J.J. Whitley Artisanal Gold Vodka, 70cl

Product Information

The JJ Whitley range also includes variants such as Gold and Blood Orange, as well as a Raspberry Vodka, all of which claimed a Gold medal in the blind tasting.

Next on our list of award-winning vodkas is Penderyn Distillery’s Five Vodka was the first to be awarded a Master in the Super Premium heat. Ukrainian brand Nemiroff received two Masters in the Flavoured/Infused Vodka flight, the first for Nemiroff The Inked Collection Wild Cranberry. Pur Vodka was noticed for its smooth qualities, bagging a Gold medal in the Microdistillery flight, while Pur Sang Select, Pur Sang Standard and Pur Vodka all won Silver awards. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Halewood Group said: “ The Halewood Group is 100% opposed to the Russian Army invasion of Ukraine. We have expressed our support to our Ukrainian customers, our largest export market. ​ Halewood Artisanal Spirits is moving production of its JJ Whitley vodka brand from Russia to the UK following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, The Grocer has learned.Pur Vodka received the Master accolade in the Ultra Premium flight for having a “touch of chocolate malt” on the palate. Rodriguez noted the spirit would be “brilliant in a Martini or Negroni”. Over recent days, 10 US states have banished Russian vodka from shelves in a show of solidarity with Ukraine. Melita Kiely, editor of The Spirits Business, chaired the third and final team, which comprised: Ivan Dixon, independent spirits consultant; and Dimple Athavia, founder of All Things Drinks.

Out of respect for the situation, we have removed all references to the ‘Remarkably Russian’ campaign across all our JJ Whitley communications.” ​ The second set of tasters comprised chair Bryan Rodriguez, wine and spirits buyer for Harvey Nichols. He was joined by Evan Prousaefs, bar manager at The Leaf and Cane in London; and Julia Nourney, independent spirits consultant. As well as inviting businesses and individuals to join a charity online auction of rare and sought-after items, Drinkers for Ukraine has also called upon breweries to brew RESIST, a ‘Ukrainian Anti-Imperial Stout’ developed by displaced Ukrainian brewers, with profits donated to the Red Cross. . Halewood Artisanal Spirits presented a vodka with a “citrus nose, oily texture” to our panel of judges, as JJ Whitley Artisanal Russian Vodka was commended for its ability to be drunk as a neat spirit. The bottling was presented in the Premium heat and sits at 38% ABV.

Your browser is not supported

Founded in 1978, family-owned Halewood owns and manages 11 main distilleries and one craft brewery and distributes to 75 countries, including the UK, South Africa, Canada, Australia, China and Germany. According to The Brand Champions 2021 report, the vodka’s million‐case‐selling brands were among the most resilient of all spirits sectors. Multiple brands, particularly those from Eastern European countries, were able to sustain or substantially grow volumes last year in the face of never‐before‐seen adversity brought about by the pandemic. The Co-op and Morrisons have removed Russian vodka from shelves. Marks & Spencer has suspended shipments to its Turkish franchisee's Russian business and offered millions of pounds in aid to Ukrainian refugees and families affected by the war. An array of vodkas were presented to our panel of judges last month, from a pear-flavoured showstopper to a number of rye-based bottlings. We’ve uncovered the brands that stole the show in our latest blind tasting of the category. The bottling received a new label design earlier this year, designed by Kirsty Holton at Manchester-based Sip Studio.