Vodka is not the first thing that comes to mind when Hawaii is mentioned. First and foremost are sandy beaches and pure blue water followed by gorgeous native girls with colorful leis festooned around their necks and then exotic tropical plants followed by Kona coffee but certainly not Vodka. And now there is a Hawaiian Vodka vying for attention.
Ocean Vodka is certified 100% USDA organic and is the only vodka in the world distilled from organic sugar cane. Really, organic Vodka?!? As a result, Ocean Vodka is naturally gluten free. It contains no GMOs (genetically modified organisms), herbicides, or pesticides. It is handcrafted on the beautiful island of Maui. Ocean Vodka is the only spirit in the world made with deep ocean mineral water. According to them, the high mineral content of the water imparts a unique character to their vodka. Their water is sourced from 3,000 feet below the big island of Hawaii, where it is ice-cold, deeply pure, and full of naturally occurring minerals. Once the water is brought to the surface on the Kona coast, it is organically purified and desalinated through reverse osmosis, natural filtration that removes sodium while retaining rich minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium. Almost sounds like a vitamin substitute. Could this be a Vodka that might replace your vitamin supplements? Let’s see.
It comes in a pretty pale blue bottle with a stylized coconut tree or possibly palm tree on the front. In the bottle, it smells strong and definitely mineral like. The alcohol mellows out quite quickly in the glass leaving a minerally sweet nose with a very bright back. There is a lot going on upon the palate. It is medium oily with a background of sweetness, no doubt thanks to the sugar cane that spawned it. There are also hints of minerals and even salts that all combine to present an interesting taste profile. The finish is smooth and medium in length leaving an intriguing after taste that is also salty sweet. This is an interesting Vodka for sure, one that made an unusual, yet tasty, martini. This might be a great Vodka for mixing in Bloody Marys and other mixed drinks as it would certainly bring flavor to the party and not get lost in the mix.
At $31.99 per 750 ml. it is right up there with other high end super premiums. It has more natural flavor than most, is smoother than many and certainly stands alone in this crowded category. Now, I’ll also think of Ocean Vodka when someone mentions Hawaii to me. Aloha!
By George Brozowski
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