Grey Goose Vodka

Grey Goose vodka was the first super-premium I ever tried, and the reason that I became the vodka lover that I now. Almost a year ago I first read about the product in Maxim magazine. At that time it had just won the platinum medal at the World Spirits Championships with 96 out of 100 points(the only one to win that award), and was being touted as the world's finest vodka. This celebration also entailed a sale on Grey Goose, and I decided that it would be a sin not to take advantage of the price and sample it. Since that fateful day I have never looked back to sub-premium vodkas, and I have no regrets...

Originally created as a potato brew, vodka has been seen as an alcoholic symbol for Eastern Europe for generations, as stereotypes still abound of hairy Russian men drinking it like water. Within the last 3-4 years, however, the spirit has had a resurgence of popularity, making an even bigger commercial comeback than Regis. Super-premium vodkas are being unveiled at the rate of one a month, and many of them display the incredible delicacy that this drink can have. Grey Goose is the French entrant into this race for the new yuppie vodka market, and its award-winning status places it a healthy step ahead of the competition.

Appearance

In the super-premium vodka market, the physical appearance of the vodka bottle is the most important marketing aspect. Like vanity plates, gorgeous vodka bottles have become a somewhat misplaced luxury among the higher classes. Grey Goose is no exception to the aesthetic rule, frosted with the image of flying gooses circling the bottle over a frozen lake and mountains.

Tasting Notes

The production of Grey Goose is very important, as it contributes greatly to the vodka's most distinctive flavor. It is a five-step process, being with fermentation of premium grain in copper pot stills. The product is soon blended with water naturally purified through champagne limestone harvested from the Gente Springs of Cognac, France. The purpose of this highly involved process is to provide the drinker with the smoothest drink possible, while the stones also give the vodka a flavor all its own.

To start the tasting, I noticed that Grey Goose is quite smooth, but not excessively so. It has a pleasant bite that reminds you that you're drinking vodka, and that the liquor is 80 proof(the traditional number for most super-premium vodkas). The taste has a strong mineral flavor to it, balanced with the slightly sweet presence of citrus notes and the tiniest hint of bitter chocolate. It is a complex, almost ethereal flavor that makes Grey Goose so popular. You can never quite put your hands upon what makes the taste so perfect, and that temptation only piques your appetite for more; there is the thrill of the hunt in this bottle...

The aroma wafting out of the poured glass is a hybrid of mineral and floral, owing to the presence of champagne limestone, and it relatively delicate for a vodka.

Serving Notes

Because of the complexity of its own flavor, Grey Goose vodka is in theory served best alone or on ice, so that the drinker can fully appreciate the depth of its character. For those of us looking for a slower drink(vodka on the rocks will get you in trouble quickly), I would recommend something that accentuates the citrus and floral notes of the vodka. My best recommendations are a simple vodka martini, served dry of course, or a dry vodka gimlet, both of which leave the Grey Goose enough room to properly breath and express itself. Any such "monster mixes" as Long Island Ice Teas and Bloody Marys are a waste of this quality vodka, like using a bomb to kill an ant...

As for the proper cuisine to accompany the vodka, or vice versa, I find that of course everything goes well. The food that most appreciates the particular Grey Goose flavor, in my opinion, is seafood. I had a glass on the rocks with my last sushi dinner, and the relationship between them was extraordinary. The delicate flavors of both items perfectly complement each other...a combination not to miss!

Availability

Since it won the World Spirits Championships, Grey Goose is enjoying an incredible amount of name recognition, which means that it is the super-premium vodka for every good liquor store to have. Simply put, any store worth its salt will have Grey Goose in both the 750ml and 1l sizes, $27 and $33 respectively here in North Carolina. Pricey for sure, but you get what you pay for...


The Final Verdict

My wrap-up on Grey Goose vodka is short and sweet: You have not experienced the full potential of vodka until you have sample this masterpiece of vodka brewing!