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Vodka 2012
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Best Premium Imported Vodka - 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:

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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

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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

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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

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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
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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

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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

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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

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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
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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