Snow Leopard Vodka
Snow Leopard Vodka: Named after an elusive, endangered creature (and with 15 percent of each sale going to preservation efforts), this spirit is also unique as it’s distilled from spelt, an ancient grain that’s a cousin to wheat. That’s enough to help it stand out from the premium vodka pack, in addition to the gorgeous frosted bottle featuring the titular cat.
Six times distilled (that’s a lot), it’s quite pure as a neutral spirit, as vodka should be. That doesn’t mean there are no flavor notes — a bit of vanilla, a hint of spelt’s nuttier characteristics — and what might be most striking: an almost creamy mouthful when it’s sipped neat and unchilled.
That heartier weight means it’s a delightful backbone for cocktails. I whipped one up with tangerines, Grand Marnier, vanilla bean, and chocolate bitters, and the vodka made everything shine.
