Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/701904
july 2016 / the tasting panel / 91 Going for Gold with Demidoff Ultra Premium Polish Vodka Demidoff Vodka (SRP $45) is an elegant potato vodka crafted in Southern Poland from unpeeled organic pota- toes that are pressure cooked, then fermented in vats for three days. A proprietary strand of baker's yeast facili- tates fermentation; the liquid is craft distilled in a copper pot still four times to eliminate impurities. Demidoff Vodka is further purified and refined as it passes through a dozen different filters, including special platinum membrane filters in the final stage of production. "From choosing the organic potatoes, to processing the alcohol, to bottling the spirit in an award-winning bottle, everything has to be perfect," insists owner Paul Mantea. Demidoff Vodka is the picture of perfection and quality, crafted without any additives; the spirit won Double Gold at this year's Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America competition, in addition to the Gold Medals it cinched for product and package design at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition last year. Earthy and spicy, Demidoff Vodka has a pleasant and smooth viscosity, a citrusy finish and no vodka burn. "The name Demidoff was embedded in Russian aristocracy in the beginning and was synonymous with building wealth, contributing to art and charity all over Europe," Mantea explains. In the same vein, Demidoff Vodka has made a mark in the U.S. market, having expanded distribution to the East Coast since last year. The brand's commitment to responsible production is evident in its insistence on sourcing only organic potatoes, due to their clean taste and lower impact on the environment. —B. T. Tasting Notes With its characteristic Eastern European savory nose, with notes of olives, sea salt and basil, this Polish vodka has us intrigued. The palate is rich and elegant, at once velvety and edgy, sinewy and bold. —M. M. DEMIDOFF VODKA