Vitali Vodka

Vitali Vodka, bottled by the Founders Company (Sazerac) in Louisville, Kentucky. It's labeled "Vodka with natural flavor." Interestingly, it doesn't state it's four times distilled, just shows "4x" on the front. It no longer mentions charcoal filtering on the bottle, and I assume it's distilled from grains. As a shot, it's smooth and goes down okay; the only minor taste you get is grains. On the rocks, it's actually sippable/pretty smooth, revealing a very small amount of sweetness. It mixes fairly well with several things I tried but doesn't add much to the cocktail (peach tea, lime + club soda, lemon sparkling water). It doesn't mix as well with sweeter items and adds a minor off-flavor. I paid $5.54 plus tax for a 750ml bottle, which is the cheapest I've ever spent on vodka. Thankfully, it was in glass, interestingly at the same price as the plastic bottle of the same size; I don't know who would prefer plastic over glass in a supermarket. Overall, I give it a B-. Considering the price, it's very worthwhile in my humble opinion, and there are vodkas that cost more and are less enjoyable.

I typically drink whiskey, but based on desperation and general knowledge of distillation, I'd say I've had poor quality spirits. However, this one is acceptable in terms of flavor. It's clear, clean tasting, smooth, and Sazerac has produced some decent distilling products, particularly their bourbon. So, not being an expert, I'd consider it passable. What could go wrong with a distilled beverage?

It makes you drunk.