Two Vodkas and Elderflower Liqueur from Chase and 666
On the list of spirits, vodka continues to dominate in America, as it's likely the best-selling one of the bunch. Elsewhere though, whiskeys and Scotch take top slots. Perhaps that's because they aren't familiar with today's two types of the clear liquor.
We'll start with one really odd one. The 666 Tasmanian Vodka is truly from Australia, and uses malted barley as a base. Winner of a Gold in 2010 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, they use purified rainwater from Cape Grim (really!) and blend a fairly remarkable vodka. Crystal clear, clean, and smooth, this one impressed more in the story and sourcing than the flavor, though we did taste notes of pepper and cacao here, finished with a nice, minerally, back-of-the-throat burn. The bottle itself is quite attractive and modern, and at $30 a bottle, would look great on your shelf (or that of a choosy friend).
Chase's English Potato Vodka is a bit more classic- we tried it frozen as well as lightly chilled on the rocks. And we should note that this one also received the same award in the same year at the same competition (yes, they do that). This bottle is a bit more classy, with a lovely snowy branch theme, but also a bit taller and thus more awkward for some shelves. This one is also somewhat hard to find in the US, though we did see it online for about $35 a bottle. Tasting was more buttery, with a thicker texture and creamier notes. Generally, people were split on preference between today's pair of vodkas, and both were described as "uniformly excellent". You can't go wrong with either one- it largely depends on whether your tastes run old-school or a bit more modern.
Finally, we got a chance to try the Chase Elderflower Liqueur, based on their vodka, but infused with the flowers and with only some sugar added. Our bottle was a nice tie-in to the vodka, showing off the lovely darker golden color. Much like the classic St. Germain, this one is lovely when paired with other drinks, like champagne or other sweet wines like Moscato. But we also read about, and tried, Elderflower Margaritas, which are simply sour mix, tequila, and this liqueur. Sweet, floral, this spirit feels clean and sprightly, almost healthy, and adds a fairly subtle note to most anything. Definitely recommend, especially at the $25 or so we've seen it for.
About the Author
Greg Greg dreamed up the idea for the Truly Network while living in Hawaii, which began with a single site called TrulyObscure. In 2010, when advertisers and readers were requesting coverage beyond the scope of that site, TrulyNet was launched, reaching a broader audience over a variety of niche sites. Formerly the head technology correspondent for the Des Moines Register at age 16, he has since lived and worked in five states and two countries, helping a list of organizations and companies that includes the United States Census Bureau, TripAdvisor, Events Photo Group, Berlitz, and Computer Geeks. He also served as the Content Strategy Manager for HearPlanet, a multi-platform app that has reached over a million users and has been featured in the New York Times, Hemispheres Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, Fox Business News, PC Magazine, and even Apple’s own iPhone ads. Greg has written as a restaurant critic and feature journalist for a number of national and international publications, including City Weekend Magazine, Red Egg Magazine, the Newton Daily News, Capital Change Magazine, and an arm of China Daily, Beijing Weekend. In addition, he has served as a consulting editor for the Foreign Language Press of Beijing, as well as a writer and editor for the George Washington University Hatchet, the school newspaper of his alma mater. Originally from Iowa, Greg is currently living in the West Village of Manhattan.
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