Desi Daru Mango Vodka secured its third Master medal, in the Microdistillery flight. Chambers said: “Tonnes of fresh mango on nose, fresh pulp with bitterness from skin, soft and sweet on the palate, with a very complex flavour profile, lots of fresh mango – this is great to experience, compared with something more confected. It’s juicy and delicious, with a delicate peppery note underneath.” Proud of their 100-year potato growing heritage, firm British roots, provenance and family are truly at the heart of the distillery. Melita Kiely, editor of The Spirits Business, and chair of The Global Spirits Masters Competitions (GMSC) led the third panel, which included: Matt Chambers, spirits writer and co-founder of the Whisky For Everyone blog; Joyce Chou, Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s translation project manager; Zaloren Gonzalez Fontes, assistant manager of Hometipple; and Herchelle Perez Terrado, founder of Drinks Partnership.

Vodka can be made from almost anything. We’ve tested those made from potatoes, grains, grapes and even sugarcane. This is then fermented, before being distilled (often multiple times) to remove impurities — look out for this on the label. Also taking home the top award was 8 Mile Vodka, which Perez Terrado said offered: “Clean, grapefruit aroma, great body and mouthfeel around the tongue, followed by delightful peppery heat balance with light bitter astringency.” Nine Golds were also discovered, including one for Pravda, which offered “floral grain notes, an absolutely superb texture, bit of pepperiness, but nice and full with crisp grain notes”.While sales appear to be stagnant for the category in the US, producers continue to invest in new products, capitalising on trends such as sustainability, low-ABV and provenance. Even ready-to-drink brands, such as White Claw and Truly, have made moves into the vodka category as demand for hard seltzers falters.

Three Silvers were given out in the penultimate flight, Flavoured/Infused Vodka-Based Spirit Drink, including two for White Claw Spirits Co. Edwards 1902 English potato vodka is crafted in Lincolnshire from a single variety of potato – the King Edward. The King Edward potato was first cultivated in 1902 in fields just a few miles away from the distillery.Prousaefs was particularly enamoured of Summum Single Estate Vodka: “Very smooth, crisp and light on the nose and palate. Super easy going and easy to drink, with an almost excellent mouthfeel and lasting finish.” A Gold was given to Grainger’s Deluxe Organic Vodka, and a Silver was awarded to Koskenkorva Vodka Organic. Eastern Europe saw Dima’s Vodka from Ukraine grab a Gold, praised for its “lemon and green apple on the nose” and “nutty and savoury mouthfeel”. A Silver went to Flirt Vodka from Bulgaria. They set out to prove that quality produce, originating from our own farms across Lincolnshire, could create a premium single-estate potato vodka, from a simple ingredient on our doorstep that they already knew so well. Completing the Master line-up was Ewe Whey Vodka, with Filer calling its “rich, nutty, malty nose, like a sweet beer ferment. On the palate – similar notes, nutty malt, some caramel sweetness, hints of milk chocolate, some balancing citrus and pepper. Warming texture.”

They make all of their alcohol from 100% raw ingredients that have been grown locally by their founding members for over 100 years. Their unique single variety recipe, using the local Lincolnshire King Edward potato contributes to the distinctive flavour of Edwards 1902, and allows them to control the entire process ‘from soil to spirit’ to create a remarkably smooth, luxurious and now award-winning vodka. The final flight of the day, Vodka Liqueur, saw a Gold go to Edwards 1902 x Bottlegreen Elderflower Liqueur. It was praised for its “light elderflower notes” and “good acidity”. Two Silvers were also awarded in the flight. Master medallists were aplenty in The Vodka Masters 2023 Banks and Bloom Ice Vodka impressed Filer, who said: “Soft nose with some creamy vanilla, lemon and grain. A smooth and oily mouthfeel with a saline element, and a balanced profile of peppery grain with sweet citrus, and no disruptive heat.” Chou noted: “I can see some very expressive combinations of flavours, and some of them did very well in bringing different flavour profiles. The fruity ones were a little bit watered down, and too fake. But the more herbal, savoury ones did very well. There were expressive characters.”This year’s Vodka Masters headed to the Hippodrome in London, where three panels of judges were tasked with dishing out medals to worthy entrants. Sarah Lawson, head of marketing for softs at SHS Drinks, added: “While this is the first time we’ve put the brand name to an alcohol product, all Bottlegreen drinks are crafted using specialist, flavour-enhancing processes traditionally employed by winemakers, so the alcohol category isn’t totally alien to us.” SHS Drinks has extended cordial brand Bottlegreen into alcohol with the launch of an elderflower vodka liqueur made with UK producer Edwards 1902. Located just a few miles from where their spirit’s main ingredient was first cultivated in Brigg, Elsham Wold Distillery have committed 8 years of passion and hard work to bring their vision of ‘soil to spirit’ to life.