Enghaven Danish Premium Vodka 50 cl 40%

Out at Mellerup north of Randers Fjord sits a farm where the fields run all the way down to the water. This is where the potatoes come from, and this is where they turn into vodka. Not in an industrial plant, but in a barn that also holds casks of whisky.

Expert description

Enghaven Danish Premium Vodka is a Danish Vodka distilled from Danish potatoes at Enghaven near Randers and bottled at 40%.

The Enghaven farm became a distillery in 2007, and the idea was simple from the start: whatever can be grown on the place should be refined on the place. The vodka is a distillery bottling in the literal sense, distilled, cut and filled in the same yard, with no middleman and no bought in neutral spirit.

The potato is an awkward choice. It yields less alcohol per kilo than grain, it has to be cooked and broken down before fermentation can even begin, and it is heavier to handle. In return it leaves a mark. Potato spirit generally lands fuller and more oily in the mouth than grain spirit, and that rounded texture is exactly what you meet here.

The distillate has not been scrubbed beyond recognition. A clear trace of the raw material survives into the finish, an earthy sweetness you will not find in a hard filtered wheat vodka. The producer recommends freezing the bottle and drinking it neat, and that is difficult to argue with.

Tasting notes

Nose

Mild and almost sweet. There is something creamy about it, with a faint earthy note underneath.

Palate

Round and full with a soft, almost oily texture. The gentle sweetness of the potato fills the middle without sharp edges.

Finish

Short and clean, but with a clear greeting from the raw material. The earthy note lingers after the sweetness drops away.

Specifications

Name: Enghaven Danish Premium Vodka
Distillery: Enghaven
Region/Country: Mellerup near Randers, Denmark
Type: Danish Vodka
ABV: 40%
Size: 50 CL
Distillation method: Distilled from Danish potatoes
Serving suggestion: Straight from the freezer and neat in a small glass, ideally with herring or smoked fish.

Flavour profile

Round · Mild · Potato soft · Earthy

Did you know?

Enghaven also makes Single Malt Whisky on the farm, released in numbered bottlings. It is still a small distillery, but the range runs from snaps and akvavit through gin and rum to whisky, and all of it comes out of the same barn.

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Frequently asked questions about Enghaven Danish Premium Vodka

What does it mean that it is made from potatoes?

That the raw material is cooked Danish potatoes rather than grain. Potatoes yield less alcohol per kilo and demand more preparation, but they hand the finished distillate a fuller and softer texture. That is why this vodka feels rounder in the mouth than a typical wheat vodka.

What does it taste like?

Mild and round with a lightly earthy sweetness. There is no sharpness to speak of, and the finish carries a clear trace of the potato. It is a vodka cleaned enough to be clean, but not so much that the raw material disappears.

How should it be served?

Ice cold from the freezer and neat in a small glass. The cold makes the texture even more velvety and brings the sweetness forward. It sits very well beside herring, smoked fish or a table of cold dishes.

What does distillery bottling mean here?

That the distillery itself has distilled, cut and bottled the spirit. No neutral alcohol was bought in and no distillate was shipped off to another company. The whole journey from potato to cork happened on the farm.

Does it work in drinks?

Yes, but pick drinks that leave it room. A Vodka Martini or a simple vodka and soda with lemon lets the texture speak. In a Bloody Mary or other heavily spiced drinks the round potato character gets drowned out.

What else does Enghaven make?

Gin, rum, snaps, akvavit and Single Malt Whisky. The distillery started in 2007 with the aim of refining its own raw materials, and the range has grown steadily since. To see other houses, browse our Vodka Brands.

Why is the bottle only 50 cl?

Because production is small and the format suits it. Half a litre is enough for the bottle to be finished while it is fresh, and it takes up less room in the freezer. It is also a friendly size to hand over without the gesture turning into a full blown present.