Beluga Noble is a Russian super-premium vodka originally produced at the Mariinsk Distillery in Siberia, distinguished by its malt spirit base and a thirty-day resting period for the spirit before bottling. The 1.75-litre bottle is a format at 40% ABV.
Beluga Noble Russian Vodka was originally created in 2002 by the Mariinsk Distillery, the distillery itself having been built in Siberia. Mariinsk Distillery was founded in 1900 in the heart of Siberia, 300 km from the nearest town, and this remote location was chosen for its water, which is the key ingredient, making up 60% of the Beluga recipe. In October 2022 the international rights to the Beluga brand were sold to Noblewood Group; Beluga Noble is now produced and bottled by Noblewood Group in Montenegro, with production in that country officially starting in March 2023.
The vodka is based on malt spirit – an ingredient rarely found in ordinary vodka today due to the cost and labour involved in its production. The producer uses malt spirit created through the natural fermentation of one hundred percent wheat grain, which gives the vodka a fresh, wheaty flavour with a long finish. The water is drawn from deep artesian wells. Besides malt spirit and artesian water, the vodka also contains honey, oat extract and milk thistle extract (Silybum marianum). The artesian water is filtered through quartz sand and a silver filter, while the charcoal column stands 10.5 metres high and uses birch charcoal exclusively.
The distinguishing feature is the final maturation stage. Beluga Noble is left to rest for thirty days, which helps neutralise the sharp aroma of the spirit and bring out the vodka's rich flavour and soft character. The producer states that the resting period allows the texture to become denser, silkier and more oily.
The sensory profile is dominated by purity with a light sweetness. The nose reveals subtle aromas of citrus peel, white pepper and notes of honey and vanilla; on the palate the vodka is silky and creamy, with the delicate sweetness typical of wheat vodkas, with notes of porridge oats, honey and a touch of vanilla, while the malted barley lends it a full texture; the finish is clean and crisp, with a long-lingering note of white pepper and a hint of sweetness.