Jean-Marc XO Vodka
Encyclopedia
Jean-Marc XO Vodka is a premium vodka
distilled in the Cognac
region of France
by Jean-Marc Daucourt and owned by the Campari Group
.
It uses four French wheat grains, selected for their specific flavors. Each wheat grain is separated from its chaff
before distillation in order to eliminate any bitterness and to reveal the wheat’s individual flavor. Spring water, filtered through Grande Champagne limestone, is added. Jean-Marc XO Vodka is distilled nine times in very small batches using traditional copper alambic stills. Then Jean-Marc XO is micro-oxygenated (a Bordeaux technique) and filtered through Limousin oak charcoal to finish. Very unusually, the entire process takes several weeks from start to finish. Each bottle is individually numbered to reflect its hand made artisanship.
The Jean-Marc XO has performed reasonably well at spirit ratings
competitions. It was awarded 97 points by the US Beverage Testing Institute in 2007 (one of only two vodkas to get this score), and is the only vodka ever honored by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (2005). In 2009, Jean-Marc XO Vodka was named to the list of Top 10 Vodkas on GAYOT.com. Wine Enthusiast was significantly less impressed with Jean-Marc XO, however, giving the vodka a rating of 85-89 in 2005.
Jean-Marc XO Vodka was listed in a book of "101 Things to Buy Before you Die" (published late 2006), alongside other cultural icons such as Cartier watches and Aston Martin DB5's: a shorter list of 50 Things, including Jean-Marc XO Vodka, was compiled for the Daily Mail
newspaper.
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
distilled in the Cognac
Cognac
Cognac is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Cognac is situated on the river Charente between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes. The majority of the town has been built on the river's left bank, with the smaller right...
region of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
by Jean-Marc Daucourt and owned by the Campari Group
Campari Group
Gruppo Campari is an Italian-based multinational producer of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The group holds a portfolio of over 40 brands marketed and distributed in more than 190 countries...
.
It uses four French wheat grains, selected for their specific flavors. Each wheat grain is separated from its chaff
Chaff
Chaff is the dry, scaly protective casings of the seeds of cereal grain, or similar fine, dry, scaly plant material such as scaly parts of flowers, or finely chopped straw...
before distillation in order to eliminate any bitterness and to reveal the wheat’s individual flavor. Spring water, filtered through Grande Champagne limestone, is added. Jean-Marc XO Vodka is distilled nine times in very small batches using traditional copper alambic stills. Then Jean-Marc XO is micro-oxygenated (a Bordeaux technique) and filtered through Limousin oak charcoal to finish. Very unusually, the entire process takes several weeks from start to finish. Each bottle is individually numbered to reflect its hand made artisanship.
The Jean-Marc XO has performed reasonably well at spirit ratings
Spirit ratings
With a growing number of microdistilleries and an expanding number of offerings from large corporate entities, a number of institutions have arisen to provide professional evaluations of individual spirits...
competitions. It was awarded 97 points by the US Beverage Testing Institute in 2007 (one of only two vodkas to get this score), and is the only vodka ever honored by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (2005). In 2009, Jean-Marc XO Vodka was named to the list of Top 10 Vodkas on GAYOT.com. Wine Enthusiast was significantly less impressed with Jean-Marc XO, however, giving the vodka a rating of 85-89 in 2005.
Jean-Marc XO Vodka was listed in a book of "101 Things to Buy Before you Die" (published late 2006), alongside other cultural icons such as Cartier watches and Aston Martin DB5's: a shorter list of 50 Things, including Jean-Marc XO Vodka, was compiled for the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
newspaper.