Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/91577
CATEGORY REPORT TALLARICO Tallarico gives American vodka a sexy new image. Founder Giancarlo Tallarico, a native of Southern California, made it his mission to make a deliciously complex yet undoubtedly smooth Martini. Tallarico Vodka comes in a black perfume-inspired bottle that implies a great night is ahead. Is it all mar- keting? Decidedly not! The sensual nature of the bottle is completely translated in the fi nish and fl avor of this exciting new vodka. A cherry spice continually rotates on the front of the tongue and beneath. As the fl avor lingers, the fi nish warms as it travels down the throat. The spice notes are sustained as the rest of the fl avor dissipates, leaving your mouth wanting more. Using common rye and winter wheat, Tallarico has a multi-dimensional fi nish that is ever-changing. The rye enhances the spice, while the wheat keeps it light. I love this vodka over the holidays, straight up, but if you want to give your Christmas party a little kick, try it in some apple cider. The Tallarico Spirits Co. 666 It may be inspired by the Tasmanian Devil—an aggressive, carnivorous marsu- pial found only on this Australian island— but there's actually nothing evil about this vodka. Crafted from locally grown Tasmanian barley in a slow copper-pot distillation process and charcoal-fi ltered, each batch is handled with the utmost care and consideration. All stages of production are slowly and carefully handled, ensuring that all the fl avors of the beautiful natural environment stay in the bottle. 666 is distilled three times to maintain the authenticity of the barley, then blended with water from Cape Grimm. I especially enjoy giving 666 to single malt scotch drinkers, who notoriously detest vodka. With their love of smoke and subtlety, they can't deny the strange beauty of this profi le. It starts of with a slight crisp bite that quickly mellows, giving way to dark chocolate and coffee notes. It's earthy yet clean in the most delicious way. You may not like the number, but you'll love it straight up with a cinnamon rim. Pure Distillery Co. 122 / the tasting panel / november 2012 PUNZONÉ Over the past fi ve years, both Italian and organic vodkas have made a splash in the spirits world but we haven't seen both come together in a full line of beverages until now, with the introduction of Punzoné. With amazing conditions to cultivate wheat, the Italians take what is normally a clean fi nishing ingredient and give it some texture and fl avor and this is what Punzoné has achieved. Punzoné is hearty vodka that can stand up to any bold dish, at the same time not overshadowing the lighter ones. Made from organic ingredients and pristine water from the Italian Alps, Punzoné uses a fractional fi ve-column distillation process to create a very complex and active fi nish. When you fi rst taste it, there is no fl avor on the front of the palate: It immediately travels to the back of the throat with a rolling graininess that lingers but doesn't burn. The fl avor endures on the back of your palate long after you have sipped. This distinctive vodka lends especially well to savory fl avors. The graininess actually elongates the salty fi nish, comple- menting spicy, sour or hot . . . Pasta sauce anyone? Punzoné Inc. DRY FLY Not your typical wheat vodka, Dry Fly is a total fl avor contradiction. With its warm vanilla nose, you would assume it would have a sweet taste, but it surprises with a residual spice, fairly reminiscent of tequila. This American vodka has strong bite and bold fl avor that change as the fi nish progresses. Many say they can also detect hints of a fl oral bouquet, which adds to this fascinating profi le. Made in Spokane, with only fi ve employees and a volunteer bottling program that has a 16 month waiting list, Dry Fly was the fi rst distillery in Washington State since the end of Prohibition in 1933. Farm to bottle, Dry Fly embraces producing only from raw materials grown locally by sustainable farms; they do not pur- chase bulk alcohol, that being contrary to the nature of true craft distilling. Although Dry Fly is a small distillery, they still have gained incredible notoriety, with such awards as Best in Show, Best Vodka and a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition. Dry Fly Distilling