Oregon Spirit Cascadian Vodka

Despite being made from wheat, this vodka has a very unusual smell among all the vodkas I've reviewed. It genuinely smells like fresh, almost pine-like mineral water. I can imagine finding a flask with this scent if I were lost in the woods on the Pacific Coast. It's actually quite pleasant! The taste is a wonderful blend of mineral water, a pleasant, mild wheat sweetness, and just a whisper of pine needles. As vodkas go, this is remarkably neutral, with all the mentioned flavors and scents acting more as subtle background notes you can pick out rather than distinct, defining characteristics. I appreciate this neutrality because it allows the subtleties to feel natural and, paradoxically, gives this vodka a distinctly woodsy, outdoor character. I would happily take this on a hike! In terms of texture, it strikes a nice balance between oily and watery, with the consistency expected of a light wheat vodka. The alcohol burn is minimal, making it easy to sip neat, but its pine and mineral qualities strongly suggest it would be excellent in tonic water or quality mineral water. It's an absolute delight, and I highly recommend seeking out this Pacific Vodka.

The aroma is non-existent. The palate is clean, and it's a smooth vodka with a peppery finish. It lacks the grainy richness of Chopin Wheat but shares its neutral wheat character. I don't enjoy it as much as Chopin Wheat, but it's quite good. It's primarily neutral, with a slight sweetness and a touch of minerality. It's akin to a blend of spring water and sugar water with a peppery component. It's also not as smooth as Chopin Wheat. I'd place it around the level of Tobaritch, though its specific profile differs. The alcohol is somewhat noticeable. I believe it falls slightly short of Tobaritch. It's not as smooth as Chopin Wheat either.

Following New Amsterdam 100, this is smooth with a pleasant spring water taste. And now I'm noticing the bottle's claim of being made with cascade mountain water. Well, that makes sense then. It's hard to find fault with this: it's a very neutral vodka. There's not much to adore about it either. I prefer more character in my vodka. Specifically, I enjoy it most when twice distilled from malted barley and aged for 25 years in sherry hogsheads, so I'm likely not the ideal judge for a neutral vodka like this one. But I like it well enough. I might raise it a notch, but I believe my initial rating was quite accurate.

It's quite neutral with a piney aroma. The taste is of neutral grain with a hint of pine and a touch of sweetness. It goes down fairly easily and has a medium body. While not complex, it is clean, and the subtle flavors round it out nicely.

It really doesn't offer much in terms of flavor. There's a bit of alcohol, some spice, and sweetness. It's okay, but not exceptional. I won't be bumping up my score for it. This is an uninspired ending, but my initial rating stands.

This Goddess Cascadian offers a double-edged sword. Initially, it brought forth abundant saliva, only for my mouth to then feel like the Sahara Desert, desperately seeking the moisture that just vanished.