AU Viking Vodka Essence 50 ml

AU Viking Vodka Essence 50 ml

Not all vodka is the same. The modern, wheat-based style that has conquered the world’s bars is richer and fuller than the classic shot-glass vodka – soft as silk, yet with a distinct grain flavour of its own. Viking Vodka Essence gives your spirit exactly that profile: a premium vodka that is just as good for sipping as it is for mixing.

The hallmark of the style is that the grain is allowed to show. Instead of total neutrality you find the soft, bready sweetness of wheat, which makes for a vodka with personality. It is that balance between purity and character which has made it the bartender’s first choice.

Colour & Appearance

The finished vodka is crystal clear and brilliant. Chilled, it turns syrupy and settles heavily and softly in the glass, a sign of the fullness to come.

Nose

The nose is clean but not empty. Fresh wheat bread and pale grain meet a faint sweetness that leans towards vanilla and dried fruit. A cool, almost mineral note adds freshness, and nothing prickles the nostrils.

Palate

The first sip reveals why the style has become so popular. The taste is round and, for a vodka, complex: sweet grain, a buttery softness and a small note of dried apple and apricot. The mouthfeel is full and velvety. Towards the end a fine pepperiness tightens everything up, and it is all so well judged that the vodka comes across as both full of character and neutral enough for any drink you care to name.

Finish

The finish is medium-long, soft and clean. A bready sweetness and a pinch of white pepper hang on for a while, without the slightest burn or off-note.

How to Use

The essence is mixed with vodka or neutral spirit. 50 ml makes 2.25 litres of finished vodka, which can be served straight away. Instructions are on the label.

Serving Suggestions

• Well chilled as a shot with shellfish and pickled fish.
• A vodka Martini – stirred, not shaken, with an olive or a twist of lemon.
• A Cosmopolitan with cranberry juice, lime and orange liqueur.
• With orange juice, cola or tonic in a tall glass.
• A splash in your coffee – an old favourite.

About the Essence

The AU series was developed for markets where 2.25 litres is a common bottle size, and the 50 ml format has proved popular with our customers closer to home too. Viking is the premium vodka of the series – choose it when you want a little more body and character than a classic shot-glass vodka offers.

Thanks to its fullness, Viking works particularly well in spirit-forward cocktails where the vodka cannot hide behind juice and fizzy mixers. Try it in a martini, in an espresso martini or simply with a couple of ice cubes and a twist of lemon. Kept in the freezer it turns extra viscous and silky.