Jewel of Russia Ultra Vodka

Jewel of Russia Ultra Vodka is vodka as art object: a 40% ABV (80 proof) Russian vodka in a bottle individually hand-painted in the traditional Palekh lacquer-miniature style and signed by the artist — and it is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

Distilled at Chernogolovka from hard Russian winter wheat and rye by an ancient recipe, it is distilled five times and slow-flow filtered through paper, sand, and charcoal made from peach and apricot stones — a characterful, not-neutral vodka with real grain texture. Product of Russia; only about 2,000 bottles a month reach the U.S.

Tasting notes: cracked black peppercorn, faint aniseed, lemon zest, and bready grain on the nose; a slightly oily palate with a sweet opening and aggressive black-pepper spice; a peppery, warming, lingering finish.

Why buy the Ultra? Because the hand-painted bottle is a genuine collector's piece — and the vodka inside is a bold, peppery Russian classic, not a blank canvas. Browse the vodka collection, the Jewel of Russia brand collection, and all spirits.

Serving note: serve ice-cold, neat or in a martini — the peppery character needs no mixer to announce itself.

What is the ABV? 40% ABV (80 proof), 750mL.

What is it made from? Hard Russian winter wheat and rye, distilled five times, filtered through paper, sand, and peach/apricot-stone charcoal.

Is every bottle hand-painted? Yes — each bottle is individually hand-painted in Palekh style and artist-signed.

How is it different from the Ultra Black Label? The Black Label is a separate newer variant — this is the hand-painted limited-edition Ultra, consistent with Del Mesa's listing.