Beluga Transatlantic Racing Premium Russian Vodka 70 cl 40%

A race across the Atlantic rewards patience as much as speed. Beluga Transatlantic Racing is drawn for that world. Navy-blue glass, a golden anchor, and inside it a vodka that was left completely still for 45 days before it ever reached a bottle.

The expert's description

Beluga Transatlantic Racing Premium Russian Vodka is a Russian Vodka made from malt spirit at the Mariinsk Distillery in Siberia, filtered through natural cotton and quartz sand and bottled at 40%.

Mariinsk lies in the Kemerovo region deep inside Siberia, where the winters run long and the water is drawn from artesian wells far below the frost line. Spirits have been distilled on the site since 1900, but the Beluga name only arrived in 2002. The water accounts for much of the house style: soft and mineral, and in no need of harsh treatment before it can be used.

The base is malt spirit rather than the neutral grain spirit most vodkas are built on. Malt yields a distillate with more body and a distinct cereal sweetness that is hard to reach by any other route. Filtration then happens in two stages, first through natural cotton, which catches the heaviest compounds, and afterwards through quartz sand, which polishes what is left without carrying the character away with it.

Finally the vodka rests for 45 days. That is a long time to leave a spirit standing, and it is not cask maturation but a stretch in which the components are given room to settle. The bottling is the house's tribute to ocean racing, and the bottle says so: navy-blue glass with marine motifs and a golden anchor at the neck.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pale grain and a trace of vanilla, with something cool and mineral underneath. A light berry note sits at the edge, close to strawberry, and the alcohol takes up remarkably little room.

Palate

Soft and creamy from the first sip. Oat and mild cereal sweetness settle across the tongue like a film, then fresh citrus and a suggestion of liquorice arrive, and underneath it all sits something dry and graphite-like alongside almond.

Finish

Medium and clean. The citrus holds on, white pepper gives one small jab at the end, and the creaminess stays around longer than expected.

Specifications

Name: Beluga Transatlantic Racing Premium Russian Vodka 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Mariinsk Distillery
Region/Country: Kemerovo, Siberia, Russia
Type: Russian Vodka
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Malt spirit filtered through natural cotton and quartz sand, then rested for 45 days
Edition: Transatlantic Racing
Serving suggestion: Ice cold and neat in a frozen glass with smoked fish, or stirred into a Vodka Martini with lemon zest

Flavour profile

Soft · Creamy · Cereal · Citrus · Mineral

Did you know?

The Mariinsk Distillery is far older than the brand that made the place famous. Spirits have been produced at the plant since 1900, while the Beluga name first appeared in 2002. The distillery had therefore been running for over a century before it gained the name people know it by today.

See our full range of Vodka

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently asked questions about Beluga Transatlantic Racing Premium Russian Vodka 70 cl 40%

What sets Transatlantic Racing apart from other vodkas?

The malt spirit. Most vodkas are built on neutral grain spirit, whereas this one is made from malt, which gives more body and a clear cereal sweetness on the palate. On top of that comes filtration through natural cotton and quartz sand, which cleans the spirit without stripping its character.

How is it best served?

Ice cold and neat in a small glass straight from the freezer. The cold tightens the creamy texture and sharpens the citrus note. Keep the bottle in the fridge rather than the freezer, so the aromas do not close down entirely.

What do the 45 days of rest actually do?

The vodka stands still for six weeks after blending and filtration before it is bottled. No cask is involved, so there is no colour and no wood influence. The rest is about letting spirit, water and the remaining components settle, which rounds out the mouthfeel.

Does it work in cocktails?

Yes, particularly in drinks where the vodka is meant to be noticed. A Vodka Martini stirred with a little lemon zest flatters the cereal sweetness, and a plain Vodka Tonic with Tonic Water and a slice of lemon works as well. In a Bloody Mary the nuances disappear under tomato and spice.

What is artesian water?

Water from a deep well where pressure in the ground pushes it up unaided. It has been sealed between dense layers of rock for a long time and is therefore mineral-rich and free of surface contamination. At Mariinsk it is drawn from beneath the Siberian frost.

What does a vodka have to do with sailing?

Transatlantic Racing is a bottling dedicated to ocean racing, and the theme runs through the whole presentation. The glass is navy blue, the motifs are marine, and a golden anchor sits at the neck. Inside is the same Siberian vodka the house otherwise makes, in its own dress.

What food goes with it?

Salty, fatty things. Smoked salmon, herring, caviar and pickled vegetables are the classic partners, because the cold and the clean texture cut straight through the fat. The soft cereal sweetness also works surprisingly well with freshly boiled potatoes, dill and butter.