Each distiller selects specific ingredients that define their brand, and it's these components that influence the final liquid and separates the heroes from the humdrum. The quality and style of the grain is key, but the source of the water is as equally influential. The origins of the H2O provide each brand of vodka with distinctive personality traits that, when combined with the grain and the method of filtration, add subtle nuances to each brands alcohol signature. For vodka producers, finding unique and pristine water sources can be challenging. Some Canadian distillers, however, have found inspiration, and a fountain of soft, prehistoric water, in their own backyard as well as floating right by their front door.
Corn is cheaper, and more readily available, so the use of rye is unusual.
The rye, and the use of a cold filtration technique that replaces the standard charcoal process, allows more flavour elements to remain in the finished spirit. The effect is cool, clean and refreshing with a quintessential vodka aroma and medium body that shows a light minerally edge. The melted water is triple-filtered, then combined with spirit made from sweet corn, grown in Ontario, that's been distilled three times. The outcome is thick and full-bodied, offering a light, fresh aroma of mint leaf, menthol and anise. The body is rich and fiery with a subtle undercurrent of grainy sweetness, licorice and black pepper, ending in a lengthy impression of mineral, earth and alcohol.