Notes: This vodka is produced in Minnesota, the heart of America’s wheat production. It is distilled four times in six columns, then filtered through three different types of charcoal. Somehow the vodka survives without being completely flavorless a risk when you are going for purity this high.

Appearance: Crystal clear, with no sediment whatsoever. On swirling, it leaves a thin, clear coat on the inside of the glass. 

First Impression: Wheat and grain, but with a slightly sweet smell to it, vanilla, slightly alkaline (cocoa?). No scent of esters or oils. This distillation and filtration seems to capture all the good things and weed out the bad.

Taste: Sweet and slightly oily on the tongue, with a plump, round taste to it.  A slight  warming of alcohol as it goes down the throat, not the burn like you get from a lot of other vodkas. It is beguilingly smooth stuff, with a lingering  warmth and tingle to the lips. Chilling brings out the sweetness even more.

Drinks: If you are looking for a good vodka this is it. It works quite well in almost every drink we tried. A superior vodka for mixing if you must mix it. However, good enough to stand on its own.

Unlike a potato vodka, it works well with vermouth to make an outstanding vodka martini (potato vodka and vermouth somehow usually end up tasting like dirt). Use Noilly Prat vermouth, and keep the vermouth refrigerated for the best taste.   

Bottle: Distinctive martini shaker shaped bottle with frosting. Nice graphics on the labels. Color coding on the label/band makes it easier to distinguish that there are more than one type on a shelf. Embossed design on cap make it easy to find in a chest freezer among other bottles. Red gift bag is a nice touch for gift-giving.

Final Thoughts: An excellent value for the money – half the price of some of the fashion victim vodkas and better tasting! A heathier, cheaper, alternative to a Goose. One of the best vodkas I’ve had all year ! (2006)

Web site:: http://www.shakersvodka.com

Fast loading with fair amount of information. Simple navigation, easy-to-read. Good content and descriptions of production if a bit terse. Small recipe section with good martini mixing tips at the start.