Two Founders 80 Acres Vodka

Rating: 10/23 Aroma: I detect alcohol on the nose, as expected. There's a faint grain note, but otherwise, it smells like a mild chemical. It's not the worst chemical scent, but it's not appealing. The aroma is more subdued than Kirkland's French vodka or Beluga Noble. Palate: Somewhat bitter, but not aggressively so (though I would use the word chemical to describe this palate). It's also quite watery. There's something I'd describe as artificial grain. I haven't encountered this specific flavor before. It's disappointing, but not awful. The primary issue is the harshness. It's noticeably harsher than Beluga Noble and quickly becomes quite burning. It's not as harsh as Everclear 190, but its flavor is only marginally better. Finish: Not a bad finish. The harshness persists, unfortunately, as anticipated. A gentle, mellow bitterness with a faint chemical presence mixes with some indistinct sweetness. As a bland, rather harsh vodka, this succeeds. It has less character than Kirkland's French vodka, but I can see how that specific profile might be off-putting to some. I'm neutral on the profiles of the two, but this one is definitely harsher. Personally, I also prefer the Kirkland flavor because the chemical notes are less prominent. Despite their relatively light presence, they still form the main flavor here. I'd rate this highly if it weren't so harsh. As it stands, I think a rating of 11 is the most I could consider, but it's likely at least an 8. I gave Everclear 190 a 9 instead of something closer to a 7 because its high proof offered potential for mixing with juice without dilution. This is superior in terms of harshness and flavor, but it is considerably more watery. As a neat drink, its quality is closer to Kirkland French vodka than to diluted Everclear due to the harshness. Considering this, a rating between 9 and 11 seems reasonable, with 9 becoming increasingly questionable. I'm on the fence between 10 and 11, but I'm leaning towards 10 because the harshness is a bit too much, and the palate is neither interesting nor palatable.

This vodka, which appears to be exclusively available at Total Wine stores, proudly advertises its corn base with two corn cobs depicted on the bottle. For those familiar with corn vodkas, they typically offer significant sweetness followed by a bitter finish, and this vodka is no exception. The aroma is very plain and even neutral for a vodka. It carries the standard alcohol scent but has a subtle chemical veneer. Strangely, it's not unpleasant, but it is noticeable. Another aroma present is that of creamed corn. These scents are equally balanced but quite faint. The taste mirrors the aroma. Creamed corn greets the front of the palate and persists through the mid-palate, imparting an almost creamy sweetness to the vodka. However, from the mid-palate onwards, a faint chemical taste emerges. It's difficult to explain why it doesn't feel as off-putting as it sounds; it's certainly not pleasant, but it didn't detract from the overall experience. The finish delivers the expected bitterness characteristic of corn vodkas, blended with the faint chemical sensation from the mid-palate. It lingers for about 40 seconds before fading, but it's not entirely negative. As the subtle chemical note subsides, a pleasant sweet corn flavor begins to surface, making the finish feel adequate, if not remarkable. It also has a medium, fairly harsh burn, positioning it among the less smooth options in its price range. In terms of texture, this spirit is akin to water. In fact, from its nearly neutral aromas and water-like consistency to its bitter finish, it strongly resembles a less refined imitation of Smirnoff. Like Smirnoff, it's one of the most neutral vodkas available, and it's also more affordable. If you can tolerate slightly more harshness and prefer neutral vodkas, this could be a reasonable budget choice.

A smooth vodka from Iowa, crafted from the richest, sweetest corn and distilled five times for a clean finish. (February 2018 / 2019)