Nose - bright grain, bitter herbal notes, black pepper, lemon pith, earthy vanilla, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - soft grain, black pepper, lemon zest, dry herbal and floral notes, creamy vanilla, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium short and silky with sweet green, creamy vanilla, and black pepper flavors. After reading some very positive reviews, I’m immediately disappointed with the nose. I was unpleasantly surprised by the level of astringent grain aroma that is present. Of the vodkas that have been part of this series, it’s close to the top of the ethanol burn index. It’s not robust and chalky like I found Stoli and Russian Standard to be. It’s just mediocre and hot. The palate is a completely different story, though. The harsh grain on the nose is now extremely soft. The mouthfeel is oily and velvety smooth. The dominant flavors are the standard black pepper and citrus, but there’s a vanilla note that comes across as pleasantly creamier than on other vodkas. It’s definitely in the upper echelon of vodka palates I’ve experienced. Overall I’m split here, but I think the quality of the palate overcomes the disappointment of the nose. Beluga is not quite playing the same game as other vodkas. It’s considered unflavored, but there are additives thrown in the mix. I can’t taste them specifically, but I’m sure the extra engineering is responsible for the superior palate and texture. Regardless, I don’t take this into account with my assessments. I judge only on how much I like the end result. And I like this. It’s right up there with Stoli and Ketel One. I’d need to taste them side by side to give one the edge over the others. However, this is almost double the price of Stoli near me, so it’s probably not the one I’d reach for first. And for all these reasons, it’s about on par with Jim Beam Original for me.