The Exchange Vodka 750ML

The Exchange Vodka 750ML is a pot-distilled American vodka bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) from Ransom Spirits in Sheridan, Oregon. What separates it from mainstream vodkas is the combination of a hand-hammered French alembic copper pot still and a mid-19th-century limestone filtration method that produces a distinctly velvety mouthfeel.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Sheridan, Oregon, USA  |  Style: Grain-Based Vodka  |  Distillery: Ransom Spirits

Production & Heritage

Ransom Spirits, founded by Tad Seestedt in Oregon's Willamette Valley, has built a reputation for reviving historical distillation techniques across a range of spirits including gin, whiskey, and grappa. The Exchange Vodka is distilled from a mashbill of corn and rye using a direct-fired French alembic pot still — a far less efficient but more hands-on approach than the continuous column stills used by most commercial vodka producers. After distillation, the spirit passes through a filtration medium of limestone and charcoal, a technique drawn from mid-19th-century vodka production. Ransom maintains that this limestone step creates a textural softness that large-scale charcoal-only filtration cannot replicate.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose is intentionally restrained, presenting as nearly neutral with only faint traces of clean grain sweetness. A subtle mineral quality emerges after the vodka sits in the glass for a moment.

Taste: The entry is soft and slippery, with a rounded body that feels heavier than typical column-distilled vodkas. The mid-palate carries a quiet sweetness from the corn component, while the rye grain adds a whisper of peppery structure. Overall, the impression is clean and uncluttered — the focus is entirely on texture rather than flavor complexity.

Finish: Short and smooth, tapering cleanly without bitterness or heat. A silky, almost oily coating lingers briefly on the palate, reinforcing the limestone filtration's contribution to mouthfeel.

How to Drink The Exchange

This vodka is designed to show its texture, so tasting it neat and slightly chilled is the most revealing serve. A single large ice cube will open up the subtle grain sweetness without diluting the velvety body. In cocktails, The Exchange's clean profile and silky weight make it a strong base: a Vodka Martini highlights its smooth texture against dry vermouth; a Moscow Mule benefits from its neutral character letting ginger beer and lime take the lead; and a Cosmopolitan works well because the vodka provides body without competing with cranberry and citrus.

Best For

• Craft spirits enthusiasts exploring small-batch, pot-distilled vodkas
• Hosting cocktail nights where a clean, textured base spirit is needed
• Gifting to someone who appreciates artisan Oregon distilleries
• Side-by-side tastings comparing pot-still vs. column-still vodka styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Exchange taste like? The Exchange is intentionally clean and neutral, with a soft, velvety texture as its defining characteristic rather than pronounced flavors. A faint grain sweetness from its corn and rye mashbill can be detected when sipped neat.

How does The Exchange compare to Tito's Handmade Vodka? Tito's is distilled from 100% corn in a pot still and charcoal-filtered, while The Exchange uses a corn-and-rye mashbill, a French alembic pot still, and limestone-charcoal filtration. The limestone step in The Exchange's process gives it a noticeably silkier mouthfeel, whereas Tito's tends toward a crisper, lighter body.

Is The Exchange good for sipping neat? Yes — its velvety texture and clean finish make it well-suited for chilled neat pours, particularly for drinkers who want to appreciate mouthfeel and smoothness over bold flavor.

Where is The Exchange made? The Exchange Vodka is produced at Ransom Spirits in Sheridan, Oregon, located in the northern Willamette Valley. All distillation and filtration take place on-site using the distillery's hand-hammered French alembic pot stills.

What foods pair well with The Exchange? Chilled smoked salmon or cured trout complement its clean grain character. Briny oysters on the half shell contrast nicely with the vodka's smooth texture. Fresh goat cheese with cracked pepper echoes the subtle rye spice. Blini with crème fraîche and caviar is a classic pairing that lets the vodka's silky body shine alongside rich, salty bites.

What sizes does The Exchange come in? The Exchange Vodka is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is The Exchange worth the price? The Exchange positions as a small-batch craft vodka, priced above mass-market brands but in line with other artisan pot-distilled vodkas. Its value lies in the uncommon production method — hand-hammered alembic distillation and limestone filtration — which appeals to drinkers seeking texture and craft provenance over a big-name label.

Why The Exchange?

In a category dominated by column-still efficiency and marketing-driven differentiation, The Exchange takes the opposite approach: slow pot distillation on a direct-fired French alembic, a pre-industrial limestone filtration method, and a two-grain mashbill that adds subtle depth without disrupting neutrality. Ransom Spirits has applied the same reverence for historical technique here that they bring to their well-regarded gins and whiskeys. The result is a vodka built around mouthfeel and texture — qualities that most mass-produced vodkas sacrifice in pursuit of volume. For drinkers who care about how a spirit is made as much as how it tastes, The Exchange represents a genuinely distinctive entry in American craft vodka.