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In the Eastern Europe round two medals were awarded: a Gold award went to “vibrant, fresh” Kreskova Vodka, while a Silver was given to Von Est Sangaste Rye Organic Estonian Vodka. Koskenkorva Vodka Original showed all the qualities needed to bag a Master medal in the Scandinavia segment. Carruthers said the vodka was “extremely drinkable”, and detected notes of “lemon, pine and sweetness – very smooth”. Chambers added: “Compared with the rest, it’s very classy and elegant.”
Elyx is made with grain taken exclusively from the Råbelöf estate in Sweden and is manually distilled in a 1921 copper rectification. The “bright and elegant” Muff Vodka and Altumura Vodka with its “luxurious texture” took home Gold medals. Filer said of the Premium flight: “A flight with impressive quality, considering the value of the products; some still have the distinctive ‘cheap vodka’ flavour and texture, but some present a balance and complexity that is impressive for the price point.”Desi Daru Mango Vodka secured its third Master medal, in the Microdistillery flight. Chambers said: “Tonnes of fresh mango on nose, fresh pulp with bitterness from skin, soft and sweet on the palate, with a very complex flavour profile, lots of fresh mango – this is great to experience, compared with something more confected. It’s juicy and delicious, with a delicate peppery note underneath.”
Desi Daru is said to have ambition expansion plans for the remainder of 2023. There has already been appearances in some of the UK’s top bars and restaurants, from Mayfair’s Michelin-starred Benares to Fitzrovia’s Pahli Hill, as well as the Coburg Bar and the acclaimed Connaught Hotel. Fellow Gold medallist Saaremaa Vodka delivered a “creamy mouthfeel with a hint of sugar syrup and underlying cereal notes”. Two Silver medals were also awarded in this flight. Sparvoli said: “For the price I would say I was positively impressed.”
Winners
Other Gold winners included: Into the Wild Vodka, with its “clean and neutral nose” and “spice and pepper”; “creamy and sippable” Tanzanite Vodka with its “touch of crushed pine needle freshness and lime zest”; “soft and floral” Riverland Rose Vodka; and Incognito Vodka, with its “creamy sweetness and tangy citrus” on the palate. Panel three comprised: chair Bernadette Pamplin, freelance drinks writer and founder of the Under the Ginfluence blog; Sara Jane Eichler, founder of the Negroni Club UK; and Alan Uresti, head of agave spirits and drinks development at Annabel’s. The fourth panel was formed of: Dimple Athavia, founder of All Things Drinks; Masha Twemlow, associate at International Drinks Specialists; and Tobias Gorn, co‐founder and senior partner of International Drinks Specialists, who chaired. From organic to super-premium, vodka brands were awarded top medals for their quality However, they all produce superlative vodkas and are well worth seeking out. Once again, ADI has done a superb job identifying the craft distillery industry’s up-and-coming vodka producers.
Master‐winning Koskenkorva Vodka Sauna Barrel intrigued the judges with its uniqueness: “Lovely and tasty, somewhat like an unusual aquavit,” noted Gorn. “This was special. Lovely fresh vanilla notes with a touch of toasted wood and smoke.” First, Tayport Distillery Malt Barley Vodka; the expression was “very aromatic, creamy and smooth with superbly integrated alcohol”, noted Gorn. “It lingers nicely on the palate with very well composed flavours next to each other,” he added. Barn Vodka. Tasting notes included “sweetness, pepper, and nice creaminess and fruity quality”. Vodka makers are creating flavourful expressions The brand is known for fusing ingredients from the two countries together in its vodka – with ingredients sourced from Maharashtra, India, and the English countryside. Besides impressing the judges with its sustainable principles, this vodka proved it was easy on the mouth and nose too, with one judge praising its “floral bubblegum’’ and “tart tannic grape” notes, that came with ”lots of almond and cherry”. Mohit Singh commented on the launch:"As British-born Indians, my co-founder Aneet and I wanted to create a vodka that celebrated the best of both worlds. We wanted to create something truly special that would showcase the highest quality ingredients from India's Ratnagiri to the lush English countryside. The journey has been a labour of love, and we are thrilled to finally share Desi Daru with the world.
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Nine vodkas scored Best of Category. The top Vodka – Neutral Character among domestic producers is Felənē, American Handcrafted Vodka. Felənē is a Denver, Colorado-based distiller that crafts vodka from sugar cane juice. Louers Vodka walked away with the top award, described by Prousaefs as having: “Lemon peel and freshly cut grass on the nose. Excellent mouthfeel with very long aftertaste and a hint of bitterness at the end.” I’m not usually a vodka drinker, but I decided to make an exception, and I wasn’t disappointed. After meeting the brand owners, I was very impressed with the quality of both vodkas, especially the stunning Alphonso Mango vodka, which is very unique.” Sparvoli said: “Overall I was impressed. There were some extremely nice flavoured vodkas in here – I especially liked the grapefruit.” The brand’s Alphonso Mango-flavoured vodka was judged the best UK Flavoured Vodka at the World Drinks Awards, moving on to compete for the title of World’s Best Flavoured Vodka against other country winners.
The spirit is 10-times distilled from cool-fermented organic Australian sugarcane and sits at 40% ABV. The method to the vodka isn’t exactly what one might call ordinary – it’s made from whey leftover from co-founder Bryn Perry’s cheese making, who’d had enough of constantly throwing the excess down the drain.
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While sales appear to be stagnant for the category in the US, producers continue to invest in new products, capitalising on trends such as sustainability, low-ABV and provenance. Even ready-to-drink brands, such as White Claw and Truly, have made moves into the vodka category as demand for hard seltzers falters. Four Gold medallists were enjoyed in the following flight: Smooth. The key focus of this round was to, as the name suggests, determine just how smooth the vodka was, with added complexity an extra bonus. Gold winner Maple Vodka was lauded for its “maple syrup and caramel on the nose” and “sweet and syrupy palate”. Other Gold medallists included Absolut Peppar, with its “fresh, savoury and pepper aroma”, and Sapling Zero Waste Raspberry + Hibiscus Vodka, with flavours of raspberry and a “hint of tropical, late peppery spice”. The Alphonso mangoes used in the flavoured bottling are sourced from Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, and are prized for their superior sweetness and indulgent quality. They are referred to as ‘the king of Mangos’ in India.
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