Absolut Lime

Nose: Lime zest, lime juice, a trace of ethanol and a touch of vanilla. Palate: Citrus with a sweet base – not sugary sweet, more like grain sweetness. There is no evolution or complexity, but it stays fresh and focused on lime/citrus notes. The texture is creamy and smooth. Finish: Very short. A little lingering citrus zestiness and a mild buzz of ethanol, but certainly nothing metallic or unpleasant in the aftertaste. A sweetness, if anything. I am not a vodka drinker so I almost exclusively taste one when I am evaluating it. Neat unflavoured vodka leaves me completely indifferent and I was unsure how I would perceive a flavored version, but I was both surprised and impressed. Some individuals have stated the lime flavor tastes artificial but I did not notice that - it smells and tastes like lime essence, but a good quality one. I acquired this as part of a 4-sample tasting pack (along with Citron, Vanilla and Raspberry versions which I will be rating soon). I highly doubt that I would ever purchase a full bottle of any but I must admit that over a couple of ice cubes this is refreshing and perfectly drinkable. The official notes are accurate. It also works quite nicely with tonic as a gin substitute. It is undoubtedly versatile in many mixed drinks and I can't find anything to criticize. It is very much a one-note tune – no, actually it's more like a long, sustained perfect single note on a wind instrument. Disarming, simplistic, but surprisingly difficult to achieve correctly. My experience with this type of product is so limited I cannot make any comparisons, but my instinct is that if you have a need for flavored vodka in your collection you could do a lot worse than this. Tasted from a 50ml retail sample. "Good": 83/100 (3.5 stars)

I'm undecided on this one, but leaning towards genuinely appreciating it. Primarily, I can't determine if I like its approach of being both sweet and bitter without any tartness, and my mind can't decide if it tastes somewhat artificial or if only the scent seems fake. Certainly, the aroma suggests this is a flavored product. You get distinct lemon zest and limeade, which brings back memories of the smell of powdered limeade mixes my family used to buy when we couldn't afford real, freshly squeezed limeade. I'd even say it smells like Minute Maid Lime sorbet. Taste-wise, it strikes an interesting equilibrium between sweetness and bitterness. When sweet, it reminds me of a key lime pie and carefree afternoons with citrusy sorbets. The bitterness is akin to what I'd expect from an extract of lime and lemon peels. It's the kind of bitterness you seek in a Vodka Tonic with a bit of lime juice and zest. Towards the mid-palate, there's a flavor almost like a tart Granny Smith apple, and the finish includes the bitterness associated with ethanol. Still, this is quite a refreshing vodka, perfect for mixing into a tonic or an actual citrusy summer beverage. This would be well-received at a summer party, serving as a versatile drink that can be substituted in various cocktails while still offering a fun citrusy twist. Not bad!

I picked this up impulsively because it was on discount, and the temperature was 97 degrees. Usually, on a hot summer day, I'd opt for a gin and tonic or a margarita, but today I decided to be adventurous, and this lime vodka seemed like a refreshing choice. For me, vodka has always been rather bland, unoriginal, lacking character and depth. Northern Europeans and Russians have been distilling vodka for centuries and enjoy it neat. It's fine in a Bloody Mary, but sipping it straight... not so much. So, in my experience, vodka is best as a mixer due to its adaptability. So, how does this one fare? Well, I enjoyed it, and my intuition was correct; it is quite revitalizing. The aroma might fool you; it genuinely has a sweet and sour Jolly Rancher or Lime Chuckles candy flavor, not like actual lime. The body was well-balanced, not excessively sweet. The (artificial) lime taste was noticeable but not overwhelming, with a sort of silky smoothness that certainly wasn't harsh, followed by a slight vodka bitterness in the brief finish. I chilled this and served it with a large ice cube, and it held up well. Adding seltzer or tonic just made the flavor too faint for my liking. Overall, this was a pleasant diversion, ideal for a hot summer afternoon. I would have rated this 3.25 stars if the lime flavor were more natural; alas, it isn't.

Aroma: Lime zest, limeade, grass, apple peel, black pepper, vanilla, tart grain, dry floral notes, green candy, and a mild to moderate ethanol sting. Taste: Green candy, unripe apple, lime juice, tart grain, floral notes, black pepper, a mild to moderate alcohol burn, and a medium-short finish with lime candy, tart grain, and grassy floral flavors. Lime scents and tastes are present but are secondary to sour apple and a perfumed floral note. It strongly reminds me of being a child at the dentist's office and choosing one of those cheap green lollipops. Once you notice that flavor, it's hard to overlook. Overall, this isn't exceptional, but I prefer it to the Mandarin version. It's intended as a mixer but is certainly drinkable. I'd choose [Brand X] Original over this, but I could drink this alongside standard Absolut and not have a strong preference.

Appearance: completely transparent. Nothing more to say. Aroma: pungent alcohol. Disgusting. A faint hint of lime, but artificial. Taste: strong alcohol presence. Plenty of ethanol. Some artificial lime candy flavor. Overall: frankly, this is quite unpleasant. — Note: this is my first time sampling straight vodka.

Appreciate the complimentary pours at the airport. I can't recall the taste because I got too drunk after the fifth complimentary shot.