Green Drinks - Should You Shop For Organic Spirits?
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden 
on 05.16.08
Though that potato snuck in there, thus far there isn't a pure organic potato vodka
It's always been a bit of a mystery - though organic beer and wines have steadily multiplied in the last few years, the number of green labels in the hard liquor aisle hasn't seemed to. One reason that spirits producers lagged in organic, according to our resident spirits specialist (he who shall not be named) is that chemically there's no difference between an alcohol distilled from organic grains or fruits and one made from conventional garden-variety grains (which in the U.S. is corn, followed by wheat and rye).
However, organic spirits choices have come slowly come onto the market (vodkas especially) and now there is an organic choice in all the major spirits categories - as well as reasons that organic spirits might appeal. Avoiding genetically modified ingredients would be one reason, and knowing that the earth growing your spirits' base ingredients was treated a bit more lightly is another. So, by the time you are ready for that summer vodka-tonic, what should you choose?
Square One is trying hard to cut a greener figure, using organic rye for its vodka and sporting a square-shaped bottle (which means a lower CO2 profile). Square One eschewed an Absolut-style frosted bottle due to the toxic acid treatment required on the glass. Square One has also introduced a cucumber-flavored variant (still organic!). Tru Organic Vodka and Vodka 14 also tout their environmental chops with recyclable PETG plastic corks - Tru says their bottle uses 25% less glass than most. Tru has organic vanilla and organic lemon flavors available. Rain Organic Vodka is great if you want organic but have a gluten allergy and are very particular about not eating wheat or rye (it's made from organic white corn).
And finally, if you along with our spirits specialist think a distilled liquor doesn't need to be organic, VeeV might be the choice for you. VeeV is a wheat-based vodka infused with the taste of the açaí berry - bottled at the same distillery as Square One and OrangeV. Last year the USDA and Thai researchers discovered that certain berries (they tested strawberries and blackberries) and found that alcohol seems to enhance the berries' antioxidant punch. Veev, though never claiming that its alcohol is healthier, says anecdotally it believes açaí spirits are a better way to drink. Here's hoping your liver thinks so.
During the researching of this article, no alcoholic spirits were ingested. However, we rediscovered Juniper Green organic gin, and found a Fair Trade Rum and 4 Copas Organic Tequila. Skål!
See also: TreeHugger Picks: Cruisin' For Some Boozin'
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one important difference between organic and non organic is the pesticide exposure of those harvesting crops and working with the m as raw inputs, not to mention the pesticide exposure of those laundering the work clothes of the harvesters.
I found a small local distillery that operates very close to my house. Instead of buying organic vodka from sweden or finland and having all the CO2 from the shipping, I can buy it from a place that makes it locally.
The Austria vodka, Monopolowa, is distilled from potatoes. And it's the only one that doesn't give me a raging headache. ;-)
In comparison to wine and beer, the licenses to produce distilled alcohol are much more limited in number (at least here in British Columiba). This lack of competition may also be a factor in the lack of green sprits.
I buy organics not just for my body, but for my environment. The practice of manufacturing a product is as important as it's consumption.
One recent addition to the green booze market up here in Canada is the award winning T.O. Bevys (Totally Organic) - non-carbonated fruitbased cooler type drinks that use both organic fruit and organic grain alcohol. They were developed because the founders were two hospitality industry veterans who were tired of filling their bodies with chemicals & preservatives. www.tobevys.com
(PS: I'm just a fan - not a corporate shill).
Why all this talk of vodka? Now it may seem like a philestine speaking (I can assure you I'm quite the connoisseur - a quick glance over to drinks cabinet reveals more than 70 spirits alone) but there is little variation in flavour between vodkas aside from quality. Yes some taste vile, like Smirnoff and others like Belvedere don't. One is cheap is not - the quality dictates the flavour. Why haven't you mentioned other spirits, like gin, whisky or rum, where there is much greater variety which doesn't depend on quality? I would agree the people should stop being selfish and considering the benefits to themselves - pesticides don't spray themselves and I for one wouldn't like to forcibly expose someone to those chemicals. Even in the UK, chemical use is well controlled, organophosphate poisoning (organophosphates are pesticides, Parathion being an example) is one of the most common forms of poisoning (probably after alcohol) and is very nasty (they inhibit acetylcholinesterase, which terminates the effects of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, sorry if you're a not a pharmacologist like myself).
Good article, would like to see other spirits mentioned (being British, gin and a good single malt would be a start).