Vusa African Vodka, 70cl

Product Information

Not all vodka comes from mainland Europe and this smoked edition, made in Hereford, is enhanced by delicate notes from ex-Scottish whisky casks from the island of Islay. Because of its big flavour – earthy, buttery and with a hint spice, then a long and clean finish – you could do worse that just keeping this perennially in the freezer, pulling it out for frosted shots (ideally downed with an Eastern European-style feast, because this vodka can definitely handle a food pairing). While you will probably already know the leading brands like Smirnoff and Grey Goose – who have big followings for a reason – in our round up, we’ve largely given preference to these craft distillers, focussing on smaller labels that you may not have heard of. The essence of Spearhead’s offering is a line of premium products with true African provenance, representing the best of the continent’s craft and produce that capture the vibrancy and creativity found in all corners of Africa.

Vusa Vodka : The Whisky Exchange Vusa Vodka : The Whisky Exchange

Take a look at any back bar, or your booze collection, or even the online shelves of retailers like us and you’ll see there’s a conspicuous absence – if you know what you’re looking for. It’s produced in a distillery just outside of Kyiv, which is known for its black “super soil” — which they say results in a more rounded flavour profile.The small-batch spirit is made from sugarcane and won our panel over with its bright citrus notes and hint of black pepper. Freshness is a character which runs rich through the distillery’s offering, as you’d expect given the bucolic base and the fresh glacier water used.

Vusa African Vodka 70cl – Threshers

They were on the lookout for clean, crisp vodkas, with a smooth mouthfeel and well-integrated alcohol. Vusa was created for the rebellious soul who radiates vibrancy and makes themselves heard through the power of music. The sugar cane lends a gentle sweet character too, which will go well in any number of mixed drinks, from limey caipiroskas to vodka sodas. Brands like Uncle Nearest have been kind of mentoring us for some time and providing us with a lot of support, especially pre-US launch.

The spirit today is made from rye and is lightly filtered before bottling to retain its strength of flavour and classic earthy finish.

Spearhead Spirits Launches Premium African Spirits in the U.S.

Part of the distinctly African process is to distill the vodka in small batches using copper pot stills named “kaisgo”.Cane vodka is a totally different experience and just as delicious, but the difference is in the distillation… but that is a secret that we’ll keep under our hats for now. We were looking for smoothness (at the lesser end of the spectrum the spirit can taste like just that: raw alcohol diluted with a spot of water) and a distinct flavour profile, a character which would make you choose one vodka over another. Also sign me up for newsletters so I can get special offers, recommendations, and expert advice to my inbox!