Full Review

The Aimsir Distilling Co.

The Aimsir Distilling Co.
Astrid Vodka

Category: Unflavored Vodka

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 45%
87 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$30

The Aimsir Distilling Co.
Astrid Vodka

Category: Unflavored Vodka

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 45%
Clear color. Aromas and flavors of black licorice, lemon oil, and vanilla with a round, crisp, dry light-to-medium body and a warming, complex, brisk finish revealing notes of licorice, mint and sassafras root, and citrus oil. A higher quality distillate that holds the proof very well and brings just a touch of sweetness.

Tasting Info

Spirits Glass Style: Spicy & Complex
Aroma Aroma: black licorice, lemon oil, and vanilla
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of licorice, mint and sassafras root, and citrus oil
Smoothness Smoothness: Warming
Finish Finish: Normal
Enjoy Enjoy: Enjoy on its own
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A higher quality distillate that holds the proof very well and brings just a touch of sweetness.

The Producer

The Aimsir Distilling Company

The Producer

Unflavored Vodka

Spirits Glass Shot Clear.jpg
Serve in a Shot Glass
Unflavored vodka is defined in the US as a "neutral" spirit devoid of color, aroma, and taste, however, the finest unflavored vodkas are served neat and do have a subtle taste, sometimes of the base grain or ingredient, citrus or even anise. But most vodkas are used for cocktails, often mixed with fruit juice (cranberry juice for Cosmopolitans or orange juice for Screwdrivers.), tonic, or soda for the ubiquitous bar-hopper favorite Vodka & Soda. To which craft bartenders these days like to say, "vodka pays the bills."

Unflavored vodka is made by fermenting and then distilling the simple sugars from a mash of pale grain or vegetal matter. Vodka is produced from grain, potatoes, molasses, beets, and a variety of other plants. Rye and wheat are the classic grains for Vodka, with most of the best Russian Vodkas being made from wheat while in Poland they are mostly made from a rye mash. Swedish and Baltic distillers are partial to wheat mashes. Potatoes are looked down on by Russian distillers, but are held in high esteem by some of their Polish counterparts. Molasses, a sticky, sweet residue from sugar production, is widely used for inexpensive, mass-produced brands of Vodka. American distillers use the full range of base ingredients, but most are made from the abundant supply of corn from the US heartland.