Ketel One Vodka

Nose: Crisp ethanol gentled by faint cereal and mineral aromas. A lemon fragrance builds after repeated sips and nosing. Palate: Sweet, clean almost aqueous arrival with just a tang of alcohol. This gives way to a little cracked black pepper, lemon zest and a soupçon of anise. The texture is exquisitely soft and silky. Finish: Medium. Clean, fresh with a mild peppery tingle. The long-term aftertaste is creamy and sweet. Good heavens. I have found a vodka that not only can I stand to drink neat, but which I would voluntarily pour as an aperitif. If you are, like me, a whisky dweeb who normally eschews vodka on principle because it is little more than characterless ethanol then take one more chance and try this. You will not be disappointed. It also makes a vodka martini that will reset your expectations. Vodka with character. Huh. Who knew? “Excellent” : 88/100 (4.5 stars)