BALTIC SPIRIT TASTING NOTES
JAUNALKO
Kurland
The land of azure seas, emerald forests, amber plains and warm-hearted people.
The name of this vodka comes from one of the historical regions of Latvia, situated in the west by the Baltic Sea, where the Jaunalko distillery is located.
Kurland Vodka is a natural rye and wheat vodka that stands for the thoroughness of the old traditions, the riches of nature and experience of master distillers.
Kurland Original Vodka
Clear vodka of 40% alc./vol. produced from mixed rye and wheat spirit of no less than 96% alc./vol., charcoal filtered three times. Has a clean smooth finish and clear after taste.
Kurland Premium Vodka
As Kurland Original Vodka with extra charcoal filtration and added fructose and glucose syrup giving it a clean, slightly sweet, and mild flavour.
Kurland Gin
A clear “Compound gin” of 40% alc./vol. Neutral grain spirit infused with juniper berries. filtered, and without redistilling.
Enjoy served chilled and straight, or in cocktails. Makes an ideal martini.
Arsenitch
This famous wheat and rye vodka came into the world 180 years later than its namesake “Piotr Arsenitch”.
Arsenitch Vodka is produced in the small town of Talsi, 100 kilometres from “Latvia’s”, capital “Riga” at the Jaunalko distillery, under licence from Boris Aleksejevich Smirnoff, the great-great-grandson of Arsenitch from Moscow.
It is one of the best and highest quality Vodkas in Europe, with numerous top awards to its credit.
Arsenitch Black Currant Vodka
40% alc./vol. from Arsenitch premium collection is produced from high quality vodka and natural black currant concentrate.
Enjoy straight and chilled, or in cocktails.
Arsenitch Black currant, black currant juice, lemonade, lime, ice cubes.
Arsenitch Cranberry Vodka
40% alc./vol. from Arsenitch premium collection is produced from high quality vodka and natural cranberry concentrate.
Enjoy chilled and straight, or in cocktails.
Arsenitch Cranberry, pineapple juice, orange juice, a slice of orange, ice cubes.
Arsenitch Green Apple Vodka
40% alc./vol. from Arsenitch premium collection. Produced with green apples, this vodka has a juicy, crisp, sweet and sour flavour with a smooth, clean, refreshing after taste.
Enjoy straight and chilled, with tonic or soda, or in cocktails.
Arsenitch Rosehip Vodka
25% alc./vol. from Arsenitch premium collection. Made with hand-picked rose-hips. Has a smooth and subtle taste and aroma.
Enjoy straight and chilled, or in cocktails.
Ideal as an aperitif, With dessert, on in tea.
Arsenitch Sandthorn Vodka
40% alc./vol. from Arsenitch premium collection is produced with hand-picked sandthorn berries. To those not familiar with sandthorn, it has an intriguing almost chameleon like palate and bouquet, it has to be tried. This vodka has won the prestigious “Superior Taste Award”, by International Taste and Quality Institute in Brussels, Belgium in 2009.
Enjoy straight and chilled, or in cocktails.
Arsenitch Sandthorn, peach juice, Grenadine syrup.
Arsenitch Sandthorn, apple juice, lemonade, a slice of lemon, ice cubes.
Sandthorn (Hippophae L.). Also known as sea-buckthorn, seaberry, and buckthorn.
Thorny shrubs reach 0.5-6 metres and are native to Europe and Asia producing small yellow berries. Harvesting is difficult due to the thorns and can only be harvested once in two years. The fruit can be used to make pies, jams, lotions and liquors. The juice or pulp has other potential applications in foods or beverages, in Finland, it is used as a nutritional ingredient in baby food. Fruit drinks were among the earliest sea-buckthorn products developed in China and the juice is popular in Germany and Scandinavian countries. Sea-buckthorn fruit is amongst the most enriched plant sources of vitamin C.
LATVIAN BALZAMS
Riga Black Balsam Bitters
A strong dark brown alcoholic drink of 45% alc./vol.
First made “Riga” in 1752 by pharmacist “Abraham Kunze” as a “Life’s Elixir”, its recipe has not essentially changed. It has a complex bouquet and flavour, deliciously different, exceptionally smooth and velvety on the palate. Riga Black Balsam Bitters opens a whole world of sensations with its 24 individual ingredients, of which 17 are botanicals. Subtle hints of linden blossom, birch bud, valerian root, raspberry, bilberry, and ginger as well as touches of nutmeg and black peppercorn tease the palate and come alive in the glass. Riga Black Balsam Bitters is carefully prepared in oak barrels, which allow its characteristic strength and the slightly bitter-sweet taste to develop. You will feel elixir’s fruity aroma and its special taste with every sip.
Enjoy it straight, on the rocks, with dessert, or in a variety of cocktails.
Bilberry/Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)
Dried berries and spirit are used to make an extract. It has a dark browny/violet colour with an astringent taste.
Anecdotally used for gastrointestinal ailments, infections, skin diseases, and inhibits macular degeneration. The berries contain dense levels of anthocyanin pigments linked experimentally to lowered risk for several diseases, such as those of the heart and cardiovascular system and eyes.
Gives Riga Black Balsam its colour and taste.
Raspberry (Rubue idaeus)
Contains organic acids, sugars, tannins, pectins, minerals, and vitamins. Used to improve digestion and sweat glands.
Gives Riga Black Balsam an improved flavour and taste.
The mixture is then infused with the remaining botanicals for thirty days in oak barrels, separated, and cellared under strict temperature controls.
Birch buds (Miricia gale)
Essential oils and resins give Riga Black Balsam a specific bitter taste and bouquet.
Bitterwort root (Gentiana lutea (Great Yellow Gentian))
It is remarkable for the intensely bitter properties residing in the root and every part of the herbage, hence they are valuable tonic medicines. The Gentian root is the principal vegetable bitter used in medicine, and is an ingredient in many proprietary medicines. It contains some of the most bitter compounds known and is used as a scientific basis for measuring bitterness. The root is anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, and stomachic. Taken for the treatment of liver complaints, indigestion, gastric infections and anorexia. Bitterwort gives Riga Black Balsam a pure bitter flavour.
Peppermint leaves (Mentha piperita, also known as M. balsamea Willd.)
Peppermint is sometimes regarded as 'the world's oldest medicine', with evidence dating as far back as 10,000 years. Contains menthone and menthyl esters, particularly menthyl acetate. Peppermint relaxes the gastro-esophageal muscle, thus promoting burping. Restaurants usually take advantage of this effect by its use confectionery, such as "after-dinner mints." Is calmative, antiseptic, relieves spasms and pain.
Wormwood stalks and leaves (Artemisia absinthium)
The aromatic leaves of many species of Artemisia are medicinal, being used as a tonic, stomachic, febrifuge and anthelmintic, with some species used for flavouring. Although most have an extremely bitter taste. The highly potent spirit absinthe, also contains wormwood.
Ginger root (Zingiber officinale)
The medical form of ginger was historically called "Jamaica ginger"; and classified as a stimulant and carminative. Used frequently for dyspepsia and colic. Gives Riga Black Balsam a pleasant bouquet and rich flavour.
Valerian root (Valeriana officinali)
Used against sleeping disorders, restlessness and anxiety, and as a muscle relaxant. Contains essential oils and alchohols.
Sweet Flag root (Acorus calamus)
The root is anodyne, aphrodisiac, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, febrifuge, hallucinogenic, hypotensive, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, mildly tonic and vermifuge. It is used internally in the treatment of digestive complaints, bronchitis, sinusitis etc. It is said to have wonderfully tonic powers of stimulating and normalising the appetite. In small doses it reduces stomach acidity, whilst larger doses increase stomach secretions and is therefore recommended in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.
Melisa leaves & stems (Melissa officialis)
The upper leaves and stems contain up to 0.15% etheric oils linalool, citronellal and geraniol. Used as a calmative, anti-spasmodic, sweat stimulator, helps bloating.
Gives Riga Black Balsam a rich and full aroma and palate.
Linden blossom (Tilia cordata Mill.)
Used as a remedy for head colds and mild fevers, as well as nasal or sinus catarrh. It is an antispasmodic, sweat stimulator, mild sedative, and nerve tonic. Prescribed by herbal practitioners for an irregular or racing heartbeat.
Oak bark (Quercus robur)
The young stalks and bark give a grey/brown colour and contain up to 20% tannins, with a deeply astringent, bitter taste. Reduces inflammation and controls bleeding.
St. Johns Wort (Hiperycum perforatum)
A bitter-sweet, cooling, astringent herb, calms the nerves, reduces inflammation, and promotes healing. Locally antiseptic and analgesic. A potent anti-viral, used in homeopathy for pain and inflammation due to nerve damage.
Buckbean leaves (Menyanthes trifoliata)
A very bitter diuretic and laxative herb, that stimulates the digestion, and improves lymphatic drainage. Used for indigestion, anorexia, arthritis, rheumatism, muscular weakness in CFS, and chronic infections with debility and exhaustion.
Black pepper (Piper nigrum)
The 5th century ‘Syriac Book of Medicines’ prescribes pepper (or perhaps long pepper) for such illnesses as constipation, diarrhoea, earache, gangrene, heart disease, hernia, hoarseness, indigestion, insect bites, insomnia, joint pain, liver problems, lung disease, oral abscesses, sunburn, tooth decay, and toothaches.
Gives Riga Black Balsam a spicy flavour.
Bitter/Wild Orange skins (Citrus aurantium)
Bitter orange contains synephrine, a substance similar to ephedrine, which acts on the α1 adrenergic receptor to constrict blood vessels and increase blood pressure and heart rate.
Has a very aromatic bitter taste.
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)
A typically tropical plant. Used in Riga Black Balsam for its strong aromatic and spicy flavours.
Riga Black Balsam also utilises Peruvian balsam, brandy, natural honey aromatics, glucose syrup, browned sugar, grain spirit, and partially frozen 189 to 198 metre deep arterial waters.
Enjoy these cocktails suggestions,
Black Shooter |
Doctor B |
Fresh Black Cranberry |
Hot Black Currant |
Innocent Balsam |
Black Mojito |
Black on Ice |
Riga Black Coffee |
Riga Black Balsam Currant
30% alc./vol. Riga's pharmacist Kunze created the basic recipe for this drink in 18th century. Today its magic composition is supplemented with natural black currant juice. The blend of two traditional Latvian flavours - Riga Black Balsam and black currants - along with ginger aroma forms the unique bouquet of this drink.
Enjoy Riga Black Balsam Currant straight, in refreshing cocktails, in dessert.
Riga Black Balsam Cream Liqueur
Cream liqueur with natural colour of 17% alc./vol. Has a caramel, bitter balsam and rum aroma, with a sweet caramel, vanilla, and balsam after taste.
Consists of Dutch “Creamy Creation” cream liqueur concentrate with added Riga Black Balsam, chocolate, Irish cream, rum, vanilla essence, sucrose and glucose.
Enjoy a refreshingly sweet experience try Riga Black Balsam Cream with ice, add it to coffee, pour onto ice-cream.
Both Riga Black Balsam/Currant and Riga Black Balsam Cream Liqueur are presented in hand made and glazed ceramic bottles.
Latvian Balzam Gin
Clear highest quality grain ethyl spirit of 40% alc./vol. with a dominant Juniper flavour and nose. Made from a combination of two natural Juniper essences with added natural lemon and sugars.
Enjoy served straight or in cocktails.
Kristaldzidrais Vodka
This wheat and rye, 40% alc./vol. vodka, crafted using traditional vodka making methods and premium quality charcoal filtering technology. Has a pleasant bouquet, clean palate, and almost no after taste. Pre WW2, Kristaldzidrais vodka was considered to be Latvia’s, and the regions, best vodka.
Best enjoyed chilled and straight.
LB Cranberry Vodka
LB Cranberry 38% alc./vol. vodka is made of the top quality grain spirit with a pleasant cranberry flavour and taste, not too sweet. LB Cranberry is based on the best traditions established by the best and most famous distillers.
Enjoy straight, or with tonic or soda.
LB Apple and Rhubarb Vodka
38% alc./vol. clear highest quality grain vodka. The infused apple and rhubarb complement each other very well, producing a subtle sweet and sour aroma and flavour with a refreshing after taste.
Enjoy served chilled and straight, with tonic or soda, or in cocktails.
LB Vodka
40% alc./vol. LB Vodka excels with outstanding purity and is produced from the highest quality grain spirit. LB Vodka is based on the best traditions acquired by Latvijas balzams distillers over more than 100 years of the company’s history.
Cloudberry Liqueur
18% alc./vol. Very smooth liqueur, saturated with the summery taste and aroma of cloudberries. Not overly sweet.
Enjoy straight as liqueur, drizzle onto dessert, or simply add soda and a slice of fruit.
Raspberry Liqueur
18% alc./vol. Very smooth liqueur, saturated with the juicy taste of summer raspberries. A little sweet, but not too much. Imagine a mouth-full of freshly picked, ripe, juicy raspberries.
Enjoy straight as liqueur, drizzle onto dessert, or simply add soda and a slice of fruit.
Moka Coffee Liqueur
30% alc./vol. A classic coffee liqueur with more than 40 years old distilling traditions using high quality coffee beans. Like the best short black with the slightest hint of dark chocolate, bitter/sweet flavour and aroma.
The liqueur has recurrently earned awards at various international fairs and competitions.
Enjoyable straight, with coffee, tea, ice-cream, or in cocktails.
Our spirits do not contain any artificial colours nor flavours.
BALTIC SPIRIT
Alnis Druva
Formerly ‘Elkcentrik Spirits’.
16 Leslie Ave. Boronia. Vic. 3155
ph./facs: (03) 9762 0656
mob: 0414 374 192
e-mail: cheers@balticspirit.com.au
web: www.balticspirit.com.au
© A. Druva 2009/11/12.
Please note that the information offered in these pages is for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used to replace medical advice from qualified and licensed health care practitioners. “Baltic Spirit” cannot be held responsible for the veracity of information supplied to it by others. “Baltic Spirit” promotes the responsible use of alcohol.
Sources;
Jaunalko; Riga, Latvia.
Latvian Balzams; Riga, Latvia.
Translated from Latvian: A. Druva. (9.2009)
Wikipedia.
Encyclopaedia & Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, & Allied Health. 5th. Edition 1992;
Miller - Keane.
The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopaedia of Herbs & Their Uses. 2008 Edition;
Deni Brown.