Król Vodka

The nose is powerful but straightforward. It strongly smells of potatoes, almost like a freshly opened bag of Kettle Potato Chips with an oily quality. There are also distinct impressions of metal coins and a faint spiciness in the background, reminiscent of rye. While there are no ethanol fumes, it's clearly alcoholic. It's not unpleasant, though not my top choice. This is a rather strong vodka where the flavors are prominent and assertive. A strong starchy-grain presence kicks things off, immediately followed by a sharp metallic note. It's reasonably sweet on the front and mid-palate, but finishes with an astringent, quite bittersweet quality that reminds me of coal-filtered products. Although this might sound very negative, it's actually not. I'm neutral on it because it complements the preceding metallic taste and doesn't taste foul. Bitterness can be a positive attribute, and it's not a drawback here. Texturally, it's quite oily, about what you'd expect from a potato vodka, and the alcohol burn is minimal. It's noticeable, certainly, but it doesn't overpower the throat or cause flinching. Overall, I'd consider this a decent vodka with some unusual flavors. The metallic notes can actually enhance it when mixed with sparkling mineral water and certain tonics. It's not a vodka I'm passionate about, but I wouldn't refuse a glass.

This potato vodka, made in the Polish style, is actually produced in Ukraine. It presents clear, with no discernible aroma. The taste is subtly sweet, with pure alcohol beneath the flavor. It has a medium body and concludes crisply, leaving no lingering aftertaste. A RJT.