As 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. Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…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…”

You may read the full review here:

I also added two traditional Vodka cocktails to my cocktails section today, The Screwdriver, and the Harvey Wallbanger.