Vodka 2012
 

Best Premium Imported Vodka - 2012

 

The Great Vodka Tasting of 2012

 

The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 21 imported, unflavored premium and ultra-premium vodkas with 18 pre-qualified judges. Strict tasting rules were applied. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Each of the vodkas were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Only ice water and neutral unflavored nuts and crackers were available to cleanse the palate. The judges tasted through 3 flights of 7 vodkas each; with food served during a rest period after the second flight.

The judges wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best.  Double-Gold, Gold and Silver medals are awarded based on a set range of final point scores received from the judges.

The tasting notes are summaries of the judges’ opinions. Prices quoted are for 750ml sizes. Prices may vary by state and do not include sales tax. Country of origin is given, with a few tidbits added for each brand.

 

TASTING RESULTS:

 

FAIR.

DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

1. FAIR. -
(France) $34 - Quinoa based, cultivated from a cooperative of 1200 farmers.

Nose: Floral, fruity, touch of wood, aromatic citrus, lime, approachable. Palate: Herbal, melon, cassis, berries, floral character, citrus, vanilla, nutty coconut, creamy, powdered sugar, soft mineral, slightly peppery, white peppercorn, feminine, lively, nice. Finish: Cedar, wood, citrus, smooth, soft, creamy, clean. crisp, mild.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



2. Quay - (Mediterranean) $36 - Grain based.

Nose: Light, delicate, butterscotch, subtle caramel. Palate: Cashews, vanilla, light citrus, fruity, banana, subtly herbal, grassy, hay notes, mossy, creamy, oily, mineral, wet stone, dusty, evenly balanced, exceptionally smooth, outstanding. Finish: Rich, soft, full-bodied, vibrant, robust.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Quay


Cavoda



3. Two-Way Tie -
Cavoda -
(France) $34 - French wheat based, distilled 5 times.

Nose: Citrus, lime, 7Up, light floral, light cherry, olives, crisp. Palate: Lemon, lime zest, melon, fruit, banana, currant, cola, spearmint, white peppercorn, spicy, sweet, balanced, full-bodied, nice. Finish: Cola, soft, creamy, clean, silky, smooth, unique.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



FRIS -
(Denmark) $24 - Wheat based, spring water, freeze distilled 6 times.

Nose: Cedar, flowers, light herbal, nutty, subtle. Palate: Herbal, grassy, rye, anise, hint of nuts, flan, vanilla, powdered sugar, fruit, tangy, acidic, peppery, oily, balanced, well-rounded, very nice, easy to drink. Finish: Sweet, silky, creamy, full-bodied, dry, crisp, incredibly smooth, nice kick.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



FRIS


666



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

666 -
(Tasmania) $30 - Natural Tasmanian malted barley based, 3 times distilled then charcoal filtered.

Nose: Eucalyptus, almond, coconut, floral, vanilla, wet stone, subtle. Palate: Almond, carob, nuts, oily, melon, vanilla, anise, pepper layers, mint, grassy, herbal, wet stone, mineral, distinctive. Finish: walnut, spicy, soft, smooth, nice, rich, creamy, full-bodied.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Finlandia -
(Finland) $22 - Six-row barley based, glacier spring water.

Nose: Subtle, zesty. Palate: Grain, almond oil, nutty, vanilla, creamy, orange blossom, fruit, black peppercorn, peppery, spicy, mossy, clean, crisp, balanced, well-rounded, elegant. Finish: Light, dry, rich, oily, smooth, soft.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Finlandia


Aylesbury Duck



Aylesbury Duck -
(Canada) Soft white wheat from the western prairies of Canada, 3 times distilled, no carbon filtering.

Nose: Fresh, clean, light, hint of vanilla, dusty, potato skin, wet stone, floral. Palate: Creamy, caramel, vanilla, sugar, sweet, cotton candy, touch of coffee, almond oil, dry grain, white peppercorn, mineral notes, floral, herbal, minty, mossy, balanced, easy to drink. Finish: Clean, crisp, rich, creamy, soft, silky. nice bite.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Pearl
-
(Canada) $18 - Winter wheat based, Canadian Rocky Mountain water, 5 times distilled, filtered 6 times.

Nose: Toast, sweet, creamy, herbal, butter, lemons, delicate, lively. Palate: Vanilla, nut, cocoa, toffee, caramel, potato, grain, black pepper, anise, spicy, herbal, smooth, rich, delicate, well-rounded. Finish: Toasty, smooth, silky, soft.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Pearl


Belvedere Unfiltered



Belvedere Unfiltered -
(Poland) $45 - 100% "Single Estate" Dankowskie Diamond Rye, artesian well water, 4 distillations, left unfiltered.

Nose:Delicate, slightly fruity, potato. Palate: Mint, citrus, fruity, vanilla, creamy, peppercorn, wet stone, mineral, mossy, grassy, oily, approachable, very well-rounded, easy to drink. Finish: Sweet, soft, smooth.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Gera -
(Lithuania) $18 - Lithuanian wheat, blended with spring water.

Nose: Slightly fruity, grassy, nutty, light, subtle. Palate: Wet stone, mineral, cigar box, grassy, hint of grain/bread, vanilla, creamy, peppery, classic neutrality, subtle, fresh, lively, very mixable. Finish: Spicy, crisp, oily, light, soft, smooth, no bite.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Gera


Snow Queen



Snow Queen -
(Ukraine/ Kazakhstan) $25 - Organic wheat based, blended with artesian water from the Tien Shan Mountains.

Nose: Light, sweet, mossy, subtle. Palate: Bright, light vanilla layers, touch of cocoa, citrus notes, peppery, rye, floral, sweet, melony, oily, lively, smooth, balanced. Finish: Mint, anise, spicy, hot pepper, nice bite.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Akvinta -
(Mediterranean) $35 - Wheat based- Quintuple filtration (birch charcoal, marble, silver, gold, platinum), mountain spring water.

Nose: Light lemon-lime, citrus, floral, delicate. Palate: Floral, rose petals, rich, creamy, powdered sugar, vanilla, herbal, mossy, potato skin, mineral, citrus, spicy, pepper. Finish: Mint, grassy, coconut, robust, dry, clean, smooth, silky, light.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Akvinta


Belvedere



Belvedere -
(Poland) $32 - Gold rye based, artesian well water, 4 distillations.

Nose: Light floral, citrus, lively, zesty. Palate: Herbal, flowery, vanilla, vanilla cream, almond oil, mint, peppery, oily, balanced. Finish: Grassy notes, spicy, dry, creamy, soft, smooth.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Reyka -
(Iceland) $22- Wheat base, glacial water filtered through lava rocks.

Nose: Touch of citrus, flowery, grain, subtle. Palate: Notes of grain, nuts, citrus, light butter, light anise, wet stone, balanced. Finish: White pepper, intense, oily, sweet, light, fresh, silky, soft, creamy smooth.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Reyka


Luksusowa



SILVER MEDAL WINNERS:

Luksusowa -
(Potato) $20 - Potato based, artesian well water, distilled 3 times.

Nose: Lavender, herbs, fruity, assertive. Palate: Fruity, grain, buttery, herbal, grassy, black pepper, peppery, wet stone, smooth, balanced. Finish: Subtle, clean, velvety, soft.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Ultimat -
(Poland) $40 - Wheat, rye and potato based, artesian well water, 6 times distilled.

Nose: Lemon peel, light grain, oily, acidic, light, subtle. Palate: Citrus, rye, pepper, almond, nuts, anise, spearmint, minty, fruity, melon, layers of cream, white chocolate, sweet. Finish: Citrusy, creamy, clean, light, dry, metallic, round, smooth, balanced, bursting.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Ultimat


Iceberg



Iceberg -
(Canada) $18 - Sweet corn based, blended with iceberg water.

Nose: Mixed citrus, cola, sweet, sugary. Palate: Floral tones, herbal, lime, redwood, vanilla, maple syrup, fruit, lightly sweet, creamy, smooth, clean, crisp. Finish: Candy, pepper, oily, creamy, smooth, rich, full-bodied.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Regalia -
(Russia) $35 - Russian-grown wheat, blended with aquifer well water, followed by sand, birch, and charcoal filtration.

Nose: Light mint, spicy, light citrus, subtle. Palate: Fruity, melon, almond, vanilla, anise, rye, creamy layers, powdered sugar, citrus notes, pepper, spicy, smoky, oily, astringent, very smooth, dry. Finish: Spicy, smoky, woody notes, rich, zesty, soft, smooth, gentle.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Regalia


White Diamond



White Diamond -
(Latvia) $14 - Rye and wheat based, artesian well water, 5 times distilled, 14-step “mountain crystals” filtration.

Nose: Pepper, complex. Palate: Caramel, toffee, vanilla, cream, buttery, cassis, chocolate, licorice, mint, floral, mineral, semi-spicy, peppery, soft, smooth, lively, zesty, well-rounded, well balanced very nice. Finish: Pepper, melon, woody, oily, light mineral.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Wodka -
(Poland) $14 - Rye based.

Nose: Citrus, lemon zinger, subtle. Palate: Lemony, citrus, almond extract, floral, moss, grassy, potato skin, horseradish, pepper, oily, woody. Finish: Rich, full-bodied, wood, oily, spicy, silky, smooth.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Wodka


U'Luvka



U'Luvka -
(Poland) $55 - Rye, barley and wheat based, 3 times distilled.

Nose: Lightly buttery, nutty, woody, herbal, zesty. Palate: Citrus, floral notes, herbal, vanilla extract, buttery, nuts, leather, oily, distinctive. Finish: Hot pepper, sweet, light, smooth.

Silver Medal
Silver medal

 

 

 

 

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