Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/701904
92 / the tasting panel / july 2016 CATEGORY REPORT Life is Loaded with The importance of water cannot be overemphasized in vodka production; for Lo¯aded Vodka (SRP $19.99), only the best will do. The spirit starts as locally-grown Midwest corn and water from an underground alluvial aquifer that resides below Kansas City. "Vodka is made up of 60 percent water, so producing a high-quality product starts with the water source," says Loˉ aded Vodka founder Chris Seithel. The Kansas City native has so much confidence in the quality of this water that he evangelizes it throughout the state, sampling Loˉ aded Water to connect consumers with the base that contributes so much to the vodka's flavor and smoothness. After leaving its source, the water that goes into Loˉ aded Vodka undergoes reverse osmosis and UV filtration. The mash mixture is fermented for three to five days in a 2,000 gallon stainless steel tank, after which point it passes through a rectification column and pot still; then, ten four-foot pipes are lined with charred coconut husks for the vodka to pass through. That coconut carbon filtration process is repeated ten times, lending the spirit a supremely smooth texture. "Loˉ aded Vodka is excessively smooth, soft, a hint sweet, and there's no residual burn," Seithel says. The brand has received an overwhelmingly positive response to the gluten- free vodka distilled six times. "One of the crowning moments in my career was when we received back-to-back silver medals; that really validated us," Seithel says. The spirit was awarded a Silver medal at both the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition and San Francisco World Spirits Competition last year. Accounts across the country have increasingly reached for Loˉ aded Vodka as brand awareness grows: "Bartenders love to serve the vodka over ice with a lemon twist," Seithel says. Loˉ aded Vodka is currently available in 12 states, and the brand is constantly adding more markets as it grows organi- cally, using guerrilla marketing tactics like clever videos on Snapchat and Instagram. In addition, a new generation of vodka drinkers in search of hand-crafted products has taken note of the spirit both on- and off-premise. —B. T. Tasting Notes High-toned lime zest and peach sweetness combine on the nose for a striking first impression. Vanilla hits the stone fruit and softens the palate, but the spirited citrus notes are revealed through to the finish. —M. M. For more information, visit lifeisloaded.com. do. The spirit starts as locally-grown Midwest corn and water Loˉ aded Vodka founder Chris Seithel. The Kansas City native to connect consumers with the base that contributes so much gallon stainless steel tank, after which point it passes through received an overwhelmingly positive response to the gluten- "One of the crowning moments in my career was when we received back-to-back silver medals; that really validated us," says. Loˉ aded Vodka is currently available in 12 states, and the - vodka drinkers in search of hand-crafted products has taken