Platinum 7X Vodka

Even though it's distilled seven times, there's some aroma present. That aroma is mainly just warmth from alcohol, though. Perhaps a tiny hint of sweetness. The taste is actually rather pleasant. It's very smooth, but it has a touch of roughness that doesn't come across as peppery. The palate shares that same mellow, full warmth the aroma hinted at, similar to Chopin Wheat. The mouthfeel is great, and the flavors are sufficiently strong. There's definite sweetness and a bit of earth that unfortunately interacts slightly with a rubbery note. An occasional subtle lemon hint appears, but not much. It lacks the refreshing graininess of Chopin, which brings to mind a wheat field on a cool autumn day, but it does offer a nice sweetness and a more neutral profile. It's akin to just drinking pure water. I'd place it in the same category as Chopin Wheat. I'd still choose Chopin by a small margin, but this exceeded my expectations. The finish is minimal, really just some subtly sweet, clean, thick warmth. It's dangerously easy to drink on its own and offers a more traditional experience than Starr Blu. I'd certainly say it leans sweet for a vodka, but I'm okay with that.

The world of budget vodka has always been a perplexing area for me. There are so many options, and a lot of them are terrible. My usual go-to brands are Stoli and Reyka, but sometimes a decent quality mixer or sipper is needed on a budget. This one, from the same creators as Buffalo Trace, fits the bill. It has a light sweetness alongside the ethanol kick. It's significantly better than any $10 vodka I've tried. It's also excellent for infusion experiments. I'm giving it 3.5 stars, plus an additional half star for its outstanding value. I do wish they'd stop using plastic, though...

This seems less smooth this time around. It's still quite sweet, but has a slightly herbal and odd quality. I don't believe this warrants a 15 anymore. It isn't incredibly smooth and tastes a bit off, so I'm lowering it significantly. It tastes like it's attempting to develop a real rye and corn flavor, but it lacks the genuine graininess found in Kirkland French vodka.

Clear Platinum 7X presents thin, consistent legs of alcohol. It has a subtle aroma of grainy alcohol with a touch of pepper, and a corn sweetness. The taste mirrors the smell, though the mouthfeel is somewhat thin. Platinum 7X concludes with a clean and mellow finish.

It's not bad. Considering its low price, I'm somewhat impressed. Learning it's from Buffalo Trace makes sense; I really enjoy their Wheatley vodka.

Excellent value for a mixer that spares you from an excessive hangover. Even if you begin your evening with Stoli, this serves as a suitable, cost-effective conclusion.