Wild Roots Spirits hails from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, and uses the abundance of local fruit to make naturally infused vodkas. They currently offer six spirits: Apple & Cinnamon Infused Vodka, Raspberry Infused Vodka, Marionberry Infused Vodka, Pear Infused Vodka, Cranberry Infused Vodka and Dark Sweet Cherry Infused Vodka. The base vodka is distilled five times, and each bottle is packing over a pound of fruit.
I had the chance to sample Wild Roots’ Marionberry Infused Vodka. In the spirit of full disclosure, I should say that I had no idea what a marionberry was before I tried it. So I looked it up.
According to Wikipedia, it’s a type of blackberry developed in the 1950s by Oregon State University. Today it accounts for over half of all blackberries produced in the Beaver State, and is considered to be juicier, sweeter, and more tart than your typical blackberry. Neat.
The Wild Roots Marionberry Infused Vodka is straight blackberry pie on the nose. The first notes are strong, tart, and fruity, almost like sucking down blackberry jam. The flavor of the fruit really shines through, but gets a little lost in the center of the palate. That’s where some of the more complex notes give way to a heavy, almost medicinal syrupy sweetness that overtakes those earlier fruit flavors and brings things toward one-note territory. That syrup heaviness lingers in the palate afterward, and it isn’t exactly a welcome guest.
The complex blackberry flavor this spirit releases at its start is nothing to sneeze at, but it’s unfortunately overshadowed by sweetness and syrup. However, it may still satisfy marionberry diehards–and like several other Wild Roots products, it sounds like a great topping on vanilla ice cream.
For now, your best bet for purchasing a bottle is to do so via Crafted-Life, or make a visit to the distillery.
Stats:
— 35% ABV
— $42
CE Rating: ★★
