Prosperous Vodka from Cape Verde, Africa wins big at the 2023 International Wine and Spirits Competition

Each year in London, some of the most seasoned palates in the alcohol industry come together to sample thousands of liquid entries from across the globe. The event is known as the International Wine and Spirits Competition, and when the annual results are published, they have the potential to make or break a brand.

We’ve continually reported on IWSC winners across the various whisky subcategories: scotch, Irish, bourbon, rye. But now it’s time to shift our attention to the vodka category, especially since an unexpected entry has caught the judges’ attention.

The bottle that has received such noteworthy feedback is Prosperous Vodka that is crafted by the Kriol Distillery. So, what makes it so special? The answer is its outstanding score of 99 out of 100. This is enough to identify it as not only the highest rated vodka at the competition, but also as one of the highest-rated spirits in all categories. No entry received a perfect 100, and only 10 expressions in total matched Prosperous Vodka’s score of 99 points.

One striking feature about Prosperous is its place of origin. The company responsible for its creation, Kriol Distillery, is located just outside of Praia, the capital city of Cabo Verde. Those who are geographically savvy would be aware that Cabo Verde is a petite island nation approximately 350 miles away from the coast of West Africa. However, only a handful of individuals would associate this setting with exemplary vodka.

It’s high time this changes. As the IWSC judges have emphasized, there’s a remarkable spirit emerging from this corner of the globe. Here’s the enthusiastic acclaim they showered on Prosperous:

“A lush aroma reminiscent of bread greets the nose. The palette is met with a hint of warmth from the spice, perfectly accompanying a delightful grain foundation. The texture is rich, making it a delight to savor.”

These are certainly comprehensive tasting notes for a type of spirit which often gets discredited as “tasteless.” The winning factor for Prosperous lies in their choice of a special kind of wheat for distillation. This lends a gentle creaminess to the drink, in addition to the earlier mentioned bread-like aroma. Comparably, renowned American vodka brands like Smiroff and Tito’s are all made from corn distillates.

According to the law, vodka can be distilled from practically any raw material. It’s crucial to keep this in mind when browsing your local liquor store’s shelves. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that only cold-climate areas such as Eastern Europe can produce superior varieties.

Indeed, there’s fantastic vodka being bottled all over the world, from Japan to Southern Argentina. And yes, even remote tropical islands like Cabo Verde.

Finding Prosperous in the US is not particularly difficult either. It has a relatively wide distribution here. On the shelves, you’ll recognize it by its blue illustration of its homeland’s mountainous landscape. It retails for around $35, making it the perfect base for a delicious vodka martini.

Keep an eye out for more standout vodkas from IWSC, as they prepare to release their 2024 rankings later this spring.

Ruins of the Cidade Velha, a fortified Portugese citadel on the island of Santiago, where Portugese colonists docked in 1460. The city was called Ribeira Grande (the Big Valley). Former capital and origin of Cape Verdian history, the town lies 12 km from Praia, in an oasis protected by the Saint Filipe fortress.