I recently heard there was something causing a stir in the small town of Almonte, Ontario. The passionate and innovative team at the Dairy Distillery just launched a new alcoholic beverage made from distilling milk sugars, which they’re calling vodkow.
Aside from its creative name, this beverage is taking a product previously wasted – milk permeate – and putting it to use. Having this product thrown away is not great for the environment, or for the dairy farmers who have to pay to dispose of it, meaning that this vodka-like beverage is something you can feel good drinking.
After hearing the buzz this new Dairy Distillery has caused, I decided I’d pop in to pick up a bottle and see how it tasted – would it be creamy? Would it strengthen my bones? Would it be filling?
Approaching the Dairy Distillery, I was pretty blown away by the building, with its somewhat barn-like shape accented by modern lines, and a full glass wall that puts the sparkling copper stills front and centre on display. Inside, the wooden accents gave the tasting room almost a modern farmhouse feel and the walls were of course the perfect colour: milky white.
When asked if I’d like a sample, my brain took a little pause: it was 10:17a.m. and felt a little early to be hitting the hard stuff. Then I thought, if I was a dairy farmer, getting up at 4:00a.m. every day to milk my cows, 10:17a.m. would be practically lunchtime. In a toast to them, I took a sip.
I’m so glad I went for the sample, having changed my mind with just one sip and upping my purchase to the larger, 750ml bottle, knowing I would need to share this with friends at my next cocktail party. The vodka in my cupboard was going to need to moo-ve over to make room for this smooth new liquor, and I was happy to discover I’ll be able to order online to restock in the future.
I left with my mind spinning with all the cocktail ideas – cos-moo-politans, mosCOW mules, countless flavours of moo-tinis, moo-dy Marys…the list seemed almost endless and I’m sure the nights spent creating them will be filled with laughter.