When you first look at the bottle of Exclusiv Vodka Rosé, it’s obvious this isn’t your typical vodka. It’s pink. Exclusiv Vodka uses Russian winter wheat and naturally filtered water from limestone mountains in Central Europe in all of its vodkas. For the Rosé offering, it infuses raspberries and a Rosé Moscato wine to create a winning combination.

Knowing that the vodka only sells for about $10, I was a little skeptical before tasting. I was in for a pleasant surprise. The first thing that hit me was the delicious aroma. There is a delightfully sweet smell that comes from both the raspberries and the Moscato wine. It reminds me of a summer garden. I’m not normally a fan of Moscato wines, but when it is combined with the vodka, it offers a nice balance with some definite fruity overtones.

The vodka is extremely smooth and I enjoyed sipping it straight and chilled. A perfect taste in the hot Phoenix summer. I look forward to coming up with some creative mixed drinks using the Moscato-blended Exclusiv Rosé Vodka. The company’s website has a few recipes, so I’ll be testing those out very soon. Exclusive Rosé is a 64 proof, 32% alcohol by volume vodka, so it definitely has a bit of a punch to it. It might be pink, but it’s not a drink for the faint of heart.

Exclusiv Rosé Vodka. Credit: Exclusiv Vodka

Exclusiv Vodka has a unique background. The vodka is manufactured in Moldova, a former Soviet republic. The company had been successful in Russia, where vodka has a centuries-old tradition and is manufactured in nearly every little village. Despite a great product, Exclusiv didn’t come to the U.S. until Russian immigrant Serge Chistov, CEO of Serge Import and the only importer of Exclusiv Vodka in the U.S., came into the picture.

Chistov and his wife left their homeland when the Soviet Union was collapsing. With only $300 – and a stay in Israel before finally coming to the U.S. – the Ukrainian-born Chistov decided he wanted to find a way to bring Russian vodka to America. Not just any Russian vodka. Chistov wanted a quality vodka that was available at a reasonable price.

Since 2005, Chistov has worked with Exclusiv to bring it to the U.S. After helping the company perfect the logo and the bottle for an American audience – I love the frosted glass bottle – he helped them launch in the U.S. Since 2006, Exclusiv Vodka has become more and more popular with vodka lovers in this country. Chistov says it is understandable, given the quality of the product. “This is the vodka from Moldava,” he explains. “A combination of the purest water and the finest winter wheat leaves a creamy taste on the palate.”

Exclusiv Vodka Line: 1-Classic, 2-Limon, 3-Orange, 4-Berry, 5-Coconut, 6-Rosé, 7-Peach. Credit: Exclusiv Vodka

Exclusiv Vodka, with sales reaching $15 million in 2012, is now available in several markets across the U.S., including Arizona, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, DC and Georgia. There are seven other flavors currently on the market in addition to the Rosé: Peach, Coconut, Berry, Orange, Limon, Classic and the new Napoleon, which has brandy and caramel flavors. Cherry is coming soon.

The raspberry flavored Exclusiv Rosé Vodka with Moscato Rosé wine is a fun vodka, especially for the summer months when the fruitiness of the blend makes it light and bright. I look forward to creating some exciting new recipes with this smooth vodka that just happens to be pink.