Beluga Vodka and a Couple Cocktail Recipes

Upon some recent rummaging through a friend’s liquor cabinet, I stumbled upon a bottle of Beluga Vodka. The spirit hails from Russia, where it’s produced from malt alcohol and purified water at Siberia’s remote Mariinsky Distillery. It’s billed as a “super-premium” vodka, and every ounce of the packaging exudes that label, including the actual label. It’s stamped with a pewter sturgeon, which presumably alludes to caviar, a recommended pairing for Beluga.

In Russia, they make a quartet of Beluga Vodkas — Beluga Noble, Beluga Gold, Beluga Transatlantic and Beluga Allure. Only the first two are available stateside.

Beluga Noble is triple distilled with a blend of honey, oat and milk thistle extract before it’s rested for 30 days. Beluga Gold undergoes a 90-day maturation process, and comes complete with a little hammer and brush to break the sealing wax from the bottle topper. Fancy.

Anyway, that’s Beluga. We’ll leave you with a couple of easy-to-make Beluga Vodka cocktail recipes to get you prepped for Labor Day weekend. Both utilize Beluga Noble, and you should too. Because the Beluga Gold runs about $200.

Cool Cucumber

1.5 oz Beluga Noble Russian Vodka
.5 oz fresh lime juice
.5 oz simple syrup
5 mint leaves
2 slices cucumber

Muddle cucumber. Add mint and press. Add remaining ingredients and shake with ice. Double strain into a collins glass, and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Sundowner

3 oz Beluga Noble Russian Vodka
1 oz gin
.5 oz Rouge Lillet

Stir with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.