New Amsterdam Vodka 100 Proof

So I bought this because it was dirt cheap and I’m going to try my hand at making liqueurs with herbs and stuff from the back yard. Expectations are low, but who knows? The nose is mostly neutral grain spirit, as expected, but also stainless steel and a trace of vanilla. On the palate it’s pretty harsh, with some weird concrete and metal flavors; maybe I’ll call it “industrial tasting”. It’s just alcohol for the short finish.

Ah, there's kind of a nice rich flavor here. It's still very harsh though. The palate isn't bad, but it is boring. A good choice if you have a drink that needs a bit more of a kick, but otherwise not that good. The profile is fine but boring. It's tough to figure out a reasonable final rating for this because it's so harsh. There is a hair of something bitter and industrial in here, so I'm maintaining my last rating. There are some nice fruity floral hints, but nothing too exciting.

There's an immediate burn like in a bottled in bond bourbon. There's also a nice fullness and sweetness to it. There's some pepper with the harshness and also a faint hint of sulfur, unfortunately. It's a very faint hint, so it would be drowned out in most any mixed drink, but it is there. I like the high proof and viscous sweetness and richness that come with it, but aside from that there isn't much going on here. I'm going to ah e to lower my rating, though this is still a serviceable vodka. Given the proof and price, it isn't a bad buy. The underlying bitterness here really does taste like vodka though - just a bit too industrial and uninteresting. And you do need to. E prepare to burn your tongue off with this one. For a serious bourbon fan, this could be a good choice. Otherwise, I'd recommend a smoother vodka at a lower proof with a better and more interesting flavor.

The nose has a bit of alcohol, but is otherwise not there. The palate is immediately harsher than other vodkas with its higher proof. It's a kind of sweet flavor with some richness and a hint of slightly floral grain. It's fairly harsh and not super complex, but I rather enjoy it. It's better than a 12, but probabaly not a 15. There's definitely a suggestion of corn and there is also something a tad more herbal. It's good, so I'll start it with a 14.