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CATEGORY REPORT PHOTO: JEREMY BALL Slovenia Vodka Good chefs cook with skill, great chefs cook with passion. So it only stands to reason that were a chef to get involved in creating an artisanal spirit that the result would be something loaded with style and finesse and truly praiseworthy. Such is the case with renowned Hudson Valley chef and restaurateur Peter X. Kelly and his creation, Slovenia Vodka. "This vodka was developed with luxury in mind from the onset, says Billy Rattner, sommelier and " founding brand team member. "Like a small pinch of saffron that turns Chef Kelly's bouillabaisse from sublime to superior, his innovative use of buckwheat takes Slovenia Vodka from smooth to smoothest. " The small batch import is made near Ljubljana, Slovenia from a blend of hardy winter wheat and spring water sourced from the Julian Alps. Its singular gustatory twist is the touch of native buckwheat added to the recipe. The vodka (SRP $38.99) is then distilled five times and bottled at 80 proof. Slovenia is well worth looking for. It has a voluptuous body, a semisweet herbal nose and a lingering spice, maple and citrus finish. Top-notch. www.sloveniavodka.com MWH Ltd. The first minority-owned vodka from Detroit, Voo (RSP $37 .99) has been two years in the making. "It's my blood, sweat and tears, says brand owner " DeCarlos Stewart, who shortened the term déjà vu into an easily pronounceable one-syllable word. "I want the experience to be reminiscent of something positive, but also of living the good life, says Stewart. "I " DeCarlos Stewart has hope Voo can bring some brightness something special in into people's lives—responsibly. " Voo Vodka. Hoping to also make Voo an urban legend, Stewart's catch phrase, 'It's so smooth, the chaser is optional,' helps carry the brand into the nightclub scene for straight up bottle service. The liquid is a breeze of lemon and white pepper—interrupting anything else going on at the time. It's that good and certainly got the attention of the buyers at our vodka event at Nic's Martini Lounge in Beverly Hills (see p. 126). The USA grain–based, eight-times-distilled Voo will be tasted by many of us, all over again. —Meridith May www.drinkvoo.com Voo Vodka PHOTO: JEREMY BALL Voo Vodka Swedish-made Purity Vodka (SRP $30) is a luxury brand with a special heritage. Pot-distilled from a mash of grains that includes estate-grown wheat and barley and mineral-rich spring water, Purity Vodka, enjoys an impressive 34 distillations, during which 90 percent of the distillate is discarded. With its home and soul at historic Ellinge Castle in southern Sweden, this is a regal vodka loaded with depth and finesse. Another crowdpleaser is Teton Glacier Vodka (SRP $27), a triple-distilled American spirit made from Idaho potatoes and pure, deep Rocky Mountain spring water. The vodka is filtered through charcoal and crystals, producing a spirit free of congeners, trace elements, and impurities. The result is a clean, crisp and smooth spirit devoid of harshness or bite. 144 / the tasting panel / june 2013 TP0613_120-156.indd 144 5/23/13 4:56 PM