Veil Vodka

The aroma is nonexistent, unlike another brand's wheat product. The taste is very light with a hint of sugar water sweetness, similar to a cheap, young whiskey, but not necessarily in a bad way. There's a bit of bitter alcohol too, with an isopropyl quality, but it's not too bad. It doesn't have much burn either. It lacks the rich flavor of the countryside, with its grain and chocolate notes that the other brand offers, though it also has less alcohol flavor. It also lacks that pleasant citrus zest that keeps the other brand refreshing. That other brand is much more luscious and intense, tasting somewhat like scotch compared to this one's Irish whiskey character. This one isn't very interesting, and its finish has an unappealing, hard-to-pinpoint characteristic, but it's still a surprisingly solid drink. It would be great for mixing and could also be sipped. The more I compare the two, the more I appreciate the other brand over this. It isn't really special, but it's not bad. There might be a hint of corn flavor. This has a few interesting notes initially, but it finishes with a fair amount of alcohol. Definitely not as good as the other brand's wheat product or another brand. Upon closer tasting, that alcohol flavor is present throughout. This isn't difficult to drink, but I wouldn't choose it for sipping neat. It's passable, though. I might lower my rating by one point or keep it as is. Perhaps some of that alcohol flavor is actually grain, like in an Irish whiskey, but it isn't enjoyable. The other brand's wheat product has a much cleaner flavor with significantly more pleasant sweetness. The other brand is quite neutral in comparison. This is a decently smooth and neutral vodka. There's a hint of sweetness, but it also has a lot of alcohol flavor. It's less interesting than another brand's vodka, but the profile is less challenging and it's less harsh. It isn't even truly smooth. It's not bad, but not something to drink on its own. I'm going to lower my rating further.

The nose offers little. A combination of ethanol and minerals is present, which is neither appealing nor off-putting. Faint traces of corn linger in the background. Veil Vodka's label simply states "American Grain," which could imply corn. In terms of taste, it doesn't come across as particularly strong. It has a very artificial sweetness on the mid-palate, suggesting added sugar. The finish is rather bitter, but not unpleasantly so, though it does indicate the vodka's quality. For the price, it's acceptable. It works well for shots, and the bitterness will be masked by mixers. It's just not remarkable.

A clean, grain-based vodka from the United States; processed five times and filtered through charcoal for a pure, smooth finish. December 2015 / July 2017 / March 2018