Fuckoff Pure Vodka

Fuckoff is the work of Krugmann in Meinerzhagen, Germany, launched in 2008 with the open intention of needling the Smirnoffs and Eristoffs of the world with a blunt German name and a skull on the bottle. The joke aside, the liquid is straightforwardly made: wheat as the base grain, chosen for its soft and rounded character, blended with soft spring water from the Sauerland. It is distilled several times and filtered carefully to reach a crystal-clear, smooth spirit at 40%. Wheat keeps the mouthfeel gentle, and the soft local water helps the mild, balanced profile the brand is after.

The nose is clean and fresh with a hint of cereal and a subtle sweetness, the palate mild and balanced with fine wheat nuances and a pleasant softness, and the finish clear and smooth with a slight warmth. A vodka with this much attitude on the outside and this much restraint on the inside belongs in a Bloody Mary: its soft wheat base carries the tomato, Worcestershire, lemon and a generous hit of black pepper and horseradish without getting in the way, and the brash bottle suits a drink that is meant to wake you up.