Smirnoff Blue 100 Proof

I don't typically favor vodka. It's not that I dislike it, but rather that I haven't found it particularly engaging. That changed when I created a Cajun Martini. I've consumed more vodka in the past month experimenting with this cocktail than in the entire year prior. This inspired me to examine vodka more closely. First, let's define a Cajun Martini. The full details can be found here: [link removed]. In brief, to make a 750ml batch: combine 450ml of vodka in a container with a large, ripe, fresh jalapeño pepper, washed and cut lengthwise once. Allow the pepper to infuse the vodka for about 6 to 8 hours. Remove the pepper and bottle the infused vodka. Add 175ml of Martini & Rossi dry vermouth (this vermouth has a subtle oregano note that some find less appealing in a Martini, but it works perfectly here, in my opinion). Add 100 to 125ml of distilled water to the batch and store it in the freezer. Serve in a chilled glass garnished with a spicy pickle. I've prepared this drink using Smirnoff Blue, Sobieski, and Luksusowa. To better understand each vodka's profile, I also tasted them neat and chilled. Here are my thoughts on the Smirnoff. On the nose, this vodka offered ethanol and little else. There was a prominent alcohol scent, with perhaps a very faint hint of black pepper and lemon peel, but these required effort to detect and vanished in the chilled sample. On the palate, this vodka was somewhat sharp, with notes of black pepper and mild citrus. I observed a rich mouthfeel and considered it quite neutral compared to the other vodkas in our comparison. My wife preferred the Smirnoff when tasted neat, with the Luksusowa second. I had the opposite preference, choosing Luksusowa first and this vodka second. However, when it comes to the Cajun Martini, the results were surprising, as we both favored the Sobieski best! More on that in its upcoming review. I recommend this vodka as a reliable, somewhat unremarkable, and generally average example of its category. I'm particularly keen on using it for infusions, as its higher alcohol content may aid in extracting maximum flavor, and I believe it might hold up better in complex mixed drinks. Ultimately, this hasn't led to a newfound passion for vodka, but the bright freshness and mild heat of the Cajun Martini will keep me entertained poolside for the foreseeable future.

Smirnoff Blue 100 proof proudly boasts its "ten times filtered" status. That was precisely what I sought: a high-proof, very neutral spirit. I purchased a 375ml flask for $10 to create a Cranberry Liqueur. The results will be known in 3 weeks. I snuck a taste of Ol' No.57, neat. First, it's vodka, a category of neutral spirits ranging from flavorless ethanol to mildly flavored ethanol. So, manage your expectations for this lower-shelf staple. It has a nose of citrus, light caraway, and ethanol, appearing quite viscous in the glass. The taste includes ethanol, caraway, grassy rye, and citrus with an oily mouthfeel. The flavors are light (as anticipated) but not as harsh as some reviews suggested. The flavor lingers and then... vanishes. I've had less enjoyable experiences, and I've had more enjoyable ones, which might sound like boasting for a vodka. Just kidding, relax. It's unobjectionable, which was my objective. At least with 100 proof, you won't need to consume as much.

The aroma blends the smells of alcohol, citrus, and sandalwood. The initial sensation on the tongue is a mix of bittersweet beet characteristics. As it persists, the aftertaste presents a combination of sandalwood and tart citrus.

Wow. It's like consuming pure heat. While not the absolute worst vodka I've encountered, it's very close. It genuinely smells and tastes like ethanol.

A Bloody Mary