Veil Botanic Collection Grapefruit and Rose

Veil Vodka, a Total Wine brand, is mostly known for its questionable flavored releases. Though seemingly popular with the general public, they often come across as intensely syrupy and artificial. This made me surprised they'd attempt to replicate Ketel One's Botanical series. My curiosity led me to try it alongside the spirit it mimics, and it was clear Ketel One's version is superior, possessing greater complexity, subtle nuances, and overall craftsmanship. However, I will focus on this spirit's own qualities, minimizing comparisons to its inspiration. The aroma presents an aggressive, potent grapefruit scent that's almost overwhelming. Imagine a subpar grapefruit concentrate, and you've captured about 85% of the smell. To its credit, there's a hint of rose floral notes, but it feels disconnected from the dominant citrus. Upon tasting, it felt like I'd had grapefruit juice at a diner rather than a sip of vodka. It's not terrible on its own, but compared to its counterpart, it clearly lacks character or subtlety. You sought grapefruit; you received grapefruit. Straightforward. The worst part of this vodka is the mid-palate, marred by Veil Vodka's ethanol burn. On the unflavored version, this burn is somewhat acceptable as it complements the underlying minerality, but here it seems like an unresolved flaw that stands in stark contrast to the sweet fruit preceding it. Interestingly, the back palate and finish are quite good, offering a strong burst of rose petals. While perhaps a bit intense, it effectively demonstrates the subtle complexity rose can provide. It's unfortunate that only this flavor exhibits such character; with this level of quality throughout, it could be a genuine contender. I'd struggle to drink this neat due to that harsh ethanol burn, but it would work well as a mixer, and for its price, it's not bad at all. It's certainly Veil Vodka's best flavored offering yet, proving the brand can produce decent products when it chooses to.

This American grain vodka presents a vibrant grapefruit and rose infusion, offering a medium-length tart conclusion. It was distilled five times and charcoal filtered in March/August of 2020.