America’s National Vodka Day: Ukraine’s Khortytsa

Ukrainian Vodka and Brandy, both available in the US

I want to dispel the myth, the rumor, the outright fantasy that vodka should be, “colorless and odorless.” If you buy into that, you’ve been duped and are obviously drinking crappy vodka. Not true my friends, authentic vodka has flavor and tastes like something, much of that depending on what the grain was, corn, potato, or other grains. Really quality vodka need not be reduced to a second-class mixer and if you add Red Bull, please for the love for god keep reading!

What you drink while in Ukraine

October 4^th in the US is National Vodka Day. In June, 2017 I went to Ukraine in search of vodka and brandy and if there is any spirit most associated with Ukraine it’s vodka. Ukrainian Billionaire Evgeniy Chernyak in behind Khortytsa vodka. He built one of the largest distilleries in Ukraine located in the southwestern manufacturing hub of Zaporizhia producing over 6.5 million cases annually. Their vodka is grain-based though they can use potato under Ukrainian law. They purchase neutral spirits from 52 different distilleries throughout Ukraine then rectify it at their facility, every step monitored day and night. Even their water, which is also from Zaporizhia, incorporates a multi-stage filtration system including sand filtration and reverse osmosis to make it as pure as possible. Wisely, Chernyak hired veteran distiller Vira Morshna, who has developed and patented 177 titles of vodka and liquors at Khortytsa over the last 14 years and as of today she’s been at the game 45 years.

 

Vira Morshna

There are four vodkas available in the US including a honey pepper, and the high end DeLuxe, shown here in it’s Ukrainian packaging, which is identical to the version found in the US, except for American spellings (average price $25). With this vodka you’ll find notes of mint, cucumber, there’s a slight sweetness, a clean and pure expression, a slight viscosity and weight to it with back notes of bubblegum and sweet resin. This can be sipped neat and I do prefer that. As I tasted with Chernyak after finishing a meal of sausages, potatoes and borscht and drinking more vodka, I mention to him that his vodkas are so clean, pure and flavorful that it would be a shame to use them as mixers. Chernyak barely registered a smile through his stoic exterior. “My dream was that my vodka would be consumed alone. All the major brands have the technology to make vodka, but we put our souls into our vodka and I'm proud that it represents Ukraine.” And while I was in Ukraine I also discovered a pairing I fell in love with – vodka and tiramisu. SO I encourage you to find better quality vodkas, and there are plenty out there, and sample the DeLuxe from Khortytsa.

Typical traditional lunch in Ukraine

Bonus Vodka Pairing

York Peppermint Patty w/ Ketel One Vodka (originally written for The Hollywood Reporter)

The sheer potent mint of the York patty fills the palate and like a good chaser the Ketel One, with a hint of its own minty background, provides a citrusy counterpoint, muting the mint and allowing the resin and eucalyptus flavors of the vodka to come through. This combo is pretty much seamless flavors as if they were made for each other. 

Yes, I had to wear a hair net while touring Khortytsa

At the Khortytsa Distillery