Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/57654
Purity Hits the Streets y Kuuttanen says his goal with Purity was to create a vodka he'd want to drink himself. He describes Purity's fi nished fl avor profi le as "complex, full-bodied and loaded with minerals that are complemented with hints of white chocolate, nougat, malt, rosebuds, licorice and lime." The fi nished product also pleases the experts: Purity has had a consistent run of wins in awards over the years. In 2011 alone, Purity took home several fi rst place wins in tasting competitions, including seven out of seven awards at the Vodka Masters and Travel Retail Masters competi- tion in Cannes (and the only perfect 100 point score by any spirit in the history of the competition), and a Gold Medal at the MicroLiquor awards. But some of the toughest judges to impress are the bartenders who will decide whether to carry Purity and introduce it to their customers. Kuuttanen, along with Purity Vodka Brand Ambassador John Pomeroy, is confi dent he can win them over once he gets them to learn about and try the product. As some of the best and most effective educators in the spirits industry, bartend- ers are key to the success of introducing Purity to the THE ICBM created by Marshall Altier and Jason Littrell of Genuine Leather Hospitality for Jbird Lounge, NYC ◗ 2½ oz. Purity Vodka ◗ ½ oz. dry vermouth ◗ Mist of celery bitters ◗ Garnish with dry vermouth-cured cocktail onion. PURITY VODKA ON-PREMISE The Best Vodka for the Drink New York speakeasy-style bar Jbird Lounge carries a single vodka. Bartender Jason Littrell, along with his part- ner in Genuine Leather Hospitality, Marshall Altier, chose Purity for that vodka based on the drink they wanted to put on the menu: a vodka-heavy variation of the Gibson. "Because of the nature of the cocktail that it's in, we had to use something that's a great representation of the category. Purity Vodka is exceptionally clean," says Littrell. "We tried it with a couple of different brands, but Purity was the best. We felt that this was a great representation of the vodka—and the vermouth and the bitters," he says. Jason Littrell makes his ICBM, a modern take on the Gibson, at Jbird Lounge. march 2012 / the tasting panel / 57 PHOTO: DOUG YOUNG PHOTO: CHRISTINE MERSON PHOTO: DOUG YOUNG