Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/807384
april 2017 / the tasting panel / 81 We Saw It First! NEW HIGH NOON VODKA IS READY FOR A SHOWDOWN High Noon Original 80-Proof Vodka, USA ($20) Embossed on the cool glass bottle is leisure is luxury, and this retro-design (we think collec- tor's) packaging will look just right on backbars and shelves. Experimenting with post-distillation techniques to further purify the vodka, High Noon developed its proprietary ozone processing and charcoal filtration method, according to its talented team of producers who were in trials for over a year, which makes for purer vodka with a mouthfeel that washes out on the finish. Thirty-five blends were created before reaching the perfect mouthfeel with the most demanding purity specifications; that means no cloying or viscous leftovers on the tongue. Made in the U.S., its base is corn from family-owned farms in the Midwest. So that's the original: clean on the nose, round on the palate with a marshmallow-chocolate effect that strengthens when served on ice. The ice also allows for a black pepper gravitas to show through. 95 High Noon Ruby Red Vodka, USA ($20) utilizes pure fruit juice, and your nose or taste buds won't be fooled on this. It's deliriously authentic. At 70 proof, it's sensational on the rocks. 96 High Noon Lemon Vodka, USA ($20) has the aromas of limoncello found along the Amalfi Coast. Balanced and bottled at 70 proof, the flavors are nei- ther sweet nor sour. Again, the addition of ice illuminates it, bringing in an echo of lemon blossom. 96 HIGH NOON SPIRITS COMPANY To create the Ruby Red and Lemon expressions—both made with real fruit—the High Noon team evaluated 40 different fruit juices and executed well over 1,000 analytical tests on each flavor to understand the juices and dial in their blends. Seventy flavors were screened and more than 100 blends created to arrive at the final two. For more information, contact The Tasting Panel at MMay@TastingPanelMag.com. We at The Tasting Panel were privileged to be the very first to taste this brand new vodka portfolio. —Meridith May