A Muddled Thought

Okay so we’ve been mostly covering brown spirits such as bourbons and whiskies for the last few days during our Spirited Father’s Day Coverage. Well we’re taking a break for a day from those darker colored spirts to something on the other side of the spectrum, a clear spirit, that of Vodka.

But we couldn’t take a look at any old vodka for Dad. We had to find something that just like some of our father’s was a bit different. And Dad if you’re reading this wherever you, we mean that with a lot of love. So we decided to take a look at Jean Marc XO.

A vodka that in its creation defines unique, Jean Marc XO has its origins in the Cognac region of France. and was brought to life by Jean Marc Daucourt. In his goal to create a vodka that in its purest form was a shippable spirit, Jean Marc combined four French wheat grain’s to create his unique flavor. These grains, Orvantis, Azteque, Ysengrain and Orvantis are removed from the connected chaff to remove any possible bitterness.

Once this is done, the grain is combined with spring water native to the surrounding cognac region and distilled in small batches using French Copper Alambic stills a total of nine times. A process used in the production of wine known as micro-oxygenation, is then introduced into the resulting spirit. Micro-oxygenation allows the spirit producer to slowly control the introduction of oxygen to the sitting wine or in this case vodka, which has been known to both produce a cleaner end result. As a final step, Jean Marc XO is charcoal filtered through Limousin oak.

This process, which is said to take weeks from start to finish, creates a vodka that’s unlike anything you’ve likely tried before. With hints of sweetness and the subtle presence of oranges on the nose, this is but a mere tease of what awaits your palate.
Hints of vanilla, through and through each sip, notes of cinnamon play in the background as the presence of pineapple and citrus surprise your palate. Yes, this is a vodka your tasting, and yes it’s complex as some of those brown spirits your usually pretty fond.

Jean Marc XO down to the basics is incredibly smooth, with subtle flavors throughout each sip with those last bits ending with an overall warming sensation.

Final Score 9.5/10

With Summer in mind, and playing off some of those vanilla, cinnamon and pineapple notes that jumped out in my palate during tasting through Jean Marc XO, the following cocktail came to be.

The Sum Together

1 ¾ oz Jean Marc XO Vodka
¾ oz Don Q Gold Rum
Bar Spoon Green Chartreuse
½ oz Cinnamon Syrup
½ oz Lime Juice
½ oz Pineapple Juice
2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
Serve in Highball or Julep Cup with Crushed Ice.
Garnish Spent Lime Shell with two drops of Green Chartreuse, flamed.

The Sum Together. A combination of Jean Marc Xo Vodka, Don Q Gold Rum, Green Chartreuse, Cinnamon Syrup, Lime Juice, Pineapple Juice and Angostura Bitters.

I recently received a package in the mail from Craft Distilleries, which contained one of the most interesting presentations of samples I’ve ever come across.

In it I received samples of the Hangar One line of vodka’s packaged in small test tube-like containers along with background information on the Craft Distilleries, and a small bag of Kaffir lime leaves.

As I read through the enclosed documentation, it explained that the Kaffir leaves were included to give a greater sense of how Master Distiller, Lance Winter creates each one of the Hangar One spirits. True, one could look at it specifically tied to the Kaffir Lime flavored Hangar One, but I prefer to use it as a broader example of the care, and thought that goes into bottle of Hangar One. From selecting fresh, quality ingredients such as the kaffir lime, or fresh tangerine flowers for the mandarin blossom to using viognier wine for the base of Hangar One, these included Kaffir leaves conveyed a greater message to me, which I continued to hear as I stated through all four of the Hanger One offerings.

Hangar One Straight:

Starting with the unflavored or straight Hangar One, Lance Winters uses the lees( or remnants of fermentation) of viognier wine as the base from which to distill Hanger One.

With a sweet wine-like aroma on the nose, the Hangar One sample reminded me more of a Pisco or other style brandy rather than any vodka I had come into contact with. Once you begin to taste the spirit your palate is welcomed with hints of subtle grape, specks of lavender and the occasional touch of vanilla.
Throughout each sip, the spirit reminded completely balanced, and incredibly smooth. If every vodka brand followed the lessons Hangar teaches, the category would be taken more seriously than it has been in the past. This should be one of the first vodka’s someone who thinks Vodka is a flavor-less and odor-less spirit is handed to obliterate that argument. Through and through each sip, you can appreciate the thought that went into crafting this spirit.

Final Score:9.5/10

Mandarin Blossom:

Master Distiller Lance Winters, uses fresh tangerine flowers macerated in spirit to create the Hangar One Mandarin Blossom Infusion. By utilizing tangerine flowers instead of artificial flavors Lance was able to create flavored vodka that’s scent easily conjures images of sipping orange soda at a summer’s barbecue. As you take that first sip, you’re greeted with the feel of a smooth spirit flowing through and through with notes of mandarin oranges that finishes with a slight touch of cream and heat.

Final Score: 9/10

Kaffir Lime:

With the Kaffir lime infused Hangar One, Lance Winters had his work cut out for him, how would he create a spirit that embodies the flavor of lime without either going overboard or using chemicals or artificial ingredient. Lance’s solution, was to use Kaffir Lime leaves that are macerated and then redistilled. This ingredient along with the flavor notes of Hangar One together create an end result brimming with the sweet delicate personality of lime throughout each sip. Hangar One Kaffir Lime doesn’t play around with the palate, what you’re tasting is actual tasting pure Kaffir lime, that’s occasionally joined by those hints of vanilla that showed themselves in the pure Hangar One.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Citron “Buddha’s Hand”:

Following along the pattern of fresh, wholesome natural ingredients combined with Hangar One Spirit, Lance also brings us Citron “Buddha’s Hand” Hangar One by using Buddha’s Hand(which is all pith) to create a vodka filled with notes of sweet tart, reminiscent of lemon candy yet without being overly sweet. It finishes with a slight tinge before mellowing out to pure smoothness.

Final Score: 9/10

This past February, Pernod Ricard released the latest flavor of its Absolut Vodka Line- Berri Acai. With the release of their Berri Acai offering, Absolut combined the flavors of the acai berry with classic blueberries and pomegranates. This results in a spirit that both inherits the characters normally associated with Absolut such as a smooth finish and hints of vanilla and then adds to it with the flavors of these three berries.
With these new added flavors, Absolut Berri Acai works in adapted classics such as a sour or rickey, but also works well in some new recipes.

Absolut Berri Acai Sour

2 oz Absolut Berri Acai
3/4 oz simple syrup
1 oz fresh lemon juice
Shake and strain into rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with blueberries.

Berri Ricky

2 oz Absolut Berri Acai
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz agave nectar (or simple syrup)
4 oz club soda
Build ingredients over fresh ice in a highball. Stir. Garnish with a lime wheel.

The Bizz

2oz Absolut Berri Acai
½ oz Luxardo
¾ oz Cinnamon Syrup
½ oz Lime Juice
2 Dash Peach Bitters

Shake with Ice, Strain.
Serve in Highball filled with Cubes

Top with Ginger Beer

The Bizz. Absolut Berri Acai, Luxardo, Cinnamon Syrup, Lime Juice and Peach Bitters. Topped with Ginger Beer.

Experiment in Berriness
Absolut Berri Acai
½ oz Cynar
¾ Pimms
Chai Tea Demerara Syrup
½ Lemon Juice

Shake with Ice
Serve up in Coupe.

Garnish with Lemon Twist

*Note- I decided to see how the berry flavor played off of the dryness of the Pimms, and the eccentricity of the flavor of Cynar and balanced it with 2 dashes of Celery Bitters.
This recipe I’ve posted was more of an experiment, however it resulted with an interesting cocktail that shows the berry flavors of the Absolut, and ends with a semi-dry yet sweet finish.

Agent 99. A combination of Absolut Berri Acai, Cynar, Pimms No.1, Chai Tea Demerara Syrup, and Lime Juice.

Agent 99
¾ oz Absolut Berri
1 ¼ oz Beefeater London Dry Gin
½ oz Maraska
½ oz Green Chartreuse
1-2 Dash Rhubarb Bitters
Stirred
Serve up with Lemon Zest
Top with club soda

Agent 99. A combination of Absolut Berri Acai, Beefeater Gin, Maraska, Green Chartreuse and Rhubarb Bitters.

In the late eighties, Absolut Vodka brought to life its city campaign, with offerings representing the history and personalities of several major cities. In 2007, they relaunched this series with Absolut New Orleans, and in 2008, Absolut LA.
In 2009 they followed up these first two releases with the limited offering, Absolut Boston.
Combining Absolut Vodka, with black tea and elderflower creates a spirit that starts off with notes of black tea, that is balanced out with the mild sweetness of elderflower and ends with an extremely smooth finish.

Absolut’s Boston offering is a perfect gift for any fan of vodka or any spirits enthusiast that is always looking to try something different.
With winter approaching in a few weeks, here are a few recipes that might work well during these last few weeks of Fall.

The Tea Leaves are Falling
2 oz Absolut Boston
1 oz of Fig Juice
¾ oz Cinnamon Syrup
½ Lime Juice
Serve in Martini Glass
Garnish with Lime Wedge

The Tea Leaves are Falling. A combination of Absolut Boston, Fig juice, Cinnamon Syrup, and Lime Juice.

Apples are Absolut
2oz of Absolut Boston
¾ Apple Cinnamon Syrup
¾ Lairds Apple Jack
2 Dashes Whiskey Barrel Bitters

Apples are Absolut. A combination of Absolut Boston, Apple Cinnamon Syrup, Lairds Applejack, and Whiskey Barrel Bitters.

Fizz and Berrys
2 oz Absolut Boston
3/4 oz Simple Syrup
3/4 Lime Juice
3 Muddled Strawberries

Top with Club Soda
Garnish with Whole Strawberry

Fizz and Berrys. A combination of Absolut Boston, Simple Syrup, Lime Juice, Muddled Strawberries, topped with Club Soda.