Vodka Well, vodka was a tough category to judge for our panel, as it really isn’t one of our favourite spirit categories. As a whole we judged vodka not so much as a flavourless neutral spirit but looked for depth and a somewhat clean finish on the palate. There were definitely a few brands that stood out, but the bartending crew felt that all were very mixable vodkas. Vodka is funny because each consumer wants different things from it; depending on how you drink it, each will have its own strengths. Some were great for on the rocks or chilled with pronounced notes of citrus or vanilla. Others would be ideal for a mixed drink with long, even grassy finishes. (FS)
BEST IN CLASS
JUDGES SELECTION
Vodka:
Burnett’s Vodka, USA, $24
ABSOLUT Elyx, Sweden $45
New Amsterdam Vodka, USA, $23
Khortytsa Platinum Vodka, Ukraine, $24
Tito’s Handmade Vodka, USA, $33
Flavoured Vodka:
Finlandia Grapefruit Vodka, Finland, $29
Flavoured Vodka Flavoured vodkas are not all that new; the first commercial ones were introduced more than three decades ago. The last few years however have seen a dramatic proliferation in them, with producers launching variants ranging from peanut butter and bacon to marshmallow and whipped cream. Name a flavour for your vodka, and chances are someone has already produced it. Judges were impressed by the Finlandia’s balance and subtlety. The spirit and flavours were well-blended and did not feel artificial. (AF)
JUDGES SELECTION Spirit Bear Espresso Vodka, Canada, $40
Smirnoff Sorbet Light Raspberry Pomegranate, USA, $29 62