WORDS Will Abner
For some reason people have been asking me about vodka lately. I can talk all day about bourbon, beer, and even wine, but not so much about vodka. Honestly, I’m not much of a vodka fan, but in my bar tending career I’ve poured more of that than anything else. Why is that? Maybe it’s because of vodka’s neutrality; it is by definition a neutral distilled spirit, after all. It can be made from practically anything, but rarely reflects its ingredients in the final product.
I hear people say that filtration is the most important aspect in vodka making, but I’m not convinced. There’s the ol’ “turn Aristocrat into Grey Goose with a few simple passes through a Brita filter” trick, which you are welcome to try, but those Brita filters cost more than a gallon of bottom shelf vodka (not worth it, in my opinion).
Recently I had a conversation with a Master Sommelier about different spirits and it was interesting to say the least. His opinion was that practically all vodkas are the same, only a few gimmicky processes and packaging separate bottom from top shelf brands. That’s a pretty bold statement, but that came from a man who travels the world exploring the entire beverage spectrum, so I’ll go with it. If you aren’t familiar with what a Master Sommelier is, take a minute to look it up. His words are worth considering.
I use Cathead vodka as my “well” at SpringHouse. Hailing from Mississippi, it is made from corn, an interesting nod to our Southern heritage of moonshine making. Cathead leaves a unique sweetness on the palate, followed by the typical ethanol burn of vodka. Not to fall behind in the flavored vodka market, Cathead also offers a few interesting flavors. Often inspired by their surroundings, they have created genuinely Southern flavors such as Pecan and Honeysuckle, which are actually pretty darn good.
In the end, everyone has their own thoughts and loyalties when it comes to vodka. I choose to use one that is made closest to my doorstep. There are other brands out there that are outstanding, some smooth, some others strong. I guess like everything else in Liquor Land; it just comes down to what you prefer and how you want to use it. All of that said, you can find me in the bourbon aisle.