Esmé Vodka

Nose - soft grain, lavender, coriander, white pepper, floral soap, mint, lemon lime soda, earthy cocoa, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - soft grain, lemon lime soda, lavender, rose, powdered sugar, mint, ginger, vanilla, white pepper, moderate alcohol bite, finishing fast with floral, citrus juice, mint, and pepper flavors. Other than having a slightly soapy quality, the nose is rather pleasant. It’s more like a diluted modern gin than a vodka. The lemon lime, mint, and cocoa notes play nicely together. The palate arrival is largely sweet, with some floral and citrus flavors carrying through the development. The mouthfeel is rather thin and the finish is very fast, especially for how full the flavors are. Overall this is alright. It doesn’t really drink like a traditional vodka. I’m guessing this is wheat-based due to the soft graininess, but I can’t find an official source that identifies it. I’ll categorize this in the same way as Ciroc, although it’s not a good. It’s an average sipper, but probably not neutral enough to become a house vodka. I think it’s a step below Jim Beam Original, but I wouldn’t be completely disappointed to drink this neat again.

Rating: 15/23 OK, this is super floral. It isn't super viscous and smooth - in fact, it's a bit harsh. I enjoy it, but it's kind of hard to figure out what to do with as well. Ocean has a cleaner, smoother, more neutral flavor while still maintaining some sweetness. This isn't super harsh or anything though. It's less smooth and bold than Kirkland French vodka too, though it doesn't have the same bitterness either. I'd say that this, Kirkland French, and Belvedere are about on the same level of 14 to 15. I'll go with 15 here.

Wow, that floral flavor is ridiculous, but it's so tasty and this vodka is really smooth and clean! None of the sulfur of the Esmé Black Shield here. This is really ways to sip. This is definitely a pricy vodka and it's also unconventional, but it's tasty and fun to sip neat. For $20, it's easy to end up with something not nearly this good. I'm putting this up with Chopin Wheat and Ocean Organic as one of the real stand-out vodkas.

The nose is surprisingly floral! Roses, but also some floral citrus like lemon blossoms. Quite interesting and enticing! The palate mirrors this nose with a big - though not overpowering - floral hit of rose with lemon and orange blossoms. Pepper makes its way in. This is more harsh than I'd like, but there's some nice pepper with it. The floral flavors are surprisingly genuine rather than artificial - quite an accomplishment! The amount of viscosity is pretty good, retaining a spring water feel without seeming thin. It's perhaps a tad sweet though. Well, let's be real: this is extremely floral for a vodka and also well on the sweet side. It's fun to sip, but very situational and may not appeal to many who are looking for a more genuine vodka. I'm enjoying it, but it's kind of a gimmick. But a tasty one. Do I still like Chopin Wheat better? Absolutely. Would I be happy sipping this? Also absolutely. I'd put this around the level of Tobaritch, so in the 14 to 15 range. It's not super complex, but it's quite tasty. The harshness is a bit strong there though. I think I'll have to stick with a 14.