Polar Ice Vodkas

By Scott Tavener

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ince discovering that a potato could indeed lead to intoxication, distillers throughout the world have searched for new and innovative ways to get vodka-drinkers soused. Vodka soon indulged in a number of dalliances with like-minded mixes, from orange juice to vermouth (poor cuckolded gin). As is typical in the history of clear libation evolution, vodka eventually found itself injected with all manors of substances, many with a stinging citrus content. While the fusion trend bounded between interesting and ill-fated it persevered. Now, Canada's foremost homegrown vodka maker, Polar Ice, has entered the fray with Northern Maple and Arctic Berry.

Unlike some of its brethren, Polar Ice crafts its premium vodka from wheat. Retaining its quadruple distilling, triple filtering method, the new Polar Ice concoctions maintain the high quality standard of their parent while adding intriguing accents. Still in nascence, Northern Maple and Arctic Berry have already enjoyed much lauding, with the former taking home a prestigious Gold Medal at the 2008 San Francisco Spirits Competition (the latter drew a Silver).

Commendations or not, Maple seems a peculiar bedfellow for a vodka. While Berry's raspberry and huckleberry combination has an inherent fruit-based familiarity (see the aforementioned citrus allusion), Maple is a novel inclusion. However, considering the wheat base, the blending of maple sugar, vanilla, and vodka is not as abstract as it sounds (does this description make you want to go on a sylvan adventure?).

Northern Maple offers the olfactory glands a warm waft which its taste furthers. To the tongue, the vodka component remains overt but greatly smoothed and subdued by the sweet ingredients. Despite the sugar constituent, the drink has a pseudo-smoky side that strengthens its sip-ability. Though vodka is not typically a sipping drink, this re-imagination could convert many a mixer. Furthermore, Maple's warmth gives it a wide range, especially as a wintertime beverage (watch out, Bailey's). Conversely, the fruit-heavy Arctic Berry is a fleeting summer day nip. Ironically not as compelling as its more restrained counterpart, Berry is a pleasant pop song of a new creation.

As with any vodka blend, the possibilities for freestyle mixing are quite large. Naturally, Maple lends itself to chocolate and chilled coffee pairings, as well as more ambitious fruit combos (Polar Ice suggests a daiquiri made with strawberry and white cranberry juice). On the other hand, the more versatile Berry is open to any number of fruit mixes; simple rule of thumb: if it goes with raspberries and huckleberries, it will work with this vodka.

Both Polar Ice Northern Maple and Arctic Berry are currently available in Ontario, with other provinces following suit throughout summer. -S.T.