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It's estimated that there are only 3,000 to 7,000 snow leopards left in the wild worldwide, and the outlook is bleak as poachers continue to hunt them down for their incredibly attractive furs. Thankfully, the conservation effort to protect them is set to get a boost from the animals' alcoholic namesake, Snow Leopard Vodka.
The premium vodka brand, which has until now only been available at swanky cocktail bars in London and Manchester, is now starting to appear in supermarkets like Waitrose, and the company will be generously donating 15 per cent of its profits to protecting endangered species. The company has also set up a charity, called the Snow Leopard Trust UK, to handle the efforts in collaboration with the Snow Leopard International Trust and other wildlife charities.
The vodka is produced in Poland from batches of natural spring water and a grain called spelt. Because spelt has a naturally thick husk, it has the added benefit of being able to grow easily without the use of pesticides.
"This is not just any vodka from Poland, it is one of the best premium spirits on the market," says Xhulio Sina, Bar Manager of Sketch, Mayfair. "Snow Leopard Vodka has a long and smooth finish, while being strong and gentle in the mouth. This is what I call a true vodka".
You can pick up a bottle of Snow Leopard Vodka at branches of Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser and Waitrose. Helpfully, the company has recruited several renowned mixologists to create cocktails based on the drink for you to try at home. So you can save the snow leopard while simultaneously getting smashed by mixing up one of these:
Miaowtini
Ingredients:
75ml Snow Leopard Vodka
25ml Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
Method: Rinse ice in Vermouth, straining away the Vermouth. Add Snow Leopard Vodka to ice, stir and strain into a chilled Martini glass. Add a twist of lime zest to garnish.
(Created by Aidan Bryan at Claridge's)
Feline Fatale
Ingredients:
50ml Snow Leopard Vodka
12.5ml Grand Marnier
12.5ml Campari
25ml orange juice
Method: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a flamed orange twist.
(Created by Robert Wattie at The Lobby Bar, One Aldwych)
07 January 2008 05:03pm
They won't save snow leopards, but if you're after an ethical beer, try a decent organic one like Freedom lager (www.freedombeer.com) or St Peter's Ale (www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk ). St Peter's is one of the few UK brewers to actually get their hops from the UK - most import.
19 April 2008 04:30pm
Sounds like a brilliant idea, I'll be popping down to waitrose and hope for this to become my permanent regular brand!
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