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| 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!
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| What you drink while in Ukraine |
October 4th 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Yes, I had to wear a hair net while touring Khortytsa |
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| At the Khortytsa Distillery |
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