Review: Oyo Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka
Oyo Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka is one of two seasonal vodkas crafted at the Middle West Distillery in Columbus Ohio at a former auto service garage. The other flavor is Stone Fruit. Both are made from a vodka base made from 100% soft red winter wheat, sourced from farms within an 80 mile radius of the distillery. The wheat is milled down, and the bran is removed at one local mill to ensure consistency. Water, yeast, and the wheat grain is warmed and fermented for 4 days. It is distilled in a custom built German Kothe combination pot and double column still. The vodka base is infused with local wildflower honey, and fair trade vanilla beans from Uganda. Oyo Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka is then hand bottled, corked, and dipped in wax. Brady Konya and Ryan Lang founded Middle West Spirits in 2008 and opened for production in 2008. OYO, pronounced O why O, is named for the state it is produced in.It pours to a hazy pale straw color. The aroma is vanilla bean with a floral honey backing. The sweet vanilla entry is joined by floral wildflower honey flavor. It fades with fresh pastry flavor, before finishing with a warm mild sting. Oyo Honey Vanilla Bean is a very smooth vodka with equal parts wildflower honey, and vanilla bean flavor, that feels much lighter than the 80 proof it weighs in at.
Five Point Scale
Flavor 4.5
Flavor Intensity: 3
Sweetness: 2.5
Vodka Taste/Presence: 2
Finish: 4
Lemon Cello
2 Oz. OYO Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka
2 Scoops Lemon Sorbet
Whisk Until Smooth
Pour Into a Champagne Flute
Top With Brut Champagne
Stir With a Bar Spoon
Garnish With a Lemon Peel
Made in Columbus Ohio
40% Alcohol
Score 92
Award Gold Medal