VODKA SMOOTH COATED OTTER

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What's the story behind the smooth coated otter, known as the Iraqi otter? 

In the 1950s, Scottish novelist Gavin Maxwell journeyed to Iraq, immersing himself in the marshes to seek inspiration for his latest work. It was during this expedition that Maxwell stumbled upon a rare otter, affectionately named "Mijbil," whom he brought back to Scotland. Upon returning to Britain, Maxwell presented Mijbil to animal scientists, who were astonished by the otter's thick and soft fur, leading to the bestowal of a new scientific name that honoured Maxwell's role in its discovery. Settling into Maxwell's home in the village of Sandaig on the west coast of Scotland, specifically on Linga Island, Mijbil became an integral part of his life. Tragically, while Maxwell was away visiting the countryside near London, Mijbil met with a fatal accident. Maxwell, deeply saddened by the loss, channelled his emotions into his novel "Ring of Bright Water," a touching portrayal of his bond with Mijbil. The book became immensely popular, selling over a million copies, and later inspired a Hollywood film adaptation. 

Are the otters threatened with extinction? 

Recent studies indicate a population of 200 to 900, primarily found in the marshes of Iraq, with a smaller presence in Kurdistan. However, challenges such as water scarcity, overfishing, and neglect pose grave threats to their survival. If not addressed, these factors could lead to their disappearance, resulting in significant environmental loss. Let's view the introduction of this product as an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of protecting these charming creatures and other endangered species.

Whiskey in all its varieties, Cognac, aged rum, aged tequila – they're all beverages born of distilling different starchy sources and then maturing them in oak barrels. Each of these products has been crafted and acclaimed in various corners of the world, becoming ingrained in the culture of their respective regions. Hence, it was imperative for Iraq to boast a distinctive product sourced from a unique origin. After careful consideration, we found no better candidate than Iraqi dates. We fermented them to create date wine, which was then distilled to yield ethyl alcohol. The next step involved aging this spirit in oak barrels for over six months, allowing the ethyl alcohol to intermingle with the colourless date wine and absorb the essence of the oak wood, resulting in a new shade and flavour profile.

 As Iraqis, it is our prerogative to take pride in the aged Vodka Otter, a testament to our rich cultural heritage and innovative spirit.

After converting the dates into date syrup, the fermentation process begins by adding water and yeast. The fermentation process takes about 20 days to obtain date wine with an alcohol content of up to 13% by volume. Then, the distillation of the date wine begins using a modern copper still with a vertical column, distilling using hot steam, which takes 8 continuous hours to start obtaining the first drops of the purest vodka Otter. The resulting alcohol content is 65% by volume, so pure water is added to reach vodka with an alcohol content of 40% by volume, and the product is ready for packaging.