Full Review

Stolichnaya

Stolichnaya
Gold Vodka

Category: Unflavored Vodka

Date Tasted:
Country: Latvia
Alcohol: 40%
96 Points
Platinum Medal
Superlative
$34

Stolichnaya
Gold Vodka

Category: Unflavored Vodka

Date Tasted:
Country: Latvia
Alcohol: 40%
Clear color. Aromas and flavors of pine forest on a crisp, snowy winter morning, citrus, and sesame with a round, crisp, dry light-to-medium body and a tingling, interesting, relaxed finish with nuances of pine needle tea, cream of wheat, and citrus meringue. About as neutral as it can be, with tight clean cuts so the spirit has very little alcohol burn; like drinking the clean air of the Alps above the tree line.

Tasting Info

Spirits Glass Style: Mild
Aroma Aroma: pine forest on a crisp, snowy winter morning, citrus, and sesame
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with nuances of pine needle tea, cream of wheat, and citrus meringue
Smoothness Smoothness: Tingling
Enjoy Enjoy: in cocktails, neat and on the rocks
Cocktail Cocktails: Bloody Mary, Moscow Mule, Vodka Martini
Bottom Line Bottom Line: About as neutral as it can be, with tight clean cuts so the spirit has very little alcohol burn; like drinking the clean air of the Alps above the tree line.

The Producer

SPI Group

The Producer
Valley Park F 44 rue de la Vallée
1 352-24 695 131

Their Portfolio

97 elit Vodka 40% (Latvia) $39.00.
94 Se Busca Joven Mezcal Artesanal 40% (Mexico) $42.00.
89 Se Busca Reposado Mezcal Artesanal 40% (Mexico) $55.00.
90 Se Busca Añejo Mezcal Artesanal 40% (Mexico) $70.00.
94 Se Busca Joven Madrecuishe Mezcal Artesanal 45% (Mexico) $150.00.
92 Stolichnaya Strasberi Vodka 37.5% (Latvia) $22.00.
92 Stolichnaya "100 Proof" Vodka 50% (Latvia) $22.00.
93 Stolichnaya Hot Jalapeno Vodka 37.5% (Latvia) $22.00.
88 Stolichnaya Peachik Vodka 37.5% (Latvia) $19.00.
92 Stolichnaya Vodka 40% (Latvia) $20.00.
89 Stolichnaya Stoli Chamoy Vodka 35% (Latvia) $20.00.
88 Stolichnaya Razberi Vodka 37.5% (Latvia) $20.00.
90 Stolichnaya Ohranj Vodka 37.5% (Latvia) $20.00.
92 Stolichnaya Blueberi Vodka 37.5% (Latvia) $20.00.
90 Stolichnaya Citros Vodka 37.5% (Latvia) $20.00.
95 Stolichnaya Cucumber Vodka 37.5% (Latvia) $20.00.
94 Stolichnaya Vanil Vodka 37.5% (Latvia) $20.00.
94 Stolichnaya Salted Karamel Vodka 37.5% (Latvia) $20.00.
92 Stolichnaya Gluten Free Vodka 40% (Latvia) $20.00.
96 Stolichnaya Gold Vodka 40% (Latvia) $34.00.

Unflavored Vodka

Spirits Glass Shot Clear.jpg
Serve in a Shot Glass
Unflavored vodka is defined in the US as a "neutral" spirit devoid of color, aroma, and taste, however, the finest unflavored vodkas are served neat and do have a subtle taste, sometimes of the base grain or ingredient, citrus or even anise. But most vodkas are used for cocktails, often mixed with fruit juice (cranberry juice for Cosmopolitans or orange juice for Screwdrivers.), tonic, or soda for the ubiquitous bar-hopper favorite Vodka & Soda. To which craft bartenders these days like to say, "vodka pays the bills."

Unflavored vodka is made by fermenting and then distilling the simple sugars from a mash of pale grain or vegetal matter. Vodka is produced from grain, potatoes, molasses, beets, and a variety of other plants. Rye and wheat are the classic grains for Vodka, with most of the best Russian Vodkas being made from wheat while in Poland they are mostly made from a rye mash. Swedish and Baltic distillers are partial to wheat mashes. Potatoes are looked down on by Russian distillers, but are held in high esteem by some of their Polish counterparts. Molasses, a sticky, sweet residue from sugar production, is widely used for inexpensive, mass-produced brands of Vodka. American distillers use the full range of base ingredients, but most are made from the abundant supply of corn from the US heartland.