“Organic” isn’t a word I usually associate with vodka. Sure,
organic is commendable. Organic is responsible. Organic
is even noble.
But these homespun virtues don’t exactly dovetail with vodka’s
typically glitzy image. Commercials for big-name vodkas often beguile the
viewer with fussy fantasy worlds that feature dazzling women, surreal Norse
landscapes, ice palace discos, and fashion runways a-pop with camera flashes.
Could “organic” even get past the doorman?
The folks who make Prairie Organic Vodka don’t
seemed concerned with such questions, at least if their advertisements are any
indication. They feature a bottle of their spirits sitting on a tree stump.
Sexy? Maybe to another tree.
Instead, substance,
not style, is the philosophy behind Prairie Organic Vodka. It’s produced by Phillips Distilling
Company, a century-old establishment in Minneapolis that also makes Feckin
Irish Whiskey, Cabrito Tequila, and UV Vodka.
Phillips launched Prairie Organic Vodka in 2008 as a luxury
brand that, according to company promotional materials, would pay tribute to
Minnesota’s agricultural heritage. The folks at
Phillips proudly tout the horse and buggy approach to making their Prairie
brand, which also include Prairie Organic Gin and Prairie Cucumber-Flavored
Organic Vodka.
The makers
of Prairie Organic Vodka certainly seem to have checked all the boxes on the
green list - it’s locally produced, using sustainable methods, organic
ingredients, and no pesticides. It’s distilled at a co-op in Benson that is
owned by more than 900 farmers, who are all stakeholders in the Prairie Organic
Brand. Each batch is distilled in limited quantities to taste, not a prescribed
number of times. USDA certified organic? Check. Kosher? Check.
Prairie Organic Corn
The corn is grown on three organic farms -
Sather Organic Farms, Little Big Man Organic Farms, and Olson Organic Farms. In
order to earn USDA organic certification, the corn seeds cannot be genetically
modified. If you want vodka made fast, go somewhere else. Before the corn can
even be planted, the soil must be cleansed of contaminants and given time to let
the natural nutrients regenerate themselves. This process can take up to three
years.
In keeping with their green ethos, the farmers rely on birds
and bats to help control the insect population, thus ensuring you won’t be
sipping any pesticides with your vodka on the rocks. They also rotate their
corn crops to stay one step ahead of destructive white grubs and corn flea
beetles, and they control weeds through old-fashioned prairie fires.
Just as microbrewers rebelled against the mass-produced
beers advertised on ESPN, craft distillers are mounting a farm-to-bar movement
that’s nudging bartenders into the role of chefs. At Heartland Restaurant &
Farm Direct Market in St. Paul, Prairie Organic Spirits are mixed in craft
cocktails with fresh herbs, locally produced bitters, and juices made on-site
from ginger or apples.
Executive chef Lenny Russo, who’s sampled more than a few
different kinds of vodka from around the world, says he’s impressed by Prairie’s
distinctive flavor. He points out that it’s distilled as many times as
necessary, based on the particular characteristics each batch, with the
distillation process run as sustainably as possible. For example, the stills
are fueled in part by leftover corncobs.
“The fact that it’s done in a sustainable fashion fits our
philosophy,” says Russo, a James Beard Foundation Award nominee. “They’re using
the whole (corn) plant. They’re using biomass from what’s left over to power
the actual distiller. When the mash is spent, that’s being recycled into feed
for animals.”
Russo says that Prairie Cucumber-Flavored Organic Vodka is
his personal favorite. No mixing required. “I don’t do anything to that,” Russo
explains. “I drink that on the rocks. It’s very clean and easy to work with. It’s
easy to mix.”
But all this sustainability would still mean zilch if it
didn’t taste good To me, the vodka has a smooth, silky taste. Vodka normally is
distilled from potatoes, wheat, or other grains; the certified organic #2
yellow corn that goes into the Prairie vodka imparts a fresh, velvety mouth
feel that teases the tongue with an elusive suggestion of fruit. Prairie
Organic Gin, which debuted in July, is also a standout. Gin is gin is gin,
right? You might think so, but it’s not always the case. I’ve sworn off gin for
reasons I won’t go into here, but Prairie Organic Gin had a refreshingly clean
taste that just might lure me back. Jim Aune, director of research and
development for Phillips, said they make their gin with coriander lemon,
cassia, angelica, and a hint of juniper.
If you’re into flavored vodkas, the Prairie website provides several recipes, including
how to make infused vodkas such as Strawberry/Basil, Lemon/Lime, and
Espresso/Cinnamon. Here are a few more cocktail recipes, courtesy of Prairie,
to get you started.
Red Hawk
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz Prairie Organic
Vodka1 ½ oz pomegranate
juiceA squeeze of fresh
lemon juice
Instructions:
Shake over ice and
strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a fresh mint leaf.
Garden Martini
Ingredients:
2 oz Prairie Organic
Gin2 teaspoons dry
vermouth1 rosemary sprig3 pitted olives
Instructions:
Combine gin, dry
vermouth and ice in shaker. Shake comfortably. Strain into martini glass. Strip
leaves from bottom half of rosemary sprig and skewer olives to garnish drink.
Cucumber Mojito
Ingredients:
2 parts Prairie
Cucumber Flavored Vodka1 part fresh squeezed
lime juice2 tsp. sugar6 fresh mint leaves
Instructions:
Muddle mint, sugar and
lime juice in a Collins glass. Fill with ice, add vodka and top with soda
water. Shake or mix and garnish with a cucumber wedge.Images and recipes courtesy of Prairie Organic Spirits
William Loeffler moved to the Twin Cities area from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he spent 15 years as a features reporter for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. A playwright, he has also interviewed Bill Cosby, Yoko Ono and Eric Idle. He has written about his travels to all seven continents as well as his experiences running seven Boston Marathons. His last post for SGT was Gray Duck Chai Takes Flight in the Twin Cities.