Arkhangelskaya vodka aged 1898.
I first tried Arkhangelskaya vodka in 2014. That's when it appeared in all Moscow stores. I started with the Northern aged version and then moved through the entire range, including bitters.
However, I never got around to the Arkhangelskaya aged 1898. Yesterday, I filled that gap. I bought a 0.7 liter bottle at Vinlab for 590 rubles.
The bottle looks premium. It has a solid base, a long neck, a sealing wax seal on the cork, and a label that looks like a security.
The ingredients include Luxe spirit, aromatic wheat malt spirit, and an infusion of oat flakes. The label states that the wheat malt spirit is obtained by distillation. The infusion and aromatic spirit are then aged for 30 days in century-old vats.
All of this is a classic recipe for Russian and Soviet vodkas. The aroma is clearly reminiscent of the stated wheat malt and oatmeal.
The taste is just the way we like it, without a hint of sweeteners. It's smooth and enjoyable to drink. The aftertaste reveals the organic sweetness of natural, uncarbonated spirits.
This vodka can be enjoyed unchilled, without a drink or snack. We made a light mushroom soup with chanterelles. A spoonful of soup equals a shot of vodka. Two bowls and a 0.7% bottle were tossed.
This drink is definitely worth trying; it can and should be recommended. Order at least a 0.7% bottle or two 0.5% bottles.