Imported Vodka 2017
 

Best Premium Imported Vodka - 2017

The Fifty Best Imported Vodka Tasting 2017

 

The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 20 imported vodkas with a panel of 12 judges. The vodkas were judged and scored separately. 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, neutral unflavored crackers and chips were available to cleanse the palate.

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 according to a set range of final point scores received from the judges. There were no bronze medals awarded for this tasting. The tasting notes that follow are summaries of the judges’ opinions, with all replicated commentary eliminated. The countries of origin are given, with a few tidbits added for each brand. All of these vodkas are 80 proof.

 



DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Lithuanian Gold
(Lithuania)
100% grain. Gold filtered.

Nose: Bell pepper, floral, flour, bread, grains, roasted peanuts, peppery.
Palate: Cocoa, mocha, vanilla cream, powdered sugar, lemon-lime, floral, herbal, mouth-watering.
Finish: Cocoa powder, lemon, herbs, spicy, peppery, assertive, rich, silky.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



   Lithuanian Gold



Stalinskaya Blue
(Romania)
Distilled from premium quality wheat, filtered through charcoal made from birch wood and aromatic plants.

Nose: Vanilla, chocolate, creamy, dates, agave, sweet corn, sweet grains, potatoes, mint, peppery, light toast, mineral, wet stone, smooth.
Finish: Clotted cream, apple, floral, grain, dried herbs, spice, clean, smooth, silky, great.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



   Stalinskaya Blue Vodka



3 Kilos
(Holland)
Highest quality hand-selected European golden wheat. 5x distilled.

Nose: Citrus, pastry dough, peppermint, peppery, wood, soft, subtle.
Palate: Vanilla, cocoa, light citrus, mint, grassy herbs, light pepper, rye, mineral, wet stone, silky.
Finish: Anise, pepper, weight on finish, powerful yet elegant, rich, soft, silky, smooth, excellent.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



3 Kilos Vodka



High Stick
(Canada)
Distilled from 100% Canadian grain, pure mountain spring water. 4 times distilled, carbon filtered.

Nose: Sweet berry, attractive berry, melon, citrus, powdered sugar, cream, floral.
Palate: Lovely red berries, orange zest, floral, violets, cream, dough, leather, delicate, smooth.
Finish: Black pepper, clean, delicate, smooth.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



High Stick Vodka



Purity
(Sweden)
Organic winter wheat & barley, handmade copper & gold still, distilled 34 times.

Nose: Lime, soft citrus, fresh fruit, bubblegum, potato and vegetable peelings, leather.
Palate: Fondant icing, sugarcane, bread, floral, lavender, grassy, vegetal, sharp pepper, fresh.
Finish: Silky vanilla, creamy, grainy, peppery, very soft, silky, pretty.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Purity Vodka



Ozone
(Lithuania)
Distilled from grain, crystal-clear water which is specially infused with oxygen, silver and platinum filtration, distilled five times.
Palate: Vanilla fondant icing, powdered sugar, creamy, sweet agave, strong pepper, mineral, stone, smooth.
Finish: Light almond, strong pepper, clean, fresh, perfect on the rocks.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Ozone Vodka



Steinhart Organic
(Nova Scotia)
Distilled from Canadian maritime-grown winter wheat, Nova Scotian spring water. Certified organic.

Nose: Cranberry, sweet melon, grassy, light grain, dusty, wet stone, delicate.
Palate: Chocolate cream, creamy, powdered sugar, bitter lemon, pink peppercorn, coffee grounds, complex mineral.
Finish: Vanilla, soft and creamy, mellow.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Steinhart Organic Vodka



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Stalinskaya Silver
(Romania)
Distilled from premium quality wheat, filtered through birch charcoal and silver ions.

Nose: Citrus, hay, straw, light cream, clean slate.
Palate: Caramel, cream, vanilla, cocoa, powdered sugar, syrup, honey, green apple, tropical fruit, creamy potatoes, grain, saline, mineral, clean.
Finish: Cream soda , grain, floral, wintergreen, menthol, peppery, clean, smooth, soft, light and happy, drink as is, nice, elegant.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Stalinskaya Silver Vodka



Monopolowa
(Austria)
Select potato varieties, triple distilled.

Nose: Lemon, soft candy, herbal, dough, rye.
Palate: Vanilla, cream, citrus, cardamom, pepper, coffee, cigar box, strong mineral.
Finish: Spicy, zesty, rich.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Monopolowa Vodka



Arbikie – Highland Estate
(Scotland)
Three varieties of potato, water filtered through the Angus hills, copper distilled.

Nose: Raspberry, cantaloupe, pineapple, coconut, cream, grain, rye, fennel, grassy, peppery, minerality.
Palate: Herbs, pepper, oak, cedar, mellow, complex.
Finish: Complex melon, dough, coffee, very peppery, very smooth.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Arbikie Highland Estate Vodka



Van Gogh
(Holland)
Distilled from a blend of wheat sourced from Holland, Germany and France.

Nose: Lemon oil, anise, dough, fresh bread, grain, light cream.
Palate: Raspberry, red fruit, creamy, powdered sugar, nut, coffee, herbal, hot pepper, cigar box, mineral, velvety.
Finish: Raspberry custard, pastry dough, peppery, spicy, clean.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Van Gogh Vodka



White Tiger
(Russia)
Distilled from wheat & rye. Sikhote-Alin Mountain water. 40 feet of continuous filtration.

Nose: Rye, raw potato, fresh pine, subtle mint.
Palate: Toffee, sweet cream, powdered sugar, leafy dry maple, melon, dried violet, pepper, smooth.
Finish: Cocoa, chocolatey, spice, pepper.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



White Tiger Vodka



AVIV 613
(Israel)
Blend of wheat, barley, olives, figs, dates, grapes & pomegranates. Water sourced from Israel’s natural aquifers and the Sea of Galilee. 4x distilled.

Nose: Soft peach, citrus, potato, menthol, mineral, very subtle, delicate.
Palate: Caramel, light cream, tropical fruit, peppery peach, nutty, dusty, rounded, extremely smooth, soft, mellow.
Finish: Creamy, tobacco, peppery, crisp, rich body, smooth, clean.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



AVIV 613 Vodka



VDKA 6100
(New Zealand)
Distilled from fresh whey, natural spring water from the North Island, triple distilled, filtered through carbon. Gluten free.

Nose: Lemon, grassy, anise, dough, mineral, soft, subtle.
Palate: Vanilla, cream, sweet unripe fruit, corn, potato skin, white pepper, sharp black licorice, viscous.
Finish: Velvety vanilla, lemon, coffee, pepper, spicy, soft.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



VDKA 6100



Råvo
(Sweden)
Distilled from grain.

Nose: Sweet candy, unripe fruit, anise, clean, wet stone, rye bite.
Palate: Sweet cream, coffee, mint, grass, verbena, light white pepper, lively pepper, clean, smooth.
Finish: Melon, mint, peppery burst at finish, nice.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Råvo Vodka



Diamond Girl
(Estonia)
Distilled from Scandinavian six row barley, water from 600 ft. deep artesian aquifer, 5 times distilled, filtered 33 times.

Nose: Subtle citrus, creamy, rye, mossy, soft.
Palate: Melon, subtle honey, creamy, potato, white peppercorn, black peppercorn, complex mineral, clean, smooth.
Finish: White pepper, powdery, rich, creamy.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Diamond Girl Vodka



Stalinskaya Original
(Romania)
Distilled from premium quality wheat, charcoal filtration then filtered through coconut shell.

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, creamy, whipped cream, citrus, mint, earthy, clean, refreshing.
Palate: Caramel, honey, vanilla, cream, whipped cream, chocolate, potatoes, apple, citrus, dried grass, licorice, spice, pepper, woody, smooth.
Finish: Toffee, caramel, chocolate, brown sugar, citrus, peppery, cold rocks, smoke, well-balanced, lively, smooth, lovely.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Stalinskaya Original Vodka



SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Reyka
(Iceland)
Premium grains. Artesian water from European acquifers. 5x distilled.

Nose: Vanilla, lime, citrus, floral, moss, camphor, almonds, spice, clean.
Palate: Nougat, buttery, vanilla, pear, figs, dates, dried berries, grains, potatoes, almonds, mineral, balanced, smooth, clean.
Finish: Honey, lemon peel, citrus, soft berries, white pepper, light bite, smooth, clean, easy.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Reyka Vodka





Provincial
(Canada)
Distilled from grain, 7x distilled, charcoal filtered water from interglacial aquifer.

Nose: Vanilla, lime, citrus, floral, moss, camphor, almonds, spice, clean.
Palate: Nougat, buttery, vanilla, pear, figs, dates, dried berries, grains, potatoes, almonds, mineral, balanced, smooth, clean.
Finish: Honey, lemon peel, citrus, soft berries, white pepper, light bite, smooth, clean, easy.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Provincial Vodka





Helix
(France)
Wheat from the Champagne region in France, Icelandic water, carbon-filtered.

Nose: Citrus, fresh, clean.
Palate: Caramel, creamy, vanilla, honey, apple, berries, citrus, tropical, creamy potatoes, bittersweet grains, herbal, tarragon, peppermint, mint, tobacco, burnt wood, soft.
Finish: Lemon, citrus, pepper, cream, smooth.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Helix Vodka

 

 

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