Square One Botanical Spirit

It was not but a few years ago that eco-friendly distilled spirits became all the rage and around that time a vodka was released that took that to the extreme and actually tasted good. That vodka was Square One, which is still one of the best eco-vodkas on the market, and this year we are blessed with a revolutionary spirit by the same company that has redefined organic spirits and has, essentially, created a new class of spirits. The real question when it comes to Square One Botanical Spirit is whether it is a flavored vodka, a relative of gin - minus the juniper -, a liqueur, or something totally different?

Quite honestly, I would put Square One Botanical into the flavored vodka category if it were necessary to define it in some way. However, this is not the average infusion, which are usually limited to a few flavors. No, this one has eight organic botanicals and fruits inside including pear, rose, chamomile, lemon verbena, lavender, rosemary, coriander and citrus peel. It is a bright spirit with the most unique of tastes and not one of them takes the lead, instead all are wonderfully blended, which happens to be another unique quality of this spirit. That is why this is a "spirit" and doesn't really fit into any of our conventional categories.

Despite the light and airy flavors of the infused ingredients, Square One Botanical is backed by one of the most robust spirit bases available. The rye adds a depth, almost a dark side, but not the darkness you think of with a rye whiskey. Instead, this base adds a richness that is intrinsic to the grain and brings everything into a truly delightful balance. I did find it amazing how each ingredient from the rye to each of the botanicals make a distinct appearance at least once in the tasting, they are like well-stacked bricks of flavor and more like a harmonious symphony with degrees of solo performances.

So, the big question is "How do I mix Square One Botanical?" The easiest answer I can give is to use it to replace a clear vodka in almost any vodka cocktail you can think of (with a few exceptions like a Mudslide or White Russian), especially when thinking of a standard Vodka Martini, Cosmopolitan and Champanska. Think light, fruity and herbal cocktails with this spirit and I encourage you to even dive into the realm of gin cocktails, where the pear and chamomile make a refreshing change of pace from a juniper-based cocktail. You will also find some fantastic signature cocktails using the spirit on Square One's website - that Flower Sour being one of my favorites.

Tasting Notes:
The fruits are soft but in the forefront of the aroma, there is a light hint of rose and the lovely combination rosemary and lavender to back it up. The palate is silky and the warmth of the rye is apparent. Once on the tongue the herbs come forward and are backed up by the fruits. The finish is one of the cleanest you will find and is long and refreshing with no alcohol bite that is often found in 90 proof spirits, but the herbs are there, especially the coriander backed up by a spark of fruit.