Everclear 190 Proof

Initial impression: the flavor was surprising. It was anticipated to taste like paint thinner, but it was instead fairly savory. Let's assess its current standing. Nose: Not willing to sample at full strength. Diluted to approximately 40-45%, I detect ethanol, some meatiness, and a touch of clean, dry, mild grain. The aroma is quite minimal, though. Palate: A small taste at full proof wasn't as burning as expected. It's viscous and savory with considerable pepper. With water added to bring it just above 40%, it remains viscous with similar savory notes and a substantial, prolonged wave of pepper, complemented by a little sweetness, grain, and even a subtle floral perfume, finishing with a lemon tartness that narrowly misses a chemical taste. A larger sip reveals some ethanol. This is quite harsh, actually. It's extremely harsh. Beluga is smooth by comparison. Surprisingly, it's not a terrible vodka. One might wonder if the distillation up to 95% ABV required discarding many flavor-contributing elements, resulting in a superior vodka. The palate isn't loved, but it's better than seems reasonable for such a notorious spirit. As the proof decreases, some unusual vegetal notes and perhaps a whisper of sulfur emerge, but these are very slight. However, the intense harshness persists. The harshness is undeniably the insurmountable issue. Finish: The savoriness and pepper endure alongside a clean water essence and some alcohol. Occasionally, a faint lemon blossom reappears, and there's a steady mild bitterness. Nothing remarkable, but not awful. It still burns, though. This is quite surprising. I'd prefer not to drink it neat (significantly diluted, of course), but I could manage it. The flavor profile is acceptable. The primary issue is the harshness, which is excessive. Given the harshness, a high rating isn't possible, but the flavor alone might warrant a score between 12 and 14. However, considering the harshness, a much lower score is necessary. This is considerably harsher than Beluga Noble, and its flavor isn't as good either. It offers a unique experience, and I can envision scenarios where someone desires more bite in a cocktail; in such cases, a small amount might be a good choice. It's challenging to assign a rating because it has a clean flavor, and the harshness would likely diminish substantially if used sparingly to enhance a fruity cocktail. However, it's too painful to drink neat unless diluted to near 40% ABV – and even then, it's extremely harsh. Taking everything into account, I can't see this exceeding an 11, but a 5 seems like the lowest possible score. That's a wide range. Still, I believe it leans towards the higher end of that range due to situations that could benefit from the added warmth, body, and impact. I'm currently considering a score between 8 and 10. Typically, such deliberation results in a 9 – and I confess I haven't actually tried using it with fruit juice, so it might be far better than I imagine for that purpose – but in this instance, I'm settling on 8. It's simply too rough, and while the flavor is solid, it's not amazing even at its best. I'll give it one final opportunity to achieve a 9 by adding a small amount to some fruit juice. The high proof is indeed a significant advantage for adding oomph to fruit juice. Other vodkas (Kirkland French and Beluga Noble) considerably diluted my mango lemonade (it was all I had). This one maintained its full flavor and introduced a rich savory note. It didn't quite hit the mark, though. Nevertheless, it was my preferred choice among the three, which I believe warrants a 9. It still feels very specific to certain uses, but it was acceptable in this context. My larger question concerns the point of vodka as a mixer (why bother, given its mildness?), but I don't think I need to delve into that here. 9.

Nose: Astringent grain, bitter herbs, black pepper, and a strong ethanol burn. Taste: Sour grain, lemon zest, bitter herbs and flowers, black pepper, and a powerful alcohol bite. The finish is medium length with sour grain, black pepper, and various bitter flavors. I have a personal rule to taste spirits neat or with minimal water, but I'm making an exception here. Out of curiosity, I tried a sip at its full 190 proof and won't be repeating that soon. It's almost comically fast how the body signals rejection. I didn't even attempt to swallow. It feels like all the saliva is instantly drawn from your mouth. This is apparently sold as a food-grade household cleaner in some states, though it's also available for consumption. This is not good. Even diluted to 80 proof, it's extremely harsh and sour, tasting almost industrial. It's only distilled twice, unlike most premium vodkas which undergo at least four distillations. I suspect this explains the overall roughness. This is more of a novelty item than a serious spirit for your collection, unless you're looking to recreate college jungle juice. I'd rather drink half a bottle of Jim Beam Original than a single ounce of this at full strength.

This is obviously not meant to be consumed straight, but let's give it a shot! It burns, but does have that nice sweet alcohol warmth. There's that vodka bitterness and some tartness that is reminiscent of rye, but the palate is not as awful as expected despite being really harsh. This raises the question though of whether cask strength bottlings are really just incidents of poor quality liquor being disguised. With water added, it still tastes quite neutral with some bitterness and grain tartness, but nothing overwhelming getting in the way. This is in no way a sipper, but its flavor actually isn't miserable and it has a nice neutrality that makes it a reasonable option for increasing the proof of a spirit for additional home aging by a percent or two. Chopin is more neutral, but the added sweetness, spice, and dryness here are not overwhelming.

This is excellent for sanitizing and can be used to freshen up your home! The alcohol scent fades quickly, leaving a sweet vanilla aroma. It's more effective than Fabreeze!