Absolut Elyx

Rating: 16/23 Nose: It smells like nothing. Like, absolutely nothing. Palate: Whoa! This is a strange one. It's sweet. And musty. With vanilla. And it's a bit spicy. It strangely reminds me of Don Julio Blanco. It certainly isn't as complex, but it has that core character to it. It's fairly smooth, but not as smooth as Reyka or Chopin. The profile is kind of fun, but in this oddly immature way. It is sort of like a less developed Beluga Noble in that regard. Still...it's fun! And it's certainly less harsh. And there's a nice bit of oiliness to it rounding it out. The complexity is surprising. Finish: That oily, musty vanilla sweetness lingers. It's a bit too sweet really, but I suppose that helps to enrich the flavor. I do get a little bitterness from the alcohol, but that's standard for vodka. - Conclusion - This is a bit of a tough one because it's so far out there. Which is not what I expected. I thought that this would be bland but well executed. Instead, it tastes almost more like I'd always expected a wheat vodka to be: sweet and musty. Whatever they used in this might be a great base for a wheated bourbon. I think that Ocean does its funky thing better than this does though. It's just kind of hard to have a full dram of this knowing that it's supposed to be vodka. That Don Julio tequila essence just keeps coming through. Based on a lot of side-by-siding, I think that this beats Russian Standard for sure and is probably a bit above Beluga Noble and Kirkland French. I'd put Ocean and Reyka at about this level, but I'd score Chopin higher. Based on that, this most probably is a 16. That said, I can totally understand why someone would love this. It's a fun experience. I can even see myself growing to love it. It just isn't what I expect from a vodka right now. What's remarkable is how little alcohol bitterness there is here. It's just so abnormal for a vodka that I don't know what to think about it. I could be convinced to lower this to a 15, but not right now. For something that's marketed as being so exclusive and high end though, this is pretty affordable. I wouldn't feel bad buying a bottle at this price.

Aroma: sugary gentle grain, vanilla cream, marshmallow, black pepper, nutmeg, earthy botanicals and garden notes, slight to moderate ethanol sting. Palate: sugary gentle grain, lemon and grapefruit peel, smooth vanilla, marshmallow, nutmeg, botanical notes, floral infusions, slight to moderate alcohol sting, finishing medium short with gentle grain, citrus peel, sweet vanilla, and floral notes. Quite an improvement over the standard Absolut! It's not a world of difference, but all the aspects I disliked about its predecessor have been enhanced. The aroma is much softer, with earthy vanilla and a very pleasant marshmallow note that balances some pepper and baking spices. The palate is similarly appealing. It's incredibly neutral, but some nice citrus and floral notes complement the same marshmallow and baking spice characteristics. In summary, this is a really good vodka. It's a difficult choice between this and Stoli or Ketel One, but I'm currently preferring the Elyx. It's also better than Beluga and Russian Standard. The alcohol is noticeable, but there's no harshness to be found. So what's the drawback? Well, it costs $40+, easily twice the price of Stoli and almost twice the price of Ketel One. It's not twice as good as them, but it might be good enough to justify purchasing a bottle if you desire something premium. The bottle's appearance is also stunning and looks great on the bar. And I wouldn't hesitate to say I'd prefer drinking this over Jim Beam Original most days.

The premium offering from Absolut, Elyx is an improvement over the standard Absolut. Is it worth double the price? Likely not, but it is very smooth. The nose is clean with a hint of ethanol and wheat. On the palate, there's a slight sweetness, but it's exceptionally smooth. It's essentially what you'd want from a vodka, with no unpleasant aromas or flavors. The finish is short, but again, no burning sensation. I don't frequently drink vodka neat; it's simply not that engaging for me, but I must say this one is good. Is it worth twice the price of the standard? Probably not, unless you prefer drinking vodka neat. I rated the standard a 3.75, but neat it was closer to a 3, with the 0.75 boost attributed to its value and use in cocktails. This one merits a 4 to 4.25 neat, but considering the lower value proposition, I'll settle for a 4.

This is superb. A significant improvement over their standard offering. The distinctively tangy, clean mineral notes from the copper are noticeable, and the mouthfeel is incredibly light. It's almost like whipped air. I'm certain it would be excellent in a martini, but for me, its true brilliance lies in sipping it neat, which is unusual for vodka. Masterfully crafted.

This is superb. A significant improvement over their standard offering. The distinctively tangy, clean mineral notes from the copper are noticeable, and the mouthfeel is incredibly light. It's almost like whipped air. I'm certain it would be excellent in a martini, but for me, its true brilliance lies in sipping it neat, which is unusual for vodka. Masterfully crafted.

I had kept a 1-liter bottle at 42.3% alcohol for a special occasion for several years, and… What a treat it was! This is definitely a large step up from the standard bottling and a solid representative of the premium market. It was very smooth yet rich with a pleasant mouthfeel. Great on ice or simply chilled.