Welcome to FTW’s Drink of the Week series. We primarily document and review beer here, but we’re happy to expand our scope to any drink (or food) that goes well with sports. Yes, even whiskey in cookie dough.
There are not many stones left in the spiritual world that can be turned over. It seems like almost anything that can be fermented into at least a drinkable poison is like that.
But I’ve never seen vodka made from agave.
A quick search reveals it’s an arrow in Dan Aykroyd’s Crystal Skull quiver, but it’s a largely overlooked part of the spiritual landscape. Well, Soul Man himself now has a little more competition thanks to Weber Ranch.
When I opened a bottle of Weber Ranch Agave Vodka (one of the first ever produced, my helpful notes informed me), I realized I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I noticed. Agave and vodka are worlds that don’t often intersect outside the unprepared bellies of fraternity vows. Weber Ranch’s beautiful presentation suggests a calmer, more thoughtful experience, but I’m still not quite sure how to react to the vodka that makes tequila.
Well, you’d better have a drink and find out.
Weber Ranch Agave Vodka: B+
I’m pouring this over ice because that’s what you would do with any vodka. Don’t worry, try sipping straight later. But I want to spend my first experience with a brand new Spirit in perhaps the most enjoyable way possible.
Smells are complex. You’ll notice a bit of the bitterness typical of vodka, but the agave also imparts a rich, earthy, fruity flavor. I get a bit of cinnamon and pear, along with the light burn you’d expect from a 96 proof liquor. No, wait, that’s 40% alcohol. Don’t worry, keep going.
When you take your first sip, you shake your head back and forth like a golden retriever hearing a clarinet for the first time. It has a very gentle taste, not spicy or sharp, and is soft and pleasant. The finish is sweet like sugar with a hint of cinnamon, giving it a gentle and enjoyable finish. On the way there, you can pick up a bit of the basic vodka influence, but the roasted agave sugar and accompanying fruit overwhelm it.
So even though it doesn’t taste like tequila at all, it has a lot more character than your typical vodka. It’s a satisfying drink when you drink it in a rocks glass. I’m definitely a slow drinker, but I never flinch or feel bad about enjoying it. That’s a lot in a good way. A proper taste confirms this. It’s a richer flavor than you’d expect from a vodka, but it’s not one that would be mistaken for tequila.
Let’s see how it translates into cocktails.
Lunch Water’s Weber Ranch* with Betty Buzz Meyer Lemon Club Soda: B
At first, I felt disappointed that I didn’t have the traditional ingredients for ranch water at home — I consider drinks at work, so I put away at least 50 cents each week to keep limes on hand. But it didn’t feel so bad when I realized that it’s made with vodka, so this isn’t real ranch water. So I poured myself a glass of Weber Ranch and topped it with Meyer lemon club soda from Blake Lively’s Betty Buzz line of mixers. I’m not a fan of club soda, but I think the spirit’s inherent sweetness makes up for the lack of sucralose fizz you get in a light tonic.
A bitter vodka reflex is felt at first, but then it melts and mixes with the foam and lemon, creating a drink that ends much better than it started. The end result is a bit complex and boozy, but never burnt. Perhaps it would pair well with fresh fruit. Honestly, this is more like a half-baked Tom Collins than a half-baked ranch water, and would probably taste better with a squeeze of lemon. But it’s a friendly spirit, and if you give it a try, you’ll be rewarded. shot.
As it is, this is not my favorite, but then again, this is not a real cocktail. I liked drinking it alone, the flavors were more pronounced and the smoothness of the aftertaste was fine even if I drank it without a mixer. According to the media guide, Weber Ranch was created as a cocktail between vodka and tequila. As it turns out, it turns out to be quite good in itself as well.
*It is not actually water from the farm.
Can I drink it instead of ham?
It’s a pass/fail mechanism that compares what I’m drinking to a baseline cheap beer. It is a standby from Hams, the land of sky blue waters. So, the questions to answer are: On a normal day, I’d drink Weber Ranch Agave Vodka with a cold can of ham?
I think so. To be honest, I’m kind of looking forward to seeing how it tastes in a Bloody Mary.