Absolut Vodka

I don't typically consume vodka by itself. In my college days, perhaps, but these days it's reserved for mixed drinks. However, with only a small amount remaining in this bottle, I decided to give it a try. I must admit, this is my preferred vodka for cocktails, and the one I consistently choose when a recipe doesn't specify a particular brand. I generally favor wheat vodkas for cocktails, as they tend to be smoother and more neutral than other types I've encountered, though this might be because I rarely drink vodka straight. Regardless, its price is hard to beat, and it's about as neutral a spirit as one can find. The nose doesn't offer much, just a bit of spice and pepper, and a hint of warmth. The initial taste brings a touch of citrus, sweetness, clove, and a hint of pepper. None are particularly pronounced, and it has a pleasant, silky texture. As it goes down, there's very little burn, and the finish is actually quite lingering. Considering its price point of around $15, it's difficult to find better. I was tempted to give it a higher rating based on price alone, but it's still vodka, and not something I'd make a habit of drinking straight anytime soon.

Absolut’s classic vodka is probably one of the most underrated one in the world. People think that it’s cheap, and that means that it’s bad. Are they totally wrong? No. Absolut vodka has a really neutral taste that some people don’t like, but it uses high quality ingredients and the right distilling methods. To make their vodka, Absolut uses only Swedish wheat and high quality water. Absolut doesn't use any additives to make the vodka cleaner, and they don’t add any sugar to make it sweet. Vodka is a really simple drink, so every ingredient must be pristine, to make a good one. Then they distill it until ≈95% ABV, and dilute it until 40% ABV. This is really important: many vodkas distill their vodka to lower ABV and/or dilute it more. VODKA MUST BE 40% ABV, OTHERWISE IT’S NOT VODKA!!! So is Absolut a good option? Well, there are certainly better options for higher prices, but since Absolut is pretty cheap, it offers a really high quality product for the price they ask for.

A delightful aroma! You can perceive faint hints of wheat in the background, alongside a pleasant sweetness, almost as if a few drops of vanilla were added. If you try very hard, a subtle peppery spice emerges. It's a very mild scent. It's quite surprising then, that there are so many flavors present! In addition to the wheat from the nose, there are delicate whispers of vanilla and custard. It's absolutely delicious! My sole complaint is that the finish is abrupt, unceremoniously interrupting the experience. It's a sudden bitterness, perhaps even a pepperiness that doesn't align with the rest of the profile. Compared to other wheat vodkas, it's rather thin, and for a budget vodka, it's incredibly enjoyable with minimal bite. The bitterness at the end is a bit too strong and unpleasant, but it doesn't detract from what is a great vodka.

Smell: sweet grain, vanilla, black pepper, dry plant notes, lemon peel, mild to significant alcohol burn. Flavor: sweet and spicy grain, earthy vanilla, paper, black pepper, dry plant notes, mild to significant alcohol sting, ending medium short with black pepper, sweet grain, and dry plant flavors. Considering the very high expert rating, I'm quite let down. This is not poor vodka. It's simply completely average. The aroma is sweet and earthy with notable black pepper. The palate is similar, but some of the paper flavor associated with one brand appears a little. Overall, this brand isn't good enough to rank it above the others. It's also the same cost as another brand, which is more potent and layered, so I won't be buying this. I'd rather get a bottle of a well-known bourbon and spend less.

This label is everywhere thanks to fantastic promotion some time ago. A somewhat subdued opening, with an odd, slightly bitter conclusion. A gentleness that initially appears "silky" eventually turned into "oily". It didn't leave a strong impression on me in either direction. Perhaps that was the intention. I'm unsure of vodka's purpose, so I wouldn't waste energy pondering my thoughts on the matter.

Positives: Not overly sweet or boozy, with a touch of earthiness. Drinkable neat if necessary. Reasonable cost. Negatives: Lacks depth and its main feature is simply being clean and smooth. For a little extra cash, I could buy a Ketel One, which I enjoy immensely. Or Tito's, which offers more character. This would be suitable for cocktails or guests, but that's the extent of its appeal.