Beluga Miniature Noble Premium Russian Vodka 5 cl 40%

A miniature is not a small disappointment. It is one serving, filled, labelled and sealed exactly like its bigger sibling, and it lets you form your own opinion without committing to a whole bottle.

Expert description

Beluga Noble is a Russian Vodka made from malt spirit at the Mariinsk Distillery in Siberia, bottled at 40% in a 5 cl miniature.

What is inside is identical to the full bottle. The malt spirit is blended with artesian water from deep Siberian wells, filtered through birch charcoal and given small amounts of honey, oat extract and milk thistle before the whole blend is left to rest for 30 days. Only then does it get bottled — in this format too.

5 cl amounts to roughly one proper serving, which suits the things a large bottle cannot do: a tasting with several brands lined up side by side, a single evening with nothing left over, or a place in luggage where space is short.

Because the vodka is soft and sweet rather than dry and sharp, it also works as a welcome glass before a dinner that turns salty later. The label and the little fish emblem are the same as on the 70 cl bottle, simply scaled down.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey and pale grain, with a soft touch of vanilla and a cool mineral undercurrent.

Palate

Full and smooth. The malt fills the middle with mild sweetness, the oat turns the texture creamy, and then a dry herbal note reports in.

Finish

Clean and soft. It falls away calmly and leaves a faintly bitter herbal tail.

Specifications

Name: Beluga Noble
Distillery: Mariinsk Distillery
Region/Country: Mariinsk, Siberia, Russia
Type: Russian Vodka
ABV: 40%
Size: 5 CL
Distillation method: Column distilled malt spirit, filtered through birch charcoal
EAN no.: 4603928003373
Serving suggestion: Put the bottle in the freezer for an hour and pour it into one small glass, ideally with something salty.

Flavour profile

Soft · Honeyed · Creamy · Clean

Did you know?

Mariinsk sits some four thousand kilometres east of Moscow, right on the Trans-Siberian railway. The town is small enough to be missed on a map, yet it has had a working spirits plant since the beginning of the twentieth century.

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Frequently asked questions about Beluga Noble Miniature

How much is 5 cl?

Roughly one serving. A standard shot sits at 2 to 4 cl, so the bottle covers a single generous glass or two small ones. For a tasting with several vodkas lined up, that is about right.

Is it the same vodka as in the full bottle?

Yes. The same malt spirit from the Mariinsk Distillery, the same filtration through birch charcoal, the same addition of honey, oat extract and milk thistle and the same 30 days of rest. Only the bottle differs.

What is a miniature good for?

For tasting before you decide, for a flight of several brands, for travelling or for a single evening with no leftovers. It also works as a small gift or as the contents of an advent calendar or hamper.

How does it taste?

Soft and lightly sweet rather than dry and sharp. There is honey and mild grain on the nose, a creamy texture in the mouth and a dry herbal note at the close. It sits a good distance from the classic taut Eastern European style.

Should it be served ice cold?

Ideally, yes. An hour in the freezer is enough for a bottle this size, and the cold tightens the sweetness and lifts the finish. If it gets too cold and stands too long the aroma closes up, so take it out a little before you pour.

Can miniatures be kept?

Yes, unopened they last for years if stored cool and out of direct sunlight. A screw cap seals better than a cork stopper, which makes the format well suited to storage. The vodka does not develop in glass, so there is nothing to wait for.

What food does it suit?

Salty, rich food. Caviar, smoked salmon, herring and fatty sausage all meet the sweetness well, and one cold serving beside a plate is enough. If you want to try other styles with the same food, look among our Vodka brands.