Chopin Wheat Vodka

Nose - soft grain, fresh bread, vanilla, black pepper, marshmallow, dry herbal and citrus notes, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - soft grain, wheat thin, orange and lemon zest, black pepper, sweet floral and dry herbal notes, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium short with soft grain, wheat thin, black pepper flavors. The nose is very neutral, but I’m finding some nice marshmallow and bread notes to add some intrigue. Otherwise, it has the standard attributes of a quality wheat based vodka. The palate is a bit floral, citric, and peppery, but a slight hint of wheat thins can be identified as well. Overall, this is a very well executed neutral vodka. I think it’s a step below Absolut Elyx, and probably closer to the Stoli and Ketel One range for me. Unfortunately, it’s also $12 a bottle more than Stoli, so it loses pretty significantly on the value factor. And this is about on par with Jim Beam Original for me.

I am currently tasting Strawberry with a pinch of carmel leaving behind a chaotic aftertaste. One shot of this and you'll be thinking about which horse to ride next.

Rating: 16/23 This is drier than Ocean, but still clean with a nice graininess. I probably like this a hair better and it definitely beats out Belvedere and the famous Kirkland French vodka as well. It's difficult to compare with Esme since that is so floral, but Esme is also a fair bit harsher and less versatile, so I'd take this. This is top-tier vodka for sure.

This vodka has the cleanest flavor that I have encountered. It tastes pure, like a fresh spring, with just a hint of citrus. Although I wouldn't drink it straight because it has no flavor, its lack of antiseptic notes makes it the perfect mixer. The balanced flavor is amazing and the smoothness is superb. This is really an accomplished vodka. It's a clean, neutral flavor, with some clear sweetness that tends a bit toward being sickly and brings in just a hint of wheat. There's not much alcohol flavor here at all, though it can be a bit bitter. It's a very good vodka, though there's nothing amazing about it. There's a tad of oily bitterness, but it's under control. The more I drink this, the less I really understand what all of the big fuss is about. It's a bit richer and more viscous than Belvedere perhaps, but it's also simpler. I'm thinking a 14 to 15.