5 | Spirits | Russia, $20 to $50

"Clear. Neutral wet stone and cream aromas. A buoyant entry leads to a round, dryish medium-to-full body of smooth cream, wheat dough, and delicate spice flavors. Finishes with a warming, peppery and sweet cream fade. A nice Russian vodka with a smooth classy edge."

"Pure stemmy herbal crushed raspberry, cream, and mineral aromas follow through to very smooth and silky, dryish medium body with nice mineral, white chocolate, and peppery spice accents. A fine, pure raspberry treat."

"Mild aromas of sugared orange peels. A very smooth and silky entry leads to a delicate, dryish light-to-medium body of sweet orange zest and cream flavors with a tingly mineral and pepper fade. Nice purity and poise."

"Vibrant crushed blueberry and spice aromas. A silky,soft entry leads to a dryish medium body of blueberries, mineral oil, and whipped cream flavors. Finishes with a long, cream blueberry fade. Very pure and appealing flavor."

Created in legendary St. Petersburg from an 1894 vodka recipe, Imperia is made exclusively from hand-selected winter wheat grown on the fields of the Russian Steppes and naturally pure, soft water from the northern glaciers. 8x distillation and sophisticate crystal quartz filtration remove impurities for an ultra pure, crystal clear and velvety smooth vodka like no other.

"Scents of lightly toasted grain. The palate entry is stunningly silky and grainy sweet; at midpalate the taste profile turns sap-like and creamy with undercurrents of burning matches or seared beefsteak. Finishes creamy and rich." 90-95 pts.