The Straight Up Features : Jim Beam's Vox Vodka

Vodka's a mixer, and that's no lie. In the United States, in the rare moments when you might actually catch a native drinking straight vodka, refinement is not an issue. Generally, that said native will be swilling back gulps of some crap with a high alcohol content from a plastic jug. Good vodka is, on the other hand, generally mixed, having a subtle flavor but potent content.

There are exceptions. Mixing vodka is not the exclusive way to drink it, even in the United States. For instance, the martini has been so bastardized that these days if it's not some outrageous concoction of liquors more akin to a hurricane, then it's a straight up glass of gin or vodka with an olive or orange rind in it. So there is a precedent for drinking it straight. And, of course, if you head into the north eastern parts of the european continent, it's not uncommon, (and in some places apparently even expected) to swig good vodka straight, from large mugs, ice cold.

Some of you may have indulged in this yourselves. Others may be shocked. But, believe it or not, vodka was not made with the intention of being the mixer we in the US toy about with. For those of you willing to subject yourself to the abuse of drinking (for you do not sip or shoot straight vodka. You gulp it in great hearty swigs) straight vodka, Jim Beam has created an excellent candidate for both the experienced straight vodka drinker as well as the bold explorer.

Vodka derives from the russian word 'voda', meaning water. Compared to the flavor and odor of other drinks, this is understandable. For a hard alcohol, vodka is comparatively smooth and simple, although to say it's 'flavorless' is an inaccurate and unfair description. Unlike whiskeys, rums, gins, etc, vodka strives for the subtle. Vox Vodka, however, comes closer to adhering to it's verbal heritage than most other good vodkas I've tried. That doesn't mean it's weak, just polite. It's the vodka that greets you quietly at the bar, as opposed to the one that bellows loudly at you from the door or sings awful songs at the top of its lungs while you vomit over the edge of a bridge.

The first thing I thought to myself when I drank Vox was 'this ain't no potato vodka." The second thing I thought was, "but it's good." More than good, it's a great vodka for people to drink straight, and that applies to people who already like drinking vodka straight as well as those that aren't sure yet.

Vox is, as near as I can tell, brand spanking new. I found out about it a year ago and it doesn't appear to have been included in any contests or reviews prior to that time. A product of the Jim Beam label, it hails from Holland and is 100% wheat in its content. Now, I normally don't care as much for wheat vodkas as I do rye or potato, but Vox is an exception; easily the best wheat vodka I've found. It's distilled five times, and since part of the point of vodka is the removal of impurities and extras, I can only assume that this is significant.

Key facts about Vox :

Alcohol Content : 40%, or 80 proof. You won't feel it at first, but it'll sneak up on you. Drink plenty of water.

Grain : Wheat. 100% wheat. Some people prefer a wheat vodka. I, myself, prefer a strong potato vodka, but Vox slipped through just this once.

Price (.750) : $28-35. For a vodka, Vox is not cheap. For the same price you can get almost twice as much, say, Skyy Vodka, which is almost as good. Still, I recommend trying it when you can get it. Also, the bottle is kick ass, for those of you who care about the design put into your alcohol.

Notes : You can drink this one at room tempurature without a problem, but I think all vodkas (and just about everything else except red wine and some whiskey) are better chilled. I say, do it the traditional russian way. Chill the vodka first, then pour it straight into some old coffee mugs, toast (the social act, not the cooking act), and swig. Repeat until you all die from liver failure.

Final Standing : Soused.