Beluga Noble is a Russian super-premium vodka produced at the Mariinsk Distillery in Siberia, distinguished by its use of malt spirit and a long resting stage before bottling. The Mariinsk Distillery was founded in 1900 in the heart of Siberia, 300 km from the nearest town. Beluga vodka has been produced since 2002, when the first 38 bottles came off the Mariinsk Distillery production line on 13 December.
The basis of the recipe is water and wheat malt spirit. The remote location was carefully chosen, as water is a key component in the production of Beluga vodka, making up 60% of its formula; it is drawn from artesian water sources at a depth of approximately 850 feet, while the second component is a special wheat malt spirit, rarely encountered in today's vodkas due to the cost and labour involved in producing it. Beyond the malt spirit and artesian water, the recipe also includes additives. In addition to the special malt spirit and the purest artesian water, Beluga vodka also contains ingredients such as honey, oat extract and Silybum marianum (milk thistle) extract.
The purification and maturation process is what sets Beluga apart from standard vodkas. Filtration involves a triple pass through charcoal, silver and sand, and the finished product is left to rest for 30 days before bottling. The thirty-day resting period allows the molecular components to attain a finished and stable structure, which gives a velvety character and a vodka-typical aroma with a hint of fresh malt.
The flavour profile is dominated by delicate grain notes and a light sweetness. Generally neutral, this wheat vodka displays notes of coconut, moving into a gentle finish with accents of grapefruit peel and pink pepper; the producer suggests enjoying it with caviar. The texture is dense and oily – Beluga vodkas are fresh on the palate, with a subtly sweet aftertaste and a round, velvety structure, while the way the resting period is conducted makes the texture denser, smoother and more oily.
The brand name refers to the beluga sturgeon. The symbol of the brand's quality is the beluga sturgeon – the fish that yields the most exquisite and most expensive caviar in the world. The bottle in this version is offered in a 1.5 litre size, at 40% ABV.