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Liquor Review: Cirrus Vodka

Published on May 26th, 2008 in Liquors of the Month, Vodka by Kevin

Cirrus Vodka What do you think of when year hear the word Cirrus? Is it cloudy days, meteorology, spring showers, or maybe skipping through a field filled with daisies wearing a sun dress and a big floppy hat? Okay, if you came up with that last one and you call yourself a man, then you might want to seek some psychiatric help. Anyway, all of those thoughts are wrong because, as a self-respecting drinker, you should think vodka every time you hear Cirrus.

Cirrus is a triple copper pot distilled potato vodka produced in the capital of Virginia by the Parched Group LLC. The owner, Paul McCann, established the distillery in January of 2004 and began producing the handmade spirit the following August. Now some companies claim to be handmade, but Paul lives it every day he spends on the job. You see, Paul is the only full-time employee of the company. The production of vodka is a labor-intensive process involving the selection of russet potatos, warming, mashing, cooking, fermenting, distillation, proofing, and finally bottling. Paul does it all, and that ensures he can monitor the vodka every step of the way. Is he a control freak obsessed with the quality of his product? Probably, but we, the drinker, benefit from his obsession and hard work. So far the guys with the professionally employed tastebuds think Paul is doing a pretty good job with the BTI awarding him a silver medal in 2005 and 2006 along with a Gold Medal at the 2006 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The first thing we noticed about Cirrus was the design of the bottle. It is a simple, clean, and classy design that is a refreshing look amid some of the flashier packaging you can find in the liquor store. Upon sampling its contents, we discovered why Cirrus Vodka does not need a gaudy bottle to get your attention. Popping the cork and taking a sniff will not allow you to experience the aroma of this vodka. Initially you might think this is just another bland, odorless, and flavorless vodka. However, pour it in a glass over some ice, and its character completely changes. Getting your nose in the glass and taking another whiff will reward you with a light vanilla and slightly sweet aroma. Vodka with a pretty bottle and an enticing nose is great, but the cold, hard truth is that the taste is what makes a liquor worth drinking.

First off, I need to admit that I never have been a fan of sipping straight vodka on the rocks, and I never thought I would be, until we sampled Cirrus. I love drinking this vodka on the rocks! That vanilla aroma carries over into the initial flavor. The vanilla on your pallet is stronger than a hint but less than what you would find in a specifically flavored spirit. The initial vanilla then drifts into a creamy, earthy taste that cannot be achieved with a grain based mash. Its triple distillation shows as this vodka is quite smooth and pleasant to sip. If you want to mix a drink with Cirrus, it works just as a well as any other premium vodka. Unfortunately, none of the vanilla and other tasting notes carry through into your cocktails, which was a bit of a disappointment. I kinda of felt like I was wasting this precious liquid everytime I added something to dilute it. However, the simple solution is to just drink it on the rocks for the full flavor effect.

Cirrus is a standard 80-proof, but it was quite effective at getting me tipsy. It probably got me tipsy so well because it goes down so smoothly; you can easily find yourself half a bottle down and wondering why everyone in the bar keeps swaying back and forth (Hint: it’s you and not them). Fortunately, there was no hangover, so you can escape a night of drinking Cirrus with no ill effects except the ones resulting from all the bad decisions you made.

If you are looking for a typical bland, colorless, odorless, and flavorless vodka, then any number of other premium vodkas should do the trick. However, if you are looking for a vodka that has unique character, a fantastic light vanilla taste, and is a delight to sip, then Cirrus should be your new best buddy. The good news is that, at $23 a bottle, you can spend plenty of time with your new-found friend. The bad news is that, as a handmade boutique spirit, you are going to have a tough time finding it outside of Virgina and its neighboring states. If you are in that geographic region, I highly suggest you take some time to track down a bottle because I doubt you will be disappointed.

Sipability – 7.0

May 08 Mixability – 7.5