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Filer offered some insight into flavoured vodkas: “Some wild variation in quality in this round, with some very good examples of flavoured vodkas, and, sadly, some poorly balanced and artificial-tasting examples. More care could be taken in production in this category.”
SHS Drinks has extended cordial brand Bottlegreen into alcohol with the launch of an elderflower vodka liqueur made with UK producer Edwards 1902. The team at Edwards have control of the whole process from the sowing and growing to the brewing and distilling – a true British soil to spirit vodka. Once the potatoes have been harvested and washed, they arrive in the distillery where every step of the process is watched by the meticulous eyes of the distilling team. Completing the Master line-up was Ewe Whey Vodka, with Filer calling its “rich, nutty, malty nose, like a sweet beer ferment. On the palate – similar notes, nutty malt, some caramel sweetness, hints of milk chocolate, some balancing citrus and pepper. Warming texture.” Our panel – made up of 10-accredited spirits experts and vodka-loving consumers – put 20 vodkas to the test. Each was tried neat and blind, to avoid brand bias, then followed by some water to dilute and soften the alcohol and bring out the core flavours. Other Gold winners included: Into the Wild Vodka, with its “clean and neutral nose” and “spice and pepper”; “creamy and sippable” Tanzanite Vodka with its “touch of crushed pine needle freshness and lime zest”; “soft and floral” Riverland Rose Vodka; and Incognito Vodka, with its “creamy sweetness and tangy citrus” on the palate.Proud of their 100-year potato growing heritage, firm British roots, provenance and family are truly at the heart of the distillery. Next up is filtering, which gives vodka its clean mouthfeel. Although some craft distillers choose to skip this step altogether to impart a more unique flavour. Banks and Bloom Ice Vodka impressed Filer, who said: “Soft nose with some creamy vanilla, lemon and grain. A smooth and oily mouthfeel with a saline element, and a balanced profile of peppery grain with sweet citrus, and no disruptive heat.” Two Silvers were also awarded in the flight. Master medallists were aplenty in The Vodka Masters 2023 Prousaefs was particularly enamoured of Summum Single Estate Vodka: “Very smooth, crisp and light on the nose and palate. Super easy going and easy to drink, with an almost excellent mouthfeel and lasting finish.”
Six Golds and 13 Silvers were also awarded. Koskenkorva won three Golds for its 7 Botanicals, Lemon Lime Yarrow, and Sauna Barrel expressions. The largest flight of the competition, Flavoured/Infused Vodka, saw Desi Daru Mango Vodka come out on top. Jones said that it offered: “Lovely natural mango aromas and more pulpy on the palate with a hint of tannic structure. Smooth and well-integrated alcohol.” Absolut Elyx also took home a Master, impressing Rodriguez-Curtis with its “clean nose, lemon and ripe stone fruit. The palate has a pleasant mouthfeel, good texture and well balanced alcohol”. A single entry in the potato-based vodka round saw Nine Tines take a Gold, enjoyed for its “sweetness on the nose and palate, and nice balance – would be great sipped neat, or in a Martini”. Pulse Vodka won a Silver in the following flight, Vodka Base – Corn. Meanwhile, Pod Pea Vodka was the worthy recipient of a Master medal in the Vodka Base – Pea round. Chou particularly enjoyed this expression: “Expressive green, grassy, leafy, lactic notes on the nose. Very complex, with sweet caramel on the palate.” A Gold was given to Grainger’s Deluxe Organic Vodka, and a Silver was awarded to Koskenkorva Vodka Organic.The “bright and elegant” Muff Vodka and Altumura Vodka with its “luxurious texture” took home Gold medals. They truly believe that quality British vodka made from locally grown, raw ingredients could transcend the popular craft market and conquer the premium spirits industry. They set out to prove that quality produce, originating from their own farms across Lincolnshire & beyond, could create a premium single-estate potato vodka, from a simple ingredient on their doorstep that they already knew so well.
Edwards 1902 English potato vodka is crafted in Lincolnshire from a single variety of potato – the King Edward. The King Edward potato was first cultivated in 1902 in fields just a few miles away from the distillery.They are committed to supporting local farmers and businesses, their vodka bottle is made 60 miles away, their coffee comes from a coffee roaster 300m down the road, and their rhubarb comes from the Yorkshire Rhubarb Triangle.
The joint venture is the first time two British companies have come together to produce an elderflower liqueur. Their single-variety premium English potato vodka has secured four internationally-recognised awards since its launch in 2020. The multiple-award winning Edwards 1902 outscored some established vodka brands during the blind taste tests, indicating important industry support in its debut year. Sarah Lawson, head of marketing for softs at SHS Drinks, added: “While this is the first time we’ve put the brand name to an alcohol product, all Bottlegreen drinks are crafted using specialist, flavour-enhancing processes traditionally employed by winemakers, so the alcohol category isn’t totally alien to us.” Gold winner Maple Vodka was lauded for its “maple syrup and caramel on the nose” and “sweet and syrupy palate”. Other Gold medallists included Absolut Peppar, with its “fresh, savoury and pepper aroma”, and Sapling Zero Waste Raspberry + Hibiscus Vodka, with flavours of raspberry and a “hint of tropical, late peppery spice”. Three Silvers were given out in the penultimate flight, Flavoured/Infused Vodka-Based Spirit Drink, including two for White Claw Spirits Co.
The first went to Desi Daru Mango Vodka, which Rodriguez-Curtis enjoyed for its “fleshy and vibrant” nose. He said: “The palate is smooth, pleasant, good level of mango flavour and good level of enjoyability. The mango has a brilliant freshness. Chilled out of the fridge or freezer, this vodka would be brilliant to enjoy.”
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