Top 5 Vodkas for 2021
Top 5 Vodkas for 2021
Today i am going to speak a little bit about my Top 5 Vodka Picks for 2021. Last Article we talked about the History and Production of the “Little Water” and i wanted to give you guys an insight on what product i like to use. These are also the Vodkas i will be using in my next Article, 5 easy Vodka Drinks everybody can make at home.
Number 5 - Haku
Haku Vodka is the Japanese answer to the Worldwide demand for Premium Spirits. Japanese Culture always seeks for Perfection and so does Beam Suntory with this Spirit.
Using one of the Countries most Iconic Products, a white Rice, was a natural step. Rice has a long and deep connection to Japanese Culture. Rice was a Symbol of luxury and was only reserved for the Rich.
Haku itself means, depending on the way you read it either White witch referrers to Hakumai or Junpaku witch then means untainted and brilliant tributing the Japanese Craftsmanship.
The polished and milled Rice gets fermented, not with a Yeast, but with Rice Koji ( a Fungus Culture that is also used to make Sake and or Soja ) before it gets distilled in Pot stills in Kagoshima. From there the Rice Spirits is brought to Kyushu a region famous for its Rice Spirit know-how. Now this next step is a little different from a lot of Vodka distillations. Here the Spirit is Separated and distilled in two different processes. The Goal is to archive Body and Volume as well as distinctive Flavour. The blending is finished in Osaka. This is what they call “Monozokuri” a synonym for the Spirit of producing something with Pride, Skill, Dedication, and the pursuit of Innovation and Perfection.
The Final Step in the making of Haku is the Filtration. Beam Suntory uses a Bamboo Charcoal filtration. This type of Filtration was used in Ancient Japan to Filter the water for Tea. Originally they said it makes the water sweeter, but it filters the impurities out of it. the Bamboo has a super-porous Structure, three times higher than other wood types. This makes the Haku smooth and mellow.
Number 4 - Belvedere
Belvedere is the Prime Example for Polish Vodka. In Poland Vodka is Similar protected as Scotch. From the Grains to the Bottle, everything has to be made in Poland.
For every 1l of Belvedere they use 3kg of 100% Polish Rye. The water from their Artesian Well is processed 13 times before it is used to Dilute the 96% ABV Spirit down to drinking strength. The 100% pure H2O enhances the Liquor even further.
The Distillery that Produces Belvedere opened 1910 in Polmos Zyradow. After the fall of the Communistic Regime 1989 they wanted to launch a Branded Vodka. As a name and Symbol they choose the Belvedere Palace in Warsaw.
in 2005 the Brand was bought by LVMH. Since then the successful Brand won 45 Trophies, Medals and Awards.
The “Little Water” makes 4rth with its distinctive mellow and creamy taste.
Number 3 - Ketel One
Ketel one is distilled from Winter Wheat grown in Europe. The fist step of distillation is made in a colimn Still to gather a very pure and Lively Spirit. Part of this undergoes another distillation in 10 Copper Pot Stills, one of them beeing the legendary Kettel One. The Coal fired Copper Pot Still has is origins in the early 19th centuy and needs alot of attention to operate.
After the Heads and tails are cut, we are now left with 10 different Heartswich are individually filtered and then blendet to the so called “Master Pot Still Batch”.
Water, the crisp Vodka from the Collum Still and the “Master Pot Still” are then married. every Production is checked by one of the owner Family, the Nolet before the Little Water is bottled
Number 2 - Absolut elix
Absolut Elyx is the luxury Spirit from Absolut. It separates itself by using only Winter Wheat from a single Estate and distilling in a Copper Column Still from 1921.
All ingredients are gathered from a 15km radius, really taking care of sustainability and the People growing the Wheat. The Terroire of the Rubelof Estate gives the Wheat the exact amount of Starch and Protein. Winter Wheat is planted in September were it starts to germinate but it gets slowed down by winter time. In spring it comes back to life and then, accelerated by its kick start, it grows till August
Water is probably the most important ingredient for a good Vodka and Elyx gets its Water from a natural aquifer. Filtered Naturally through boulder-ridge and limestone this pure and low on minerals Water is untouched by modern day pollution.
In the first step of distillation so called sacrificial coppers are added to the process. The Copper binds sulphur compounds resulting in a clean and crisp Vodka. Also worth mentioning is the fact, that in the second Stage of distillation they use a copper Column from 1921 which is operated solely by hand.
Number one - Belvedere single Estate
Belvedere released 2 Single estate Vodkas, Lake Bartezek and Smogory Froest. Both are utilising 100% Dankovsky Diamond Rye for its production. It is astonishing and incredible how the Terroire of these two little towns effect the Vodka. Lake Bartezek presents itself lively with floral notes, reminding of a beautiful field of flowers and grass. Smogory Forest on the other side has a distinctive foresty, hints of burned caramel, wood and a very robust body. These two make my Top spot, because they are so incredible Divers and can be used in completely different drinks. Also the have shown, that Vodka is not always tasteless.
