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Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/123667
New and Noteworthy Vodkas Many vodka drinkers are driven by the desire to experience something new and exciting. For them it's like an urban adventure. Here's a look at some of the new offerings. AYLESBURY This award-winning spirit is made near Calgary, Canada, from soft white winter wheat. After distillation, it is shipped to Domaine Charbay in Napa Valley, where it is rendered to 80 proof with ultra-pure, subterranean water. Delicate and surprisingly flavorful. AMERICAN HARVEST Made in Rigby, ID, the certified organic vodka is continuous-distilled from winter wheat and spring water. The grain is obtained from a familyowned American farm. The creamy, textured spirit is the quintessence of neutrality. BLUE ICE ORGANIC WHEAT Handcrafted and USDA certified organic, this classy American vodka is distilled using Idaho winter wheat and pristine spring water drawn from a deep underground aquifer. It's sleek and delectable. BOOTLEGGER 21 This elegant, super-premium vodka is made by Prohibition Distillery at the famed Tuthilltown facilities in New York's Hudson Valley. The award-winning brand is distilled in small batches from local organic grain. COLD RIVER Handcrafted Cold River from Freeport, ME, is a sensational pot-distilled spirit made from locally grown potatoes and underground spring water. It's a flavor-imbued vodka with a delightful dash of sweetness on the finish. Great stuff. CROP HARVEST EARTH A range of American vodkas distilled in Minnesota from certified organic grain. Particularly laudable are the brand's organic cucumber and organic tomato versions. 28 | MAY 2013 CUPCAKE This handcrafted, 80-proof vodka is distilled from grain with a touch of grape spirits and natural flavors. Developed by winemaker Adam Richardson and wine/spirits authority Doug Frost at Cupcake Vineyards in California's Monterey County. DEATH'S DOOR Located just outside of Madison, WI, the Death's Door Distillery handcrafts in copper pot stills a superior vodka that's triple-distilled from a mash of organic, hard red winter wheat and organic malted barley. A Midwestern gem. DOUBLE CROSS VODKA The ultra-premium import is distilled in Slovakia from estate-grown winter wheat and aquifer-fed spring water. It is filtered seven times through a proprietary series of devices to render the spirit essentially pure. The vodka has a floral bouquet and a warm finish layered with peppery, citrusy flavor. FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED QUINOA The first and only vodka from quinoa, a grain grown in South America, and the first spirit made with Fair Trade Certified ingredients. The finished spirit is lushly textured with a delectable fruit and pepper finish. KARLSSON'S GOLD Appropriately named, this Swedish potato vodka is single-distilled, a challenging process to do well, but one that leaves the inherent flavor of the potato intact. The brand also has three vintage-dated releases, all of which are world-class. SQUARE ONE ORGANIC BASIL Square One's newest flavor sensation is infused with the organic essence of four varieties of garden-fresh basil—Genovese, Thai, Lemon and Sweet. Small amounts of organic coriander, honeysuckle and lemongrass are then added to balance the spirit's robust herbal character. SQUARE ONE BOTANICALS An innovative vodka that's distilled in Idaho from organic rye and infused with eight botanicals, an unconventional blend of pears, rose petals, chamomile, lavender and lemon verbena. It's a vodka that gin drinkers will adore. TRIPLE WHEAT VAN GOGH BLUE VODKA This ultrapremium vodka from Holland is triple-distilled in pot stills from three varieties of wheat. Best known for producing exceptional flavored vodkas, Van Gogh Blue is velvety smooth and delightfully neutral. VERMONT GOLD This artisanal vodka from St. Johnsbury, VT, is pot-distilled entirely from the sap of local maple trees. Aromatic and warming, the handmade vodka is light-bodied, satiny smooth and finishes on a dime. Its Vermont Limited Release Vodka is distilled entirely from early-run maple sap, which is highly sought after for its quality and delicate flavor. VESICA The Polish spirit is three-times column-distilled entirely from premium-grade potatoes in a continuous still designed to render the vodka essentially pure. Polish potato vodka is a genuine treat. It's even more so when priced well below the market.—RP www.cheersonline.com