Tastes
-
#3 in the vodka lineup. More alcohol on the nose than the last few, with some notes of grain. The flavor is quite different though, and surprisingly eccentric for such a classic vodka. Alongside the typical vanilla cream is banana pudding and a grassy note, almost tropical in nature. Average smoothness throughout, right up until the end where some burn contributes to the finish. This is a good fruit-leaning neutral vodka, which would be at home anywhere there is rum and/or pineapple. Character: Grassy banana pudding Smoothness: 3, Overall: 3.518.0 USD per Bottle
-
#4 in the vodka lineup. Not much nose, but you can definitely tell this came from grapes. The unusual aroma is almost gin-like, with a peppery juniper nature. One sip confirms it: this vodka tastes like gin. Sweet, lemon-lime, practically a citrus soda, with some sweet herbal botanicals and ever-so-slight licorice. This is definitely a high-end martini vodka, particularly for those who feel as though "vodka vs. gin" is a forced binary. However, the unique fruity character sacrifices a lot of its potential versatility, which is an unfortunate thing for what should be a primarily neutral spirit. It is also $30, a ridiculous price for any vodka to have. Character: Gin Smoothness: 3.25, Overall: 3.2530.0 USD per Bottle
-
#5 in the vodka lineup. A very simple and muted nose, just a hint of vanilla. Flat, grainy palate, the vanilla is there, but more savory. This is not a sweet vodka, if you're into that sort of thing. The wheat component is still there as well, but becomes what I would call "wheat thins" more than anything else. Good for when you want vodka that is a little flavorful, but not sweet. Dry martini? Character: Wheat thins Smoothness: 3, Overall: 327.0 USD per Bottle
-
#6 vodka in the 7 or so that I compared. Very neutral nose. You have to dig deep to get some dusty grain. Still waters part to reveal a slightly sweet, mostly savory cream. Think vanilla yogurt. The slight salinity picks up a little at the end, but is well-integrated into the underlying neutrality. This vodka is over-hyped in my opinion, and there are much better for a few dollars less. It works in any place you would need a neutral spirit, and want people to think that you have good taste in vodka or something. It's not quite the "Patron" of vodka, but it's getting there (not a compliment). Character: Vanilla Greek yogurt Smoothness: 4.5, Overall: 3.022.0 USD per Bottle
-
Some time late last year (Happy New Year, everyone!), between drinking other things, I decided to compare some popular vodkas to see which one I preferred to keep around, and if they were even distinct enough to bother caring about. I noted the overall character (which turns out to have a surprising variety among vodkas), and a separate "smoothness" (because this the only type of drink where you should probably care about that). Let's start with the least interesting vodka, the staple at every party that has ever existed: Smirnoff No. "those who drink this are typically not quite" 21. Cheap grain and vanilla, some alcohol, but not oppressive. Sweeter than I remember, not a lot of flavor. A strange muted taste sensation almost like your nose is being held, but the vanilla is still there. Just a tinge of salt at the end. There is nothing special here. This is vodka. Mix it with whatever, and drink it to get inebriated. This is meant to be a starting point to compare with what I found to be much more interesting ones. Character: salty vanilla Smoothness: 3.25, Overall: 2.515.0 USD per Bottle
-
Talisker 10 Year
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed September 30, 2019 (edited February 3, 2021)The nose is perfectly balanced between a modest but respectable peat level, and honey-drizzled Summer fruits, mainly citrus. The nose is like what would happen if more peat was added to Glenmorangie. I don't normally notice mouthfeel, but Talisker has a great one, gentle but full, delivering an impressive amount of flavor. The ABV is picture-perfect for what it manages to do. The base is golden malt cereal with just a drop of orange juice, and this combination is somehow flavorful enough to make you forget about the enormous cloud of smoke that has been developing around it from the start. By the time you notice, it has already overtaken your taste buds, but very gently so. This is like a carefully-prepared gourmet seaside dinner, smoked and heavily-peppered, honey-glazed and with absolute perfect char...except that the protein has been replaced with a nectarine. If Old Pulteney and Glenmorangie ever had a wedding in the Iron Islands (thus uniting Pyke with Highgarden), during a siege poetically set in slow motion in the distance with "Oceanborn" by Nightwish playing in the background, then Talisker might have been what you just drank.60.0 USD per Bottle -
The nose is aniseed and honey, followed by flowers, some bright citrus, an an underlying gaminess that I can't quite put my finger on. Wow! The flavor hits hard though: Honeysuckle (emphasis on the honey), with a malty backbone and some mint. This is a liqueur with legs, and every bit of the extra ABV is put to good use. As expected since they're both from Skye, this pairs extraordinarily well with Talisker to make the perfect Rusty Nail.44.99 USD per Bottle
-
Olmeca Altos Reposado Tequila
Tequila Reposado — Los Altos, Jalisco, Mexico
Reviewed September 29, 2019 (edited April 25, 2020)Dark honey and a little citrus on the nose, but not much other fruit or agave. Mineral on the entry, a little on the herbaceous side, with the agave finally showing up. It then mellows into honey for a brief moment before fading away behind something slightly bitter. Sort of a brassy, peppery quality in the finish. Middle of the road in both flavor an quality.24.99 USD per Bottle -
Corralejo Reposado Tequila
Tequila Reposado — Guanajuato, Mexico
Reviewed September 17, 2019 (edited March 14, 2020)Very subtle but complex nose of green apple, honey, lemon, and grape. It needs time to open up before the classic agave comes into focus. The palate is smooth, sweet and fruity, with no burn. The flavors never go too far in any one direction, with the sweeter notes tightly constrained between white peach, white grape, vanilla, and honey (almost bourbon flavors), but with savory, umami overtones completing the experience. The finish is a little dry, but still contains no evidence of 80 proof. This is more like a dry mead than a tequila, and definitely one for sipping. I pair it with frittata.33.99 USD per Bottle -
A free 50mL sample of this was included with Zaya rum. Why not? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The nose is delightful, full of those iced lemon cookies with a hole in the middle, the ones that come in a bag, and a little lemon-scented cleaner. When it opens up in the glass, it becomes hard lemon candy, then mellows out into watery lemon soda. All of this is just an illusion though, because there is the starkest contrast between the nose and palate that I have ever experienced. The taste is somehow bitter and full of sharp, rancid ethanol. It's truly bizarre to be smelling sweet lemon confections in the glass, right up to and including the moment it touches the tongue, and then ice cold water is thrown on that, jumpstarting you out of a pleasant dream. Bitter lemon oil is all that is left in the short finish. This is nothing that you should be drinking, only smelling. I suppose that is reasonable though, considering that a full 750mL bottle is only...$28.99?!? *monocle falls into snifter*28.99 USD per Bottle
Results 31-40 of 110 Reviews