Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/326040
92 / the tasting panel / june 2014 SPEED TASTING REPORT Real Russian Bouquet ◗ 2 oz. Real Russian Vodka ◗ 1 oz. elderflower liqueur ◗ 2 oz. lavender soda ◗ lime, mint and flower garnish Off the Post ◗ 2 oz. Zignum Reposado Mezcal ◗ 1 oz. St-Germain ◗ 1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice ◗ muddled strawberries and cucumber ◗ 3 dashes Regan's Orange Bitters FROM RUSSIA, WITH LOVE: REAL RUSSIAN VODKA (SRP $19.99) Although it is handcrafted just a half hour north of Chicago in Gurnee, IL, Real Russian Vodka's roots go back to the Motherland. "My father is a third-generation master distiller from Russia," explains Inna Feldman-Gerber, President of Premiere Distillery. "But when my family emigrated to the U.S. in 1979, they left everything behind, and had no resources with which to start a distillery here. There were no micro-distilleries, and no one believed in my father's idea; no one wanted to invest or partner with him. But he never let go of his dream, so a couple of years ago, we pooled our resources as a family and opened the distillery!" Beaming with pride, Feldman-Gerber tastes our panel on the vodka as it is intended to be tasted: neat. "This is a classic Russian-style vodka, and we are very proud of it," she explained. Six-times-distilled and ten-times-filtered, Real Russian vodka is made from Midwest-sourced hard winter wheat, resulting in a creamy spirit that's not meant to be masked. Keeping the vodka in the forefront, Feldman-Gerber presented our panel with a simple take on a Vodka Soda. "It's too good to cover up," she said with a smile. Windy City Write-Up: "I'm not normally a fan of vodka, but this is very good! It tastes great neat, and the cocktail is spot-on. Light, refreshing and a great warm-weather cocktail."—Paul Sauter "A super clean handcrafted vodka, and I love the local angle. The cocktail is floral, refreshing and zesty with a lift of soda."—Don Sritong "The vodka is very smooth and clean, with a distinct, impressive character. Bravo!" —Brandon P hillips UNTRADITIONAL AGAVE: ZIGNUM REPOSADO MEZCAL (SRP $34) Bartender Andrew Schicker was watching a hockey game when he came up with the name for his cocktail , Off the Post. "It doesn't have much to do with mezcal," he admitted to our panel, "but I think the cocktail works!" An unconventional cocktail name is a good starting place for a brand that challenges what U.S. consumers have come to expect from the burgeoning mezcal category: "Mezcal can be a tough category, because people think smoke," continues Schicker. "But Zignum is not traditional in that it keeps those smoky flavors out," he explains. 100% green agave piñas are not smoked in the baking process, and Zignum Reposado is aged eight to nine months in American oak barrels, leaving room for a ton of other flavors to jump to the forefront. The Windy City Write-Up: "The spirit neat offers a unique flavor for mezcal; not overpowering and smooth with a cin- namon finish. The cocktail is very refreshing and the strawberry and cucumber work nicely to offset the bitter grapefruit."—Patrick Hattin "Clean agave flavor with no smoke. There's a nice hint of elderflower in the cocktail, which is light and refreshing."—Mark Cichowski "The reposado has some nice sweet caramel-vanilla notes with a bit of honey, and the cocktail's a great summer sipper!"—Rachel Burkons Inna Feldman-Gerber. Bartender Andrew Schicker and Bob Szczecinski, Zignum Brand Ambassador. TP0614_072-101.indd 92 5/23/14 9:39 PM