Two different expressions of vodka made by the same brand, the difference only based on the location of the water each was distilled from, awaited for me in sampling LEAF® Vodka. One is made from Alaskan Glacial water and the other is made from Rocky Mountain Mineral water. The Alaskan version has a green colored leaf label on the back of the bottle, and the Leaf title is in gold; the Rocky Mountain version has a blue colored leaf label and the Leaf title is blue.
You may have heard this from me before: the best way to educate your palate is in side-by-side tastings of the same spirit or the same wine varietal. Here I had two vodkas, a spirit known for being flavorless and colorless, that I had a chance to sit down and get to know. And I found it remarkable that these two had their own unique qualities.
A cocktail recipe and tasting notes from Leaf are just beneath my tasting notes:
Leaf Alaskan Glacial
Clean aromas that included biscuit, lime and orange twist, fresh Japanese ginger; with slightly sweet flavors of that same orange and lime, the ginger again, with a medium burn and long finish. 90 Eve pts.
Leaf Rocky Mountain Mineral
Pale mint, pear, hay, grass and wet gravel on the nose; in the mouth I got citrus, black licorice, mint and that gravel again. Long finish. 91 Eve pts.
From Leaf
Had enough of winter? Ring in the spring with a new cocktail from LEAF® Vodka called the Lychee Lake. With a refreshing blend of fruit, combined with a lovely spring color and a floral garnish, it is the perfect antidote to the winter blues!
The combination of lychee and grapefruit bring out the crisp smoothness of the Alaskan Glacial water used to make LEAF Vodka, and the effervescence of the sparkling wine adds a refreshing quality that makes this cocktail a delightful escape.
The Lychee Lake
Ingredients:
2 oz. LEAF Vodka made with Rocky Mountain Mineral Water
1.5 oz. lychee puree (perfect puree)
0.5 oz. grapefruit juice
0.5 oz. lemon juice
1 oz. sparking rosé wine
Tools: Mixing shaker, jigger, strainer, and muddler.
Method: Shake all ingredients except rosé wine, add ice and shake vigorously
Strain into a martini glass, top off with sparkling rosé, garnish and serve.
Glassware: Martini, Garnish: Orchid
LEAF believes vodka’s main ingredient, water, is what truly defines the spirit. LEAF Vodka is sourced from unique waters here in the USA. One variety is made from Alaskan Glacial water, which lends a pure, smooth taste with a hint of sweetness. The other, made from Rocky Mountain mineral water, provides richness and complexity, offering a warm and savory impression. The water sources give LEAF Vodkas their signature tastes.
“LEAF Vodka’s naturally-sourced waters are fundamental to its taste and quality,” say Maxim Dubossarsky, CEO of Global Spirits, owners of LEAF Vodka. “These taste attributes, and the fact that the vodka is USDA Certified Organic, are being embraced by some of the nation’s leading mixologists.”
For more recipes and information, visit www.leafvodka.com or follow the brand on Twitter and Instagram @LEAFVodka.
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com
