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StateWays ■ www.stateways.com ■ January/February 2016 26 esque city of Stará L'ubovna and the world's oldest preserved distillery. Evi- dence suggests that it was producing a grain-based distillate similar in descrip- tion to vodka as far back as 650 years ago. Now Master Distiller Ján Krak of the Gas-Familia Distillery is relying on a recipe discovered in the distillery as the inspiration behind the world-class spirit, Goral Vodka Master. The brand is crafted using late-harvest Durum wheat and mineral-enriched wa- ter sourced from underground springs high in the Tetra Mountains. The mash is then distilled in Gas-Familia's sophis- ticated 7-column still and rendered es- sentially pure with micro-fi ltration. Says Krak, "I have dedicated my entire life to perfecting the distillation process and producing the smoothest, cleanest and most timeless tasting vodka possible. I think in this vodka I've created that." Global giant Absolut has released super-premium Absolut Elyx, a luxurious vodka handcrafted in an antique, copper column still from single-estate wheat and pure gla- cier spring water, all sourced within a 15-mile radius of the distillery. Priced around three-times as much as the base Absolut brand, Elyx is classically structured and a genuine treat to sip neat or with a slight chill. The end result is an 84.6 proof gem with a clean, dry nose, a spicy palate and a long crisp fi nish. "The vodka is particularly diffi cult and painstaking to pro- duce. To then dump cranberry juice or fl avored energy drink on top of Elyx rather misses the point," says Jonas Tahlin, CEO of Absolut Elyx. Bombora is a wildly popular brand of vodka from Australia. It's made from locally grown red and white grapes and artisanal spring water. The fermented mash is then column distilled numerous times and bottled at 80 proof. "After eight years of develop- ment and building up sales in Australia, we're looking forward to expanding internationally. As BY ROBERT PLOTKIN I n a country that loves throaty V-8s, barbeque and bone- crunching sports, how did a spirit as delicate and nuanced as vodka so thoroughly dominate the limelight? For most consumers the draw is their purity, for others it is vodkas' enormous diversity. While some are gloriously neutral, others are profoundly personable and laced with fl avor. To the uninitiated, vodka seems like an uncomplicated proposition. But that's far off mark. Premium vodka is the unique product of mi- croclimate, technique and water. Their base commodities, whether grain, grapes or pota- toes, are nurtured by the sun, rain and soil. Distillation then renders their essence into the lightest of all spirits, one unfettered by the weighty effects of barrel aging. The character of the water is a most telling ingredient, however. Water is what gives vodka its singular identity— a genetic fi ngerprint, if you will. Increasingly, more im- ported vodkas are promoting the specifi c conditions that affected distillation. The majority of growth in 2014 was in the imported segment and smaller, boutique brands. These brands are providing retailers and consumers alike the opportunity to hunt for the next hot new vodka. Sifting through the mass of new brand names and confl icting claims can be daunting. In an attempt to shallow out the learning curve, here is a roster of the best and brightest of the new brands. RECENT IMPORTS The tiny country of Slovakia is located on the southern border of Poland. It is there that you'll fi nd the pictur- world's oldest preserved distillery. Evi- VODKA VARiEty Hardly neutral, imports retain their unique characteristics.