Nemiroff Orignial Vodka Ukraine 100 cl 40%

Nemyriv is a small town in Podillia, surrounded by some of the most fertile wheat fields in Europe. Spirit has been distilled here since 1872, and the town has lent its name to a vodka that now stands on shelves in more than 80 countries.

Expert description

Nemiroff Original is a Ukrainian Vodka from Nemiroff in Nemyriv, distilled from wheat, flavoured with caraway and honey and bottled at 40%.

Production began in 1872, when the largest distillery in the district opened in Nemyriv, and the house has stayed in the same town ever since. The water comes from artesian wells beneath the distillery and the wheat is grown in the surrounding countryside. Nemiroff is today the largest vodka exporter in Ukraine.

Original is the house black label, launched in 1999. Unlike the plain bottlings in the range it is not entirely neutral: a very small amount of caraway and honey is added, sitting as a tone rather than as a flavour. You have to know it is there to put words to it, but it is there.

After distillation the vodka passes nine stages of filtration before bottling. That is what gives the round, almost softly polished character which lets the litre bottle sit on a dinner table without anybody asking for ice. It works with food and in drinks alike.

Tasting notes

Nose

Clean and mild. A pale grain note with a fine touch of honey and a hint of caraway behind it.

Palate

Soft and round. The wheat gives a muted sweetness, while the caraway lays a warm, almost bread-like spice through the middle.

Finish

Short and clean. The spice hangs on for a moment and leaves a dry, faintly honeyed impression behind.

Specifications

Name: Nemiroff Original
Producer: Nemiroff
Region/Country: Nemyriv, Ukraine
Type: Ukrainian Vodka
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL
Distillation method: Distilled from wheat and filtered in nine stages, flavoured with caraway and honey
EAN no.: 50706100
Serving suggestion: Ice cold from the freezer in small glasses alongside food, or in a Moscow Mule where the caraway meets the ginger.

Flavour profile

Caraway · Honey · Soft · Wheat

Did you know?

Original is also called Nemiroff Black after the colour of its label, and that name is still used in many markets. The town of Nemyriv sits in Podillia, one of the classic wheat districts of Europe, which is why the house chose wheat over potatoes in the first place.

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Frequently asked questions about Nemiroff Original

Can you clearly taste the caraway and honey?

Only faintly. The quantities are small, and they read mostly as warmth and roundness rather than as an added aroma layer. Put it beside a completely neutral vodka and you hear the difference immediately.

What does nine-stage filtration mean?

That the vodka passes nine separate filtration stages before bottling. The aim is to remove the compounds that create harshness and to make the mouthfeel smooth. That treatment is what gives the bottle its soft character.

What is it made from?

Wheat from the countryside around Nemyriv, blended with water from artesian wells beneath the distillery. Wheat gives a muted, pale sweetness rather than the sharp edge of rye, which suits the mild style the house aims for.

How is it drunk in Ukraine?

Ice cold in small glasses alongside food, not as a mixed drink. Salty, pickled and fatty food belongs with it: cucumbers, herring, mushrooms, rye bread and salo. The cold tightens the vodka up and the food takes on the warm spice.

Does it suit cocktails?

Yes, especially where there is already spice or ginger. A Moscow Mule becomes more coherent, a Bloody Mary gains a warmer base, and a plain vodka soda with lemon works too. For very sweet fruit drinks there are better choices.

What separates Original from the rest of the range?

The spice. The plain bottlings from the house are neutral, while Original carries caraway and honey in the recipe. It is also the oldest of the current bottlings, launched in 1999.

Is the litre bottle an advantage?

For larger gatherings, yes. A 100 CL bottle goes further at a dinner or a party, and it still only needs to be kept cool and dark between courses. To see other houses in the category, browse our Vodka brands.