A Spirited History.
Now, here is a vodka which ticks a trio of boxes. The King of Soho Copacetic Vodka is a rather good sipping vodka and perfect for a classic Martini. It’s a bottle that should grace the cocktail cabinet of any Londoner who knows a bit about the city’s history, and it makes the perfect souvenir for any drinks lover returning home from London.
So, who was The King of Soho? The original ‘King of Soho’ was the celebrated Paul Raymond, founder of the members-only Revuebar, publisher and property developer. He dominated the London entertainment scene from the late 1950s to the late 1980s and was instrumental in revitalising Soho in central London.
The King of Soho, these days, is a London-based drinks brand. Run by entrepreneur Alex Robson, it was co-founded by her and her business partner Howard Raymond in 2013 in homage to Howard Raymond’s late father.
Bohemian fashion
The King of Soho has a range of gins, and now this unique vodka has joined the array. The striking bottle features an iconic design, each element representing the flamboyant, creative, and hedonistic spirit for which Soho has long been known. The velvet tailored suit of the character on the bottle displays the bohemian fashion of the area and era, which is well-remembered by some of us of a certain age. The fox’s tail signifies Soho’s status as a former royal hunting ground and the fox’s reputation as a mischievous creature of the night, reflecting that vibrant and fun Soho. The trumpet gives a nod to Soho’s rich music history, and the book represents the long association with the creative industries and arts.
The King of Soho Copacetic Vodka has great shelf appeal, and particularly when displayed with the other colourful bottles from that stable. But that second bottle will be purchased for the spirit within. It isn’t a novelty vodka but one which is credible, and it just happens to be attractively packaged. Copacetic means ‘rather fine’ and it certainly is to my taste.
The taste is somewhat more complex that some other vodkas. It offers a 40% hit of alcohol with notes of spicy pepper, citrus and green apples. It’s a good, solid all-rounder, being perfect in your favourite vodka-based cocktails but also as a sipping spirit when poured over ice. I serve this straight from the freezer and in frozen glasses but not shot glasses. Savour your drink and notice its evolving persona as it slowly changes temperature and texture.