I’ve written before about terroir; it’s a very common concept among those who appreciate great food and drink. In fact, every time someone brings up pizza on our local food Facebook group EatGR, people from Detroit or Chicago bemoan that the crust just isn’t the same without Detroit or Chicago water. Turns out that you can also taste this difference in vodka!
I was a bit skeptical at first when LEAF Vodka asked me to try their two vodkas to taste the difference for myself. Vodka usually seems “burny” to me. My husband, who has taken a class in judging spirits, says usually cheap vodka has a distinct burn because they include too much of the heads and tails. So in the past, I’ve used cheap vodka in, for example, pomegranate martinis because the flavor is overpowered by the mixers.
I decided to go ahead and try these two samples neat (just plain, no ice, just a small pour into a shot glass) side by side.
To my surprise, there was no burn! Both of them were quite smooth, but had a distinctive flavor all their own. I’m going to share the descriptions now because my vodka vocabulary is still developing:
Alaskan Glacial Water:
Four glaciers slowly wind their way down the misty mountains to Alaska’s Blue Lake with water as pure as nature. So pure it doesn’t need filtering. It’s one of the most unique waters of the world, and it forms and defines the foundation of LEAF Vodka’s Alaskan Glacial Water.
The glacier water is a gift we don’t take lightly. We marry it to the highest quality organic wheat, then distilled five times to round out the finish and character. The result is a smooth, pure taste with an agreeable hint of sweetness.
Rocky Mountain Mineral Water:
After long years of trickling down through stony layers of the Rocky Mountains, the extraordinary mineral water is a pristine testament to nature’s bounty. And LEAF Vodka’s Rocky Mountain Mineral Water.
The unique mineral properties of the spring water infuse flavor and complexity after distillation while maintaining the pure essence of its source. This is one bold vodka. The complex flavor notes offer a warm, savory impression that lingers perfectly into a silky finish.
These are definitely delicious, perfect for a small sipper before bed. My grandfather, who lived to be very healthy in his old age, used to say that the secret to his long life and health was a shot of whiskey before bed. I don’t think he’d mind if I substituted LEAF Vodka, as he was an outdoorsman. I like to think of him when I pour my shot.
Cheers!
