May 17, 2007

Zyr Vodka Review

Back when we first found out about Zyr Vodka, we were pleasantly intrigued by their ballsy claim to be the best Russian vodka ever. There's nothing wrong with a little hubris when you're marketing a product, and we like how they went right for the top. Of course, when you make a claim like that you have to have some pretty serious chops, right?

Just think - in so many people's minds, Russia is the home of vodka. Hence, saying you're the best Russian vodka ever is some pretty heady stuff. Zyr relies on their 9:5:3 ratio (nine filtrations, five distillations, three tastings) for every batch to get to the level of quality they're trying to achieve.

Does Zyr live up to our drastically inflated hopes? Read on to find out.

Zyr
Imported Russian Vodka
80 Proof (40% ABV)
Typical Price: About $30 for 750ML
Website

The Look:
Zyr vodka itself is as clear as a nun's conscience, end of story. The bottle is an elegant-looking blue affair with some kind of etching on it...one of the most distinctive bottles we've seen in a long time. Definitely a standout from the rest of the clear frosted vodka bottles you'll see on liquor store shelves.

The Nose:
Clean, with a hint of lemon peel.

The Taste:
Thick and tasty, with a slightly peppery taste we didn't expect (probably from the rye that's used as one of the grains in its creation). It had a thick mouth feel, tingly and crisp, with a sweet finish. We liked it neat, and liked it more on the rocks. And not that we recommend this entirely, but it works very well as a mixer. Like incredibly well. We've never drank a vodka that disappeared so entirely into the drink...you pour it in, and it tastes like you didn't add any booze at all. Seriously - try it...it's kind of freaky.

Oh, and rumor has it you can make a spectacular martini garnished with a pickle, but we didn't try it yet.

The Verdict:
We're not sure if it's the best Russian vodka ever, but it's certainly one of the best we've ever had. Good character when you need it, but not overpowering when it shouldn't be, this is a versatile and damned fine spirit.