Blavod: Black Vodka

November 6, 1:29 PMLA Bartender ExaminerKristine Bottone

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Blavod
behance.net

Having surfaced in the US market back in 2003 black vodka is facing an uphill battle. Ironically, what sets it above the other vodkas is the same reason for its stilted rise: the color. In a society where appearances are everything this is the one instance where people are intently looking passed the exterior and contemplating what’s on the inside. In this case, what’s inside the bottle. While the color of black is one of sophistication, elegance and grace, the flavor of black is usually associated with licorice, medicine and char. But as we all have learned one way or another looks can be deceiving.

Blavod was the first company to think outside the box- or in this case the bottle- and add color while others were jumping on the flavor band wagon. Appealing more to the visual sense this 80 proof, neutral grain vodka has the traditional bite of clear vodka with an aftertaste that’s slightly spicy and not at all medicinal as one may think. The color comes from an extract of the Acacia shrub called Catechu. Catechu is more or less the resin from the Acacia bark after it’s been boiled in water to the point of evaporation.

While Catechu is in fact used in certain medicines in Asia and India, there are several methods of adding Catechu during the distillation. While some companies embrace the unique flavor and market their product accordingly, Blavod uses a process in which the Catechu will color the vodka without affecting the taste allowing the spirit to be used universally. It's true, black goes with everything and with more of a traditional vodka taste one is left with more options than with what looks like a glass filled with ink. On the rocks the black vodka gives off a mysterious blue hue and adds a slight burt coloring to juices and mixes. And with the normal consistency of clear vodka it can sit above most juices and liqueurs creating an ominous eye catching visual.    

Blavod is not a gimmicky company and does not stand for an abbreviation of Black Vodka as most people think. Blavod is actually Blavod Wine & Spirits PLC, Blavod Drinks Ltd. The company is based out of London with an impressive list of international products such as Hpnotiq, double gold winning Blackwoods Gin, Cockspur Rum, Pama, Borghetti and Fernet Branca to name a handful. Most of Blavod’s products can be found in US liquor stores but until black vodka catches on your best source for finding it would be online at such sites as Wine and Spirits and the Blavod store.