New Zealand may not be the primary nation that involves thoughts once we consider vodka, however perhaps it needs to be. Over time, the nation has gained appreciation for its wine due to its unimaginable panorama and a relentless consideration to craft. Enter Damaged Shed, a velvety easy vodka constructed from whey and water from each the North and South islands of New Zealand.
On this week’s Bottle Breakdown, we sat down with Damaged Shed Grasp Blender Mark Simmonds to be taught what goes inside each bottle and get some suggestions on one of the best methods to take pleasure in it.
Spirited: Simply to start out, what was your first expertise with Vodka? And the way does that reminiscence affect the best way you consider Damaged Shed Vodka?
Mark Simmonds: I used to be not a vodka appreciator till we began on this journey – my expertise was in water, juices and wine, and whiskey was my spirit of selection. Earlier than we started the enterprise, we arrange a significant blind tasting. Over 25 totally different identified model vodkas. Every randomly sampled twice over a interval of a pair hours taking descriptive notes each time. It was then a revelation to me within the wide selection of vodka style profiles, and the misnomer of “impartial spirit” was very obvious to me. Some had been pleasing, many had been tough – majority had problems with an excessive amount of burn, medicinal notes, funky notes (forming suspicions of components…) or simply watery and out of stability. It was thrilling due to the conclusion that if I might put collectively an excellent product we’d instantly be forward of nearly all of the sphere.
Spirited: Damaged Shed Vodka hails from New Zealand. Are you able to inform us a bit about how the island nation’s ethos finds its approach into the bottle?
MS: An essential “ethos” for New Zealand, is that we’re geographically eliminated and much away from the remainder of the world. Even now at solely 5mm individuals, we don’t have a lot of an area market. So we have to export, and contemplating the prices on account of our measurement/location and distance from markets, we have to produce top quality merchandise. We will’t compete on excessive quantity mid vary merchandise. So in dairy, meat, wine we produce extremely regarded merchandise, and constantly punch above our weight. We now have to.
Spirited: We all know potato vodka, winter wheat vodka, buffalo grass vodka, however Damaged Shed makes use of whey. What’s whey and the way will we style the distinction compared to these different vodka varieties we’re extra acquainted with?
MS: Whey is a pure milk sugar liquid created as a by-product when producing milk. Utilizing whey inside vodka manufacturing offers the spirit a velvety and easy mouthfeel with notes of vanilla butterscotch on the palate. By sourcing our whey from naturally grass-fed cows in New Zealand, we’re selecting a available, sustainable ingredient and decreasing our waste. Our use of whey and steady efforts in sustainability actually make us stand out from different vodka manufacturers.
Spirited: You mix water from each the North and South islands of New Zealand. How does this enhance the ultimate product?
MS: It’s all about balancing the mineral content material we get from the south island mineral water. We now have a novel ingredient combine utilizing an unusually excessive mineral water supply, after which “balancing” that through the use of a softer spring water. Damaged Shed is all concerning the style. It’s at all times our precedence and when individuals style our vodka, they perceive the hassle we put into creating it. Our nice clear style is created totally from our mix of two waters and the whey distillate. We took over a yr to develop the recipe and the method, with frequent tasting events within the shed. We mix a pure mineral water from an historic aquifer within the South Island and spring water from the North Island to completely stability with our highest high quality whey distillate.
Spirited: For individuals who are coming throughout Damaged Shed for the primary time, how would you suggest having fun with the vodka?
MS: We suggest first tasting Damaged Shed neat for a full and aware tasting expertise. When tasted by itself, its true flavors and purity shine by means of. Damaged Shed additionally works properly in a martini with a twist or on the rocks with a peel of orange or grapefruit. Damaged Shed can also be nice for infusions, its clear style showcases the infusion substances and takes on the flavors shortly.
Spirited: What’s your favourite solution to take pleasure in Damaged Shed?
MS: My go-to has at all times been and nonetheless is a dry martini with flamed orange twist. I’ve been experimenting with refined herbaceous vodka infusions in my martini as an alternative of vermouth. Damaged Shed is a superb vodka for at-home bartenders to mess around with and make their very own signature cocktails.
Spirited: Summer season is simply across the nook right here within the Northern Hemisphere, whereas winter is on the point of bear down on the Southern Hemisphere. Received any summer time and winter cocktail suggestions?
MS: Damaged Shed is such a flexible vodka for cocktail mixing, it will possibly actually be loved year-round. The Damaged Guarantees is a favourite for the summer time. The combination of the vodka, seltzer and kiwi puree may be very refreshing. For the winter, I wish to take pleasure in a Damaged Cider. The cinnamon and heat cider actually hits the spot with the mix of our vodka when the temperature dips.
Spirited: What’s subsequent for Damaged Shed?
MS: True to our ‘Vodka of Tomorrow’ marketing campaign, we’re at all times fascinated by our subsequent transfer! Damaged Shed’s future is trying very vibrant and we’re excited to proceed increasing Damaged Shed’s footprint within the U.S. throughout the states of Nebraska, West Virginia and Florida. We’re very fortunate to work with a number of the finest professionals within the business and we look ahead to seeing what the longer term brings for Damaged Shed.
