The London, UK based International Spirits Challenge (ISC) is widely considered one of the top competitions for judging spirits. The annual contest is now in its 25th year. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 competition saw more than 1,700 entries from over 65 countries.
The ISC recently released the top medalists in the gin, vodka and rum categories. Here are the top three vodkas along with tasting notes.
A total of 109 vodkas were submitted. Only three received the coveted Double Gold Medal.
Rachmaninov Triple Distilled Vodka, 37.50% ABV/40% ABV (varies by country) is a triple distilled potato vodka produced by the Dreifach Distillery in Germany for the discount grocery chain Lidl.
The vodka has won medals in other spirits competitions, including a gold medal in 2015 and silver medals in 2016 and 2018 at the International Wines and Spirits Competition (IWSC)
Unfortunately, the vodka is not available in the US. In Europe it is available exclusively from Lidl stores. That is a pity since it is generally priced at between $10 and $15 a bottle.
The vodka has been described as colorless, “with a clean, fruity fragrance” and a penetrating nose. “Soft and smooth”, with a very dry finish.
Koskenkorva Vodka Lemon Lime Yarrow, 37.5% ABV is a Finnish flavored vodka. One of Finland’s most popular brands, the vodka is flavored with lemon, lime and yarrow. The latter is a flowering perennial plant often found in home gardens. It’s a rather unusual flavoring agent for a vodka.
The vodka is not available in the United States, but can be purchased from some of the UK mail order companies.
The vodka is described as having a “clean, crisp mouthfeel” with a burst of citrus on the palate followed by lingering notes of vanilla and floral elements and ending with a pronounced lime note.
Polar Ice, Arctic Extreme Vodka, 40% ABV is produced by Corby Spirit and Wine at the Hiram Walker & Sons distillery in Windsor Ontario. This vodka also received a Gold Outstanding Medal at the 2020 International Wines and Spirits Competition.
With top medals from two of the world’s most prestigious spirits competitions, Polar Ice Extreme Vodka could easily claim the mantle of world’s best vodka in 2020. At the very least it is a strong contender.
Fortunately, unlike the previous two winners, Polar Ice Arctic Extreme can be found in North America but usually requires some effort. It has been scarce since about April 2020. Look for it in larger and specialty liquor stores or online. At an average price of $16 for a liter, it is also dirt cheap and far away one of the the best values in Vodka today.
The vodka is described as having a crisp, clean nose with notes of licorice, anise and a hint of chocolate and walnut. On the palate its smooth with a pronounced palate weight and a layered complexity.
If you are a fan of vodka, these three gold medalists are certainly worth a try, even if they will require a considerable effort to track down.
Cheers!
Source: Forbes
