1941 Craft Vodka

This is a really weird vodka. It almost feels like Minnesota's response to Tito's with both having similar marketing playing up how it's "craft vodka" while aiming to go for that very sweet palate that comes from being corn based. At roughly $14 for a 750 mL bottle, 1941 Vodka is really trying to beat out Tito's for some market share and the similarities go beyond just the marketing and price point. The aroma immediately reminds me of Tito's Vodka with that dusty, sweet grain scent but it's oddly more refined and in focus. Tito's is milder on the nose and you really need to coax out the smells. Here the scent of sweet grain is prominent but it's hard to pin down the base grain. My guess was corn and after some research online it turned out to be correct but its corn characteristics are faint. Even though I could tell it had a dusty grain smell, it's less potent than in either Tito's or Tower Vodka (Total Wine's answer to Tito's). There is a nice hint of ethanol present but it doesn't really detract from the sweetness nor is it unpleasant. Alright that all sounds pretty standard so why did I say it's a weird vodka? That's because its taste is all over the place. It's at once very sweet, proudly flaunting its sweet corn base while also tasting oddly dusty, just like it's scent. There's a nice buttery quality too that almost reminds me of wheat vodkas and lends it an almost creamy-like feeling. Best of all, it doesn't have the bitterness that I feel marks the back palate and finish of most corn vodkas but despite that it still feels rough around the edges. Somewhere along the mid to back palate ethanol seeps in and takes over. It's not harsh nor overly intrusive but it does make it hard to recommend as a sipper even if the sweetness is pervasive and amazing. On the finish you get a medium burn but nothing you couldn't handle or be able to drown out in most mixed drinks or cocktails. Once you get past the sharp ethanol turn you're left with a very pleasant sweet corn flavor that lingers and closes out this vodka in good terms. Texture wise it's more on the watery side but it doesn't feel characterless either. Ultimately I think 1941 Vodka is actually a good Tito's competitor and one worth considering picking up if you're a fan. I maintain there are better vodkas on the market at similar or lower price points but if you want that sweetness peculiar to corn vodkas then this may just be the budget vodka for you. I think it's just a tad too rough around the edges to be worth a higher score but it's far from a bad vodka.

Smooth and buttery