Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest If there were a misunderstood spirit, it would be vodka. Vodka is often seen as a boring, tasteless, odorless spirit. It has a reputation of being “just a skinny drink” ( as it contains fewer calories and no carbs) or something to be drowned in mixers. But there is more to vodka than meets the eye. It’s an exciting spirit that is overlooked by liquor snobs who think that all vodkas are the same. Like other alcohol with unclear origins like pisco (Peru or Chile) and wine (France or Italy), there is a dispute as to where vodka originated. Depending on who you ask, the birthplace of vodka is either Russia or Poland. Drinking vodka has been documented since the 14th century in eastern and northern Europe. Vodka Day is observed annually on October 4th in the United States and various countries. If you want to whip up some vodka cocktails to celebrate the occasion, click on this link for vodka cocktail inspirations. Vodka is a neutral spirit distilled at least three times at a high proof from fermented vegetable or grain and then filtered. It may come from virtually any fermentable ingredients, like potatoes, sorghum, corn, rice, rye, wheat, grapes, and coconuts. Each raw material gives a specific texture and taste to the vodka, which also dispels the myth that all vodkas taste the same. In this episode of DrinkManila Tastings, DrinkManila’s editor-in-chief Tatum Ancheta and mixologist Icy Mariñas sampled twenty-two vodkas to explore the variety that this spirit has to offer and to dispel some myths about this frequently overlooked drink. There’s a method to this tasting madness, starting from the more neutral tones, then working their way to more premium vodkas, and ending with flavored vodkas. With the vodkas chilled to get optimum tasting experience and a determination to get through all of them, the pair made their way through a cross-section of spirits. Here’s a rundown of the vodkas they tried out. Red Square Vodka, Green Mark Vodka, Absolut Vodka, Grey Goose Vodka, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka 1) Red Square Vodka Red Square Vodka comes from England. This vodka made from grain has a neutral, clean, and crisp taste that comes from being triple filtered and distilled seven times. TASTING NOTES: Neutral, clean, and crisp It is distributed by Don Revy Philippines and retails for around Php 390 for a 700 ml bottle online, in groceries, and convenience stores 2) Green Mark Vodka Green Mark Vodka hails from Russia. A lower ABV bottling of Green Mark Vodka as this is only 38% ABV. This vodka comes from wheat and has complex herbal and spicy notes. TASTING NOTES: Herbal and spicy with notes of fennel and star anise. Green Mark Vodka is distributed in the Philippines by Grand Cru Wines and Spirits and retails for around Php 350 for a 700 ml bottle online 3) Absolut Vodka Absolut Vodka is something that most of us have tasted. It is one of the most recognizable brands and bottles of vodkas in the market, owing in part to their successful ad campaigns. This Swedish vodka uses locally-grown, GMO-free winter wheat harvested after winter. The grain that survives winter has the most flavor that’s locked in them and gives Absolut its distinctive sweet finish and consistent quality. TASTING NOTES: Clean with peppery touches, and a sweet finish Pernod Ricard Philippines distribute Absolut Vodka. It costs around Php699 for a 700 ml bottle online and is available in liquor stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores. 4) Grey Goose Vodka Another familiar brand that is a staple in bars and clubs, Grey Goose Vodka, is a French vodka produced in the Maître de Chai tradition, which allows aromas to be produced in the distillation process. French through and through, Grey Goose is made from wheat from Picardie in northern France and spring water from a limestone well in Cognac, France. TASTING NOTES: Clean, peppery, with spicy, warming, and creamy finish Grey Goose is distributed by Future Trade International Inc. A 750 ml bottle costs around Php1,799 5) Tito’s Handmade Vodka Tito’s Handmade Vodka is made from corn in a process used for single malt Scotch and French cognacs at Austin, Texas’ oldest legal distillery, Fifth Generation Inc. Since the spirit uses corn, the vodka is naturally Gluten-Free. TASTING NOTES: Hints of corn with a smooth creamy finish Tito’s Vodka is distributed by Premier Wines & Spirits and retails for Php2000 Haku Vodka, Snow Leopard Vodka, Chase Vodka, Our/Berlin Vodka, and Black Cow Vodka 6) Haku Vodka The Japanese sure know how to take a spirit and make it their own. This vodka comes from the family of Beam Suntory, makers of Yamazaki, Hibiki, Hakushu, and Roku gin. Haku Vodka is made 100% Japanese white rice and is filtered through bamboo charcoal. Its unique creation process starts in Kagoshima and ends in Osaka, Japan. The curved lines on the bottle are meant to represent the streams glistening through nature in Japan as they run through the four seasons. TASTING NOTES: Soft, sweet, with aroma of cooked rice; it has a lingering finish reminiscent of sake notes Haku Vodka is distributed by Meritus Prime Distributions Inc and retails for around Php 1690 7) Snow Leopard Vodka This Polish vodka uses spelt, an ancient grain that is a subspecies of wheat, that gives Snow Leopard Vodka its distinctive nutty taste and creamy texture. It’s a vodka that offers a new meaning to drinking for a cause, as 15% of all Snow Leopard’s profits go to the Snow Leopard Trust, which funds various snow leopard conservation projects. TASTING NOTES: Light bodied, nutty, minty, with medium-length Szechuan peppercorns and ginger finish. Snow Leopard Vodka is distributed by Grand Cru Wines and Spirits in the Philippines and retails for about Php 1950 online 8) Chase Vodka This English vodka comes from Britain’s first single-estate distillery, in Herefordshire, England, by William Chase, who is also known for founding Tyrrells crisps. Chase uses potato to make their vodka. It is the base spirit for their William GB Extra Dry Gin. TASTING NOTES: Clean and rounded, sweet and creamy with notes of white pepper and freshly sliced potato Chase Vodka is distributed in the Philippines by Apotheke Craft Spirits and retails for Php 2,260 in online and liquor stores 9) Black Cow Vodka Black Cow Vodka from England is made entirely from grass-grazed cows milk. The process separates the milk into a curd (to make cheese) and whey to make the vodka. The fermentation and distillation process removes almost all of the lactose and is considered safe for dairy/lactose intolerances. TASTING NOTES: Delicate creamy taste, sweet with a touch of cinnamon and vanilla This 50 ml bottle was purchased at the Singapore Cocktail Festival 2018 for SGD 16 (Php 607.64). For more information, visit www.blackcow.co.uk 10) Our/Berlin Vodka Pernod Ricard chose a Berlin start-up to produce and market the Our/Berlin Vodka in 2013 and has also tapped Miami, London, Los Angeles, and New York for this collaboration. Each vodka is made to the same recipe, but the wheat and water for each one are found locally. Each city’s vodka has a unique taste and each city gives its vodka its unique expression, name, and character. Our/Berlin Vodka uses freshwater from Treptow, a borough in the southeast of Berlin, and locally grown wheat and has a piney, fresh, with smooth fruity character. TASTING NOTES: Piney, fresh, with a smooth fruity character For more information about this bottle, visit their website on this link. Oligarch Private Club Vodka, Kremlin Award Grand Premium Vodka, Chisti Rosi Russian Vodka – Wheat, and Chisti Rosi Russian Vodka – Rye 11) Chisti Rosi Russian Vodka – Wheat Chisti Rosi is the first Russian Organic vodka. The name means ‘pure morning dew’ in Russian. The vodka is distilled in small batches from selected organic wheat, grown in natural conditions on a Russian eco-farm. TASTING NOTES: Refreshing fresh cut grass aromas, soft minerality, and mild pepper finish Chisti Rosi Russian Vodka is available in European and Asian Duty-Free hubs. Chisti Rosi Wheat retails at USD43 for one liter 12) Chisti Rosi Russian Vodka – Rye Chisti Rosi also made a rye version of their vodka. Rye has a spicier quality than wheat. TASTING NOTES: Sweet grain notes with a warm spicy finish Chisti Rosi Russian Rye Vodka is available in European and Asian Duty-Free hubs. Chisti Rosi Rye retails for USD24 for a 50cl bottle 13) Oligarch Private Club Vodka This Russian vodka uses grain as its ingredient. Its innovatively shaped bottle was made in France from a cool-blue tinted glass. TASTING NOTES: Fresh, minty, and astringent Oligarch Private Club Vodka is currently not available in the Philippines. We got the bottle from our recent visit to Russia. The bottle retails for USD21.99 14) Kremlin Award Grand Premium Vodka It took two years for a team of specialists under the strict control of the Kremlin to perfect the formula for this vodka, which remains a state secret. The Kremlin serves as the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. Initially, they only produced this vodka on a special order of the Kremlin in limited quantities. It was the official spirit served according to state protocol at all banquets and events hosted by the Kremlin elite. TASTING NOTES: Clean, peppery, with sweet licorice and vanilla notes Kremlin Award Grand Premium Vodka retails for USD58 and is available in European countries. Żubrówka Bison Vodka, Crop Organic Vodka – Cucumber, and Crop Organic Vodka – Meyer Lemon 15) Crop Organic Vodka – Cucumber Crop Organic Vodka is USDA certified organic vodka produced from grain grown on America’s plains. This flavored vodka comes from a single estate grown grains by a local organic farmer. Crop Organic Cucumber is a perfect introductory vodka for beginners. TASTING NOTES: Notes of fresh-cut cucumber, it delivers white floral aromatics with a clean and smooth finish Crop Organic Vodka is distributed in the Philippines by Apotheke Craft Spirits and sells for around Php2,410 online and liquor stores 16) Crop Organic Vodka – Meyer Lemon The Meyer lemon version of Crop Organic Vodka is bright and crisp. Meyer lemons are a cross between a regular lemon and mandarin orange. They are smaller than regular lemons, with thinner skin, less tart, and sweeter. TASTING NOTES: Crisp, clean with sweet citrus notes Crop Organic Vodka is distributed in the Philippines by Apotheke Craft Spirits and sells for around Php2,410 online and liquor stores 17) Żubrówka Bison Vodka Żubrówka Bison Vodka is a Polish rye vodka flavored with aromatic bison grass that gives it its green-tinged hue and its smooth, herbal flavor profile. Each bottle contains a single blade of handpicked bison grass. Żubrówka has had its fair share of controversy. It was banned in the U.S. for years because it contains coumarin, a moderately toxic chemical that occurs naturally in bison grass that can also act as a blood thinner. Żubrówka makers have since found a way to distill coumarin-free bison grass vodka and are now available in the U.S. TASTING NOTES: Fresh and herbal with notes of tarragon, mint, sage, thyme, rosemary, and cinnamon Żubrówka is distributed in the Philippines by Grand Cru Wines and Spirits and retails at around Php1,600 Red Square Toffee Vodka, Red Square Sloe Vodka, Kakuzo Tea Infused Vodka, Chase Oak Smoked Vodka, and Charleston Distilling Carolina Reaper Pepper Vodka 18) Red Square Toffee Vodka Bottles at 20% ABV, this toffee-flavored vodka is made from seven times-distilled pure grain Red Square vodka. It’s best used as a cocktail mixer because of its creamy sweet burnt caramel taste. May work best in an Espresso Martini. TASTING NOTES: Creamy toffee notes with a light caramel finish Red Square Toffee Vodka is distributed in the Philippines by Don Revy Philippines and retails for around Php850 in groceries, and convenience stores. 19) Red Square Sloe Vodka Red Square Sloe is made with seven times distilled, 100% grain vodka and has the flavors of sloe, the fruit of the blackthorn bush that has a sharp sour and bitter taste when raw but has a deep berry flavor once mixed with sugar (popularly used in sloe gins). This sloe-flavored vodka is sweet with berry notes and hints of almond. TASTING NOTES: Sweet with berry notes and hints of almond Red Square Sloe Vodka is distributed in the Philippines by Don Revy Philippines and retails for around Php750 in groceries, and convenience stores. 20) Kakuzo Tea Infused Vodka This tea-infused German rye gin is inspired by Japanese scholar Okakura Kakuzo, who wrote The Book of Tea in 1906. The makers hand-picked the tea from Japan (Sencha), China (Keemun), and India (Assam) to form the base of the Earl Grey blend distilled several times with vodka with a blend of bergamot, lime and grapefruit oils. The result is in a unique vodka with notes of Earl Grey dry bitter tannins that blend harmoniously with honey, caramel, and aromatic citrus. TASTING NOTES: Light peppery spice with a strong Earl Grey tea dry bitter tannins Kakuzo Tea Infused Vodka is currently not available in the Philippines and maybe bought in European countries and retails for USD35. 21) Chase Oak Smoked Vodka Lovers of smoky spirits can add this vodka to their list. Coming from the family of Chase spirits, this smoky, savory vodka with hints of black pepper is made with spring water smoked with English Oak for five days then blended with Chase Vodka. TASTING NOTES: smoky, savory, with an oaky dryness and hints of black pepper Chase Oak Smoked Vodka is distributed in the Philippines by Apotheke Craft Spirits and retails for Php2,580 in online and liquor stores. 22) Charleston Distilling Carolina Reaper Pepper Vodka Charleston Distilling Co. is a small batch distillery making handcrafted spirits in the US. The Carolina Reaper Pepper Vodka is created by macerating corn vodka with dried Carolina Reaper Peppers, the hottest pepper in the world. TASTING NOTES: smooth, with sweet and spicy heat, and a short finish Charleston Distilling Carolina Reaper Pepper Vodka is distributed in the Philippines by CSF Enterprise and retails at around Php1,500 There you have it. Twenty-two vodkas that cover a variety of styles, ingredients, and countries. Which ones would you like to try?