CÎROC Vodka

A vodka that actually tastes good! Slight fruity note from the grapes, I really enjoyed sipping it. Was planning to mix it but when I took a sip it was good enough that I decided to just sip it straight.

I have never heard of vodka made from grapes before. 😮 Assumed it was probably made from wheat or something. Needs ice, but the inherent grape flavor is very nice. It's delicate, almost pretty, if that makes any sense.

Nose - sweet grain, grape skin, lemon lime soda, grapefruit zest, floral tea, black pepper, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - lemon lime soda, sweet grain, grape, mint, black pepper, ginger, powdered sugar, orange blossom, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium short with sugary grape, sweet grain, and citrus zest flavors. This has the most interesting nose of any vodka I’ve tried. It’s more like a toned down modern gin than a vodka, which is good thing in my book. It has a noticeable Sprite vibe mingled with some sweet graininess and minty, peppery notes in the background. The same qualities transfer to the palate, with a strong gin-like presence on the arrival. Grape is also apparent, reminding me a bit of the Remy V eau-de-vie I tasted a while ago, but much less full-bodied. Overall, this is some tasty vodka. It’s actually more akin to a mediocre gin. Based on my initial impression, I think this tops my current leader, Ketel One, in sippability. One caveat is that this really isn’t a neutral vodka. I wonder whether it would mix well in the standard vodka cocktails, as it will certainly impart some flavors of its own. All things considered, we have a new front runner in this series. For me, it’s on par with Jim Beam Original, and I can see myself reaching for this if I had to choose between the two.

This is quality vodka. There’s pepper on the front end but not too hot. It’s light and has a nice texture. Not too intense. But wait... there’s a surprise. A nice sweet grape taste sensation about a minute later just sitting on your tongue and the back of your throat. Very cool. It’s probably the best finish of any vodka I’ve tasted. A+