Vodka - Luksusowa
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Luksusowa Vodka
Importer: Adamba Imports, Brooklyn, New York
100% Polish Potatoes
PROOF: 80 (40%)
AGE: Not Applicable
TYPE: Polish, Potato
PRICE: $15.00 - 750 ML
Notes: Luksusowa (Polish for Luxury) Vodka is produced in Poland by Polmos from strobrowa potatoes . Distilled in a triple distilled then filtered through charcoal (the best traditional vodka filtration).
This is one of the few vodkas made with potatoes - which contrary to popular prejudice (particularly vociferous among Russians for some reason) - is a premium ingredient for vodka. With about 1/3 less yield per kilo and a lot more prep work to ferment and distill, it makes for a difficult and expensive undertaking. Also people who suffer from Celiac's Disease (a genetic intolerance to gluten found in grains) will find this a welcome addition to the kinds of distilled spirits they can drink.
Appearance: Crystal clear, no sediment whatsoever. On swirling, it leaves a thin clear coat on the inside of the glass forming a crenellated edge with some legs and lots of small droplets - this seems to be a familiar pattern with potato vodka. A crystal clear viscous pool in the glass.
First Impression: A slightly sweet smell to it, slight alkaline (cocoa?) smell (could be because it is a member of a alkali plant family). Rounder,deeper smell than a grain vodka. No smell of esters or oils; clean.
Taste: Sweet and slightly oily on the tongue, medium body. Crisp, mild bite to it on the edges of your tongue. A slight warming of alcohol as it goes down the throat, with lingering warmth and tingle to the lips. Chilling accentuates the sweetness and body.
Drinks: The martini deadly smooth. A slowly stirred 3 or 4 to 1 Ratio of Luskusowa to vermouth with a 1-2 dashes of a good bitter and lemon zest yields a wonderfully viscous martini. Unlike a number of potato vodkas this one works well with vermouth. As to other drinks it lends a lusher, heavier feel to the drink than a grain vodka can normally manage.
NOTE: Use Noilly Prat and keep the vermouth refrigerated after opening for the best taste.
Final Thoughts: An good value for the money - One of the few potato vodkas out there and one that does no charge an arm and a leg . Many Poles consider this an "Old style vodka" - that's fine with me. It's not fancy, but a good solid vodka with a nice mouthfeel and taste.
Bottle: Tall rectangular clear glass bottlewith rounded edges and a bishops door shaped silver label. Silver neck foil and screwcap
Website:: http://www.luksusowa.net/
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