Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/237615
Nomadic Niki Niki Kotantoulas, the Los Angeles Nomadic Ambassador for Soyombo Vodka. "This is a royal vodka—and I quite like that!" laughs Niki Kotantoulas, referring to Soyombo Vodka's distillery, which is located on the site of the Winter Palace of Mongolia's last Emperor. Bolstering the vodka's regal roots is its overall flavor profile, which Niki calls "a very soft, pretty and pleasing spirit. It's going to be agreeable on every palate and is the kind of vodka you can really do anything with." THE TASTING PANEL caught up with Niki at her home bar, West Hollywood's Laurel Hardware, where Niki demonstrated that this Mongolian classic is a conqueror in all kinds of cocktails. "I'm able to do so many things with this vodka—I even made an Old Fashioned with it—and I think that's something many people still don't realize about vodka: It can really be a great swapper and work with so many intense flavors." Conquering Sunset Blvd. A Mongolian Masterpiece As anyone who's ever tried to "make it big" in Hollywood knows, taking on the Sunset Strip is no easy feat. But Niki was up to the task as she led us to Pearl's Liquor Bar, a onetime perfumery-turned speakeasy perched right next to the famed Whisky a Go Go. There, she greeted longtime friend Holly Fields, who was excited to get her first taste of the vodka. "The bottle is beautiful, she " remarked as Niki placed it in front At Pearl's Liquor Bar, of her. Together, the two lovely Niki and bartender 'tenders laughed Holly Fields laugh as they tasted on the bar's garden the vodka. "I'm swing as they sip a gin drinker, on Holly's Dorothy so it says a lot Parker cocktail. that I like this so much, remarked Holly candidly. "It's got " a really mild, smooth flavor that would do really well in lightly sweet, fruity cocktails. " To prove her point, Holly mixed up a Dorothy Parker, which the ladies enjoyed on a swing on Pearl's lush private garden. Small batch–crafted from the finest organic wheat on the Mongolian Steppes, Soyombo is six-times-distilled and filtered for five days (over quartz, charcoal, diamonds and silver, no less) to result in a clean, pure spirit. We asked Niki to create a few cocktails that show this is one vodka whose conquering spirit makes for a great cocktail. Niki also got into the nomadic spirit with her cocktail names—check out her descriptions below! Dorothy Parker ◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ 2 oz. Soyombo Vodka 2 oz. Funkin Pear Purée ¼ Madagascar vanilla bean, sliced open Pear slice garnish Niki was inspired to create several Mongolian themed cocktails using Soyombo: The Silver Fountain, The Weeping Camel, The Felt Tent and The Mandarin Collar. The Mandarin Collar "This cocktail is named for a feature sometimes found on a deel, which is a Mongolian frock," explains Niki. ◗ 2 oz. chamomile- and rosemary-infused Soyombo Vodka ◗ 1 oz. lemon juice ◗ 1 oz. simple syrup ◗ 3 dashes chocolate bitters The Silver Fountain "This cocktail is named after a legendary treasure that was once part of Genghis Khan's palace." ◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ 2 oz. Soyombo Vodka ¾ oz. lemon oleo Muddled mint Lemon bitters The Weeping Camel "This cocktail is named after a famous Mongolian film." ◗ 2 oz. Soyombo Vodka ◗ ¾ oz. lime juice ◗ ¾ oz. St-Germain ◗ ¾ oz. Aperol I◗ slay scotch rinse The Felt Tent "Named for the sheep wool tents used in the Steppe in Mongolia, I thought the texture and feel of the sage leaf was reminiscent of felt and perfect for this cocktail!" ◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ 2 oz. Soyombo Vodka 1 oz. lemon juice 1 oz. simple syrup Muddled sage and apple ¾ oz. calvados Spiced apple bitters january 2014 / the tasting panel / 61 TP0114_034-65.indd 61 12/19/13 9:29 PM