The Vodkaphiles Review

Made in: Russia
Distributed/Imported in the US by: Kristall (Sobieski)
Main raw material: Wheat
Expected retail price: $ 29.00
This top of the line vodka from Moscow's Kristall distillery is named for the founder of the Russian capital. Kristall is the oldest distillery in Moscow. The grain that is the basis for this classical vodka is harvested from the Ryazanska region southeast of Moscow. This region of wind-swept steppes boasts fertile black soil planted to oceans of wheat and barley. The climate is cold in the winter with moderate summers- excellent for growing grain. Ryazanska was originally settled by Finns, but beginning in the 10th century Slavic tribes moved in, including Russians led by Prince Youri Dolgoruki ("Long Arms") around 1100 A.D. Today Descendants of those tribes continue to farm the region. Kristall's master craftsmen follow a jealously guarded, inflexible recipe, and distill this vodka four times. Natural glacier water, treated by an exclusive process to assure purity, is blended with the robust new distillate to perfect drinking strength. After filtration through native Russian birch charcoal, Youri Dolgoruki Vodka is ready for your enjoyment.

Characteristic	Score	Possible
Aroma/Fragrance	17.00	20
Appearance/Texture	17.71	20
Taste/Aftertaste	44.57	50
Packaging/Marketing	8.00	10
Totals	87.29	100

Pure, clear, medium-full, smooth, creamy, rich, intense, very textured. Spice, lemon zest, citrus, chocolate, chalk, vegetable, spice and grain. Palate mirrors nose. Big, very textured, flavorful, medicinal tones, no burn, quite intense, crisp and clean in mouth and carrying through the long, rich, dry, textured finish.

A nice texture and a luminous appearance, but does not have the rich, smooth flavor I expected from this ultra-premium brand. A fine vodka, but, I expected more.

This is a classic Russian-style vodka, and it's excellent. Nice and viscous. It has no aroma at all, which is a plus for some, perhaps a minus for others. The bottle for this and also for Sobieski is handsome, though not especially eye-catching or innovative.

This vodka had a pleasant mellow flavor. And though I appreciated the clever artwork on the bottle, it was mighty difficult to open. Had to use the pliers in desparation.

Exceptionally smooth and mellow.

I really liked this one. Taste was very pleasing, almost sweet, with no bitter aftertaste. Solid design, somehow capturing both a sense of tradition and modernity.

Softer, mineral, spice, flint, clean, ore neutral with some subtle mint and vanilla. Fuller, more rounded in the mouth with more distinct spice, toffee, nutty notes, finishing with slight citric and blossom notes. Nice intensity and balance. Clean commercial package, attractive.