Welcome back to FTW’s Beverage of the Week series. In this space, our focus is mostly on beer reviews, yet we happily widen our scope to include any drink that is an excellent accompaniment to sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey.
Having an opinion on good vodka, I’ve discovered, can be challenging.
Bad vodka? Definitely. You can liken it to nail polish remover or what you used to clean your old Nintendo games. But for a novice like me who seldom drinks it outside of a cocktail, decent vodkas typically blend together. We have smooth…but then what’s next?
Luckily, Beattie’s potato vodkas have arrived to broaden my perspective, whether for better or worse. This distillery in Alliston, Ontario, provides a limited selection of tuber-based spirits with straightforward flavors and packaging. Each bottle faithfully replicates its farm origin, and I am curious to give it a try, despite my limited exposure.
I’ve indulged in a fair amount of Canadian beverages over the years. Moosehead is potentially my top choice for mass-produced lagers. Canadian whisky, with its unique blend of smoothness and affordability, was my go-to during college and remains a consistent favorite.
Nevertheless, I hadn’t experienced Canadian vodka until recently. Prior to discovering Beattie’s, Canadian vodka hadn’t really been on my radar. A bit of digging reveals there are several established distilleries in Canada, ranging from charming operations to those opting for loud, attention-demanding techniques such as bottling their spirits inside a hockey stick.
Beattie’s positions itself as a frontrunner in this arena. So, how does it compare to this claim? I’ll be testing Beattie’s in a variety of cocktails to gauge its performance. To start, I’ll pair it with a craft mixer I’ve been eager to try, Q Mixer’s ginger ale.
In my mix of this traditional golf cocktail, I might have been a bit heavy-handed — it ended up being around 40 percent vodka, 40 percent ginger ale, and 20 percent grape juice. However, this should allow me to better assess how well Beattie’s blends with other ingredients and how it fares on its own.
Indeed, the vodka flavor is distinct and at the forefront. It has a robust presence, but it doesn’t feel harsh. Instead, it delivers a transparent, almost floral, peppery citrus taste. Unquestionably it’s vodka, but more specifically, it’s high-quality vodka. It doesn’t make you choke or compel you to finish in a dreadful single gulp.
Despite not being a habitual vodka sipper nor much of a martini enthusiast, I do have considerable experience with budget potato vodkas such as Kamchatka, Skyy, and Luksusowa. This vodka undoubtedly swings towards the higher end of that spectrum, surpassing the likes of Smirnoff due to its smooth, soothing warmth as opposed to a sharp, direct sting.
Having had enough sips to prepare for a proper cocktail mix, it’s time to add more mixer. The Q ginger ale has a spiciness that eventually gives way to a delicate sweetness. It may not quite hit Vernor’s intensity of authentic ginger taste, but it comes very close. For me, this is a plus. The flavors it harbors amid the fizzy bubbles in its 7.5-ounce can are abundant. Prepare yourself; I’ll be using it in numerous other cocktails shortly.
When mixed correctly, this combination can be deceptive. The drink, though containing two shots of alcohol in a 12-ounce volume, doesn’t taste as potent. So, in a sense, Beattie’s has proven itself foolproof for those who struggle with measuring cup sizes and volumes while mixing.
Uncorking the bottle triggers an outburst of aromatic strawberry fragrances. This is distinctly more than a subtle whiff of summer fruits or a fruit-at-the-bottom yogurt experience. The flavor intensity suggests that this could be enjoyed neat over ice, misleadingly mimicking a cocktail.
An exploratory sip corroborates this. This is akin to a sweet martini in itself and serves as a smooth drink when cooled. Let’s observe how it pairs with some tonic water and a dash of lime.
Amazingly, the result is just about flawless. Fruity without being overly saccharine with just the right amount of tartness and effervescence to create a crisp finish. The strawberry is far from the synthetic candy flavor and more akin to the residual flavor of freshly picked strawberries from a personal selection.
Indeed, tonic proves to be an exceptional means for a light, highly consumable mixed drink. Flavored vodka concoctions are a far cry from my preferred whiskey on the rocks arrangement, but the excellent taste of this is undeniable.
I must confess, I was at a loss with sweet potato vodka at first. While I’m sure there’s a handful of exceptional cocktail recipes that would benefit from it, I believe the best way to appreciate this distinct spirit is by savoring it neat before mixing it unknowingly into something like… cream soda? The thought itself is bemusing.
The immediate flavor of sweet potato comes off somewhat vanilla-esque, before the familiar reminder of Thanksgiving pie emerges. There’s a slight burn from the 60 proof alcohol within, yet each sip is surprisingly creamy. It’s, admittedly, a bit unsettling.
The intriguing creaminess hints at a uniquely appealing martini. It’s yet another testament to the commitment of Beattie’s to achieving authentic taste in their flavored vodkas.
It’s especially fitting for the summer months. Beattie’s vodka is bound to redefine hot weather cocktails.
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