Platinum Quality- Shaken or Stirred

Lately I’ve been realizing how extraordinary it is to have good friends who know you and love you. At my big birthday bash this past summer I was given a bottle of Grey Goose, but waited to open it until I could share it with other vodka lovers such as myself. It was a grand surprise when friends showed up a couple weeks ago from Europe for my brother’s wedding bringing hand-etched Polish shot glasses for my husband and me. The Grey Goose almost screamed to be opened and poured into the ultra-fine glasses. What a perfect pairing – imported hand engraved crystal and imported lovingly distilled Grey Goose.

What is Grey Goose?

Grey Goose is an ultra-premium vodka distilled and bottled in France. At 40% alcohol (80 proof) it is a full bodied vodka. Grey Goose has the distinction of being the only Platinum Medal recipient at the World Spirits Championship and is the most requested ultra-premium vodka in the United States.

Grey Goose is distilled in copper and the water added is naturally purified on champagne limestone. This grain alcohol is processed in small batches to ensure quality and taste.

When you uncork the bottle, the aroma is at once mildly earthy and, dare I say it- floral. The taste reflects the stone purified water but this vodka still maintains a subtle sweetness. As it is a fine vodka, the taste lingers longer than the sense of alcohol. It is clear, light, and reminds me of a forest clearing with a stream running over rocks covered in violets and lavender. Perhaps I am picking up some of the tastes of the French countryside where the grain is grown.

What Can I Do With Grey Goose?

I live in the Manhattan area, so it’s a challenge to keep up with the latest popular drink. I can tell you though, Cosmopolitans are quickly becoming “old hat” – so what’s “in”? The Grey Goose Martini! You can hear the hip and trendy ordering them at every bar in the area on any given evening.

Their website www.greygoosevodka.com suggests you move away from chips and dip and throw a Martini Party – which I think is a fabulous idea. You can visit the website for more details.

If you are a vodka lover, store a bottle in the freezer overnight and pour out slightly thickened, sweet goodness into your best shot glasses.

You can impress your friends or special someone with these recipes:

Love and Kisses
(J. Eslinger of Palomino in Denver)
1 oz. Grey Goose
2 Oz. Godiva
2 oz. Cream
***mix and pour into a chocolate rimmed glass with chocolate licorice stick and chocolate covered coffeee bean.

Grey Goose Martini
3 oz. Grey Goose
***shake with ice and serve with lemon twist or olive

Who Should Buy Grey Goose?

If you have a friend who likes vodka and you want to get him or her a really great gift, this is the bottle!

For large parties or gatherings, I suggest you stick with the less expensive but very reliable Absolut for mixing drinks.

Grey Goose lends itself well to intimate gatherings and dinner parties, vodka tastings and Martini parties, and as a part of a special evening with a special someone.

Look for this beautiful bottle on the upper shelves at you liquor store. It is the “see-through” variety and boasts a clear goose on the front with mountains and flying geese on the bottle’s interior. The French know what they’re doing – after all their Goose is not just Grey… it’s Platinum!