I
reckon that if I were sitting in Atchison
Kansas looking out over 328 million bushels of wheat harvested
from an average 8.5 million acres by 60,000 hard working farmers,
it just might make me think of coming up with ways to use
some of that wheat other than baking bread. Vodka would certainly
come to my mind and apparently I'm not the only one who had
that very same thought. The good folks over at MGP Ingredients
in Atchison Kansas are putting that high grade Kansas wheat
to good use by crafting Till American wheat vodka.
Currently
it is available in a rather small footprint that includes;
Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin,
Nebraska and Minnesota. But I'm willing to bet you that it
won't stop there. This vodka is distilled using a 75 year
old proprietary process. In conjunction with its expansion,
the Till's vodka bottle got a makeover from clear glass to
frosted glass that showcases the bold lines of the idyllic
farmland. For just being black on white, it is a bold design.
OK,
so let's see what all the fuss is all about. The nose is thick
and smells a bit like the wheat it comes from, kind of earthy,
however it is also clear without much of any other aromas
with the exception of just the barest hint of alcohol. This
comes very close to the definition of perfect vodka as being
completely odorless. The palate is also quite clean but with
good body, a touch of vanilla and of course that earthiness.
The finish is slightly spicy but also clean, earthy and lasts
a short time.
This
is very tasty, very high end vodka without that super-premium
price. Straight up it is thick, warm and inviting. A little
bit of ice dilutes it nicely and opens up the flavor profile
a bit, so I get more vanilla and even a little mint; otherwise,
it holds up nicely on the rocks. With the addition of ice,
the finish loses that bit of spiciness and it comes even closer
to that definition of perfect vodka as being colorless, odorless
and tasteless, although the slightest nuance of flavors in
this vodka makes it that much more interesting and palatable.
If
this Till wheat vodka isn't available in your neck of the
woods yet, I can bet you buckwheat to bullets it will be sooner
rather than later.
Till vodka is 40% ABV and available in 750ML bottles for $24.99
By George Brozowski
For
more Rants & Raves click
here.
http://www.tillvodka.com
