Pash-ion for Vodka #16 - Absolut San Francisco/Grapevine

In 2011, the Absolut City Flavours range moved from Brooklyn, on America’s East Coast, to “the City by the Bay” on the Pacific Coast, San Francisco. The flavours of choice in this version were grape, dragon fruit and papaya. The flavours were chosen to reflect Northern California’s Wine Country and the city’s Asian and Latin cultures. Towards the end of the year of its release, it was re-branded as Absolut Grapevine.

The Taste

1) Room temperature 
Nose: Fruity, with some bitter tannin-like notes and hints of berries and grapes. Taste: Quite smooth, but also quite sweet, the main flavour was a slightly artificial one of grapes; there was nothing fresh about it, which is a shame and results in the vodka tasting a bit cheap.

2) From the freezer
Ice-cold, this had a fresh, fruity, luscious nose, with lots of grape and papaya (a good start, there). Despite the promising nose, the taste was a bit of a let-down, with the white grape dominating and the papaya ending up being rather obscured. Like the spirit at room temperature, this was also quite artificial and a bit rough at the end; again, quite a disappointment.

3) Martini
Dry and bitter, with a dash of richer fruitiness, this was quite good and easily my favourite way to the drink this vodka; I’d definitely order it again.

4) Vodka Tonic
Not bad. Although a touch on the bitter side, with hints of tannins from the grapes, this also had a sweet fruitiness to it. Inoffensive.

Absolut San Francisco (same as Grapevine) is available for around £42 for 75cl from The Whisky Exchange.

Pash-ion for Vodka #15 - Absolut Boston/Wild Tea

I occasionally think about how nice it would be to be a fly on the wall when Absolut work out what flavours they are going to assign to a particular city special edition. Even better, how great would it be to have a say? Then I could right the wrong of Absolut London being regular Absolut in a fancy bottle. Personally, I’d have liked to have seen a juniper and tea vodka—blurring the line between vodka and gin!

Anyway, today’s featured Absolut vodka does contain tea: Absolut Boston (I’d like to think that this is a reference to the Boston Tea Party) is a mix of black tea and elderflower and was released in 2009. This was re-branded as Absolut Wild Tea in 2010.

The Taste

1) Room temperature
Taste: The taste is reflected by the nose and the vodka is both dry and sweet; very good.

2) From the freezer
The nose was very dry—so dry that it almost sucks you in—with notes of tea leaves and elderflower. The taste was very unusual: the tea really came through, but wasn’t too bitter; there were also some jammy, floral notes and a hint of smoke. Smooth and scrumptious.

Again, the tea really came through well, as does a touch of smoked cheese and dry tobacco. This was definitely a smoky Martini, although there was also a touch of sweetness from the elderflower. Overall, rather lovely.

4) Tonic
Very odd. This simply didn’t work; tannins and tonic are not good partners and so I would say that, with its strong tea notes, this is not the best way to drink this vodka.


Absolut Wild Tea is available for around £20 for 70cl from The Vodka Emporium

Pash-ion for Vodka #14 - Absolut Los Angeles/Berri Açaí

Last week, I wrote about the first vodka in the Absolut City range and its replacement, Absolut Mango. In 2008, a Los Angeles themed vodka was released (flavoured with  Acai, acerola, pomegranate, and blueberry flavour ) and in 2010, once its time as a limited edition was up, it was released as a permanent variety under the name Berri Açaí .

The Taste

1) Room temperature
Nose: Intense red and black berry notes.
Taste: Some floral elements like rose, as well as blueberry. There was a burst of flavour that quickly drops off, leaving a hollow void, which is a bit sad.


2) From the freezer
Quite a fresh blueberry nose to start, which reminded me of blueberry muffins. More blueberry appeared on the taste, accompanied by some sweetness, but, by the finish, this had become quite bitter. I don’t get much of the pomegranate coming through and, after a while, the vodka seemed artificial and a bit too rough.


3) Martini
Very crisp, with some bitterness to it. The blueberry comes through, along with some anise, making this OK, but not great.


4) Vodka Tonic
Lovely; easily the best drink of the lot. Juicy berry flavours dominate the start of the taste, before fading into vanilla on the finish. Fresh and fruity, this wasn’t a usual Vodka Tonic, but a lovely one all the same.

Absolut Los Angeles became Absolut Berri Açaí 

Absolut Berry Acai is available for around £20 for 70cl from TheDrinkShop.com

Pash-ion for Vodka #13 - Absolut Mango

In August 2007, Absolut Vodka released the first in their series of city-themed vodkas*, which was inspired by New Orleans and flavoured with mango and black pepper. I actually have a bottle of this, but have never found a significantly special occasion upon which to open it and the more time that went by, the harder it was to drink, for fear that I’d be consuming some valuable antique!

Perhaps a good compromise will be to try some Absolut Mango. This is a mango flavoured vodka (no black pepper) that was also released in 2007.

The Taste

1) Room temperature
Nose: Quite strong a strong nose of fresh, fruity mango.
Taste: Smooth and quite sweet, this had substantial notes of mango and vanilla, with some bitterness at the end. Overall, I thought it was quite reasonable, but there was some burn at the end that detracted from it slightly.

2) From the freezer
The mango flavour became much fresher at a low temperature, tasting more like mango juice or puree. As at room temperature, there was some sweetness, as well as a touch of bitterness towards the end. OK, but I think it could be improved if the flavour was more intense and longer-lasting.

3) Martini
This was a rather weird combination: the dry vermouth certainly wasn’t the best match for the juicy mango.

4) Tonic
This really makes a rich and juicy mango drink with crisp bitterness towards the end. Really good.

Absolut Mango is available for around £21 for 70cl from The DrinkShop

Pash-ion For Vodka #11 - Smirnoff No:24 Citrus Twist (Orange, Lime & Grapefruit)

I've previously written about Smirnoff's flavoured range, in particular the Black 'n' Blue Vodka. This is another variant based on recipe no. 24 and is flavoured with orange, lime and grapefruit (also known as Citrus Twist).

Own
Nose: Fresh, tart and zesty citrus peel, lemon, grapefruit and orange.
Taste: Smooth with some warmth at the end. Tangy, zesty grapefruit is quite prominent followed by some orange and, to a lesser extent, lime.

Frozen
Quite viscous—the vodka was close to freezing over. The Grapefruit zest completely dominates the flavour to the extent that it risks overpowering the vodka.

Martini
Clean crisp and smooth with very toned-down citrus (grapefruit then orange and lime). In a Martini, this by far the best citrus vodka I have tried.

When a vodka decides to make a flavoured version, lemon or citrus is often the first they turn too—with Absolut, Grey Goose, Belvedere and Ketel One all making a variety. I must say this is certainly one of the more interesting and more genuine (i.e. it does not taste so artificial) and thus is worth seeking out. On its own it may be a bit much but it will add a thing to a vodka cocktail.

For more Vodka Articles click here.

Pash-ion For Vodka #10 - Smirnoff No:16 Black 'N' Blue (Russian Berry Flavours)

I was recently rooting in the back of the vaults at the institute when I found a box labelled "Pimm's". In fact it contained a variety of unusual vodkas including this one by Smirnoff.

Smirnoff Black 'n' Blue dates from the early 2000s and was replaced in 2005 by Smirnoff Norsk (later relabelled North/Nordic Berries) this latter vodka is tinted blue and has a dry, less fruity profile compared to this variety.

Black 'N' Blue was part of a range of flavoured vodka which included Chilli, Mixed Citrus and Spiced Vanilla. The label describes it a recipe No:16 and is bottled at 37.5%ABV.

So what does it taste like?

Own

Berry nose, like chewy Ribena Multivitamins. A hint of marzipan too. Not too smooth in terms of taste with some unpleasant muskiness that I can't quite put my finger on.

Frozen (from the freezer)

Berry (blackberry and raspberry) on the nose slightly reminiscent of cough sweets. strong and complex.

In terms of flavour berry and vanilla comes through but I think overall it is a bit harsh, even though it is ice cold. A bit of anise too but it could be fresher and it is a bit artificial. Average.

Martini

Very pleasant, flavours of berry and cream. Good flavour and a nice crispness. Quite smooth too.

Whilst I'd rather drink Smirnoff Black, blue or the old Penka as flavoured vodkas go, this better than average but it needs to be mixed.

For more Vodka Articles click here.

Pash-ion For Vodka #9 - Babicka Wormwood Vodka

I picked up my sample of Babička at a recent London Barshow—having tasted it at the stand I knew it was something I wanted to write about. Hartley and I tried a Wormwood distillate at the Sacred Distillery and were taken with how much of the flavour of absinthe the distillate had. So naturally a wormwood vodka is of similar interest.

Babička is from Czech Republica and takes its name from a 16th-century word from the country: these were old wise women or "grandmothers" known for their healing herbal remedies and use of witchcraft.

The vodka uses 100% Moravian corn as its base spirit

Own:
Nose: Herbal nose, with hints of fennel, star anise and wormwood. Some other woody elements and a little menthol
Taste: Very smooth, and then the flavour comes, herbally complex with a sweetness akin to a cough draught and a little aftertaste of rosehip sweets or Barratt's Fruit Salad chews. Very tasty.

Frozen:
Slightly syrupy and pleasantly viscous, nose subdued a little sage and a tiny berry note. The taste is subdued but the woody menthol notes are still there, with a green herb and red berry finish. A bit different but a definite quality to the flavour and to the product in general. My preference would be at room temperature.

Martini:
Rather nice, quite bitter and pleasantly crisp. Touch of Cinnamon Very smooth and completely unique. Superb.

Pash-ion for Vodka #7 - Absolut Watkins

I've always been intrigued by the various flavours available from Absolut and usually actively seek out a new flavour or variety. Originally the different tasting varieties were based on one flavour but over the last few years they have released a range of US City Inspired versions:

Absolut NEW ORLEANS (Mango and Black Pepper)

Absolut LOS ANGELES (Acai, Acerola, Pomegranate and Blueberry)

Absolut BOSTON (Black tea and Elderflower)

Absolut BROOKLYN (City limited edition; red apple and ginger)

Absolut SAN FRANCISCO (grape, dragon fruit, and papaya)

In a similar travel-related theme Absolut also recently released Absolut Watkins, a variety I have wanted to try for ages: I finally found a bottle yesterday.

Absolut Watkins was designed as treat for the weary traveller and as such is only available in the duty free market, described as a "traveller's exlcusive". This is a trick that is used by other types of spirit, most notably Scotch Whisky.

The bottle was designed by Swedish illustrator Liselotte Watkins* and is full of images of travel and transport. Bottled at 40% ABV, it is flavoured with spiced coffe, almond and a touch of chilli.

Own:
Nose: wheaty nose, a bit like sugar puffs, hints of coffee, vanilla and marzipan.
Taste: great mouthfeel, flavours of roasted coffe and french vanilla, reminscent of cappuccino. Hints of almond and marzipan and a little wamrth at the end. Medium finish and delicious.

Frozen:
A slight failure here as, even at 40% ABV, it froze. I had to wait a few minute for it to thaw. It wasn't really worth it, the vodka loses a lot of flavour and actually becomes a bit rough.

Martini:
The herbal notes of the vermouth don't really go with the vanilla and the coffee. For me, it doesn't really work.

Vodka Tonic:
Chocolate and coffee on the nose. A dry biscuity coffee element is brought out by the tonic water. It's quite pleasant but I like my tonics to be crisp and so a dash of citrus may improves things.

Absolut Watkins and Coke:
Very good, the coffee/vanilla/coke combination reminds me of Kahlua and Cola or my favourite Pepsi variant Pepsiccino (Cappuccino Flavoured Pepsi). When I used Pepsi Max the similarity was even more apparent. It's easy to see why this is the recommendation on the bottle and it's the best drink I've tried with the vodka.

Absolut Watkins & Milk:
Inspired by the White Russian but as the vodka is coffee flavoured I didn't add any Kahlua or similar liqueuer.
Rather thin and very bland. I think it would be much better with cream a perhaps a touch of crème de cacao.

* This makes me think that I'd quite like to see a Quentin Blake Gin.

Pash-ion for Vodka #6 - Putinka Kedrovaya

For the sixth installment of Pash-ion for Vodka we shall be, once again, looking at a product provided by our Man in Moscow, Mr. Pasha.


Putinka is distilled with juniper and cedar tree nuts and is produced by the state-owned Moscow Distillery Crystal company that was founded in 1901. During the Second World War the distillery made Molotov's Cocktails that were packaged in Vodka and Wine bottles for the war effort.


Since the reign of Vladmir Putin began the Crystal company have made the most of the similarity between the name of the vodka and that of the premier.* Putinka was named "Superbrand of 2004" and "National Product of the Year in 2006".

The Taste

Own

A slight graininess, less smooth than many vodka although there is a certain cleanliness in the warmth it has. It is only 40% but tastes stronger. It has quite a lot of flavour but is not for the faint-hearted. I get a little nuttiness and a touch of bitterness (could be from the Juniper?).

Frozen

Mellows slight but still quite fierce, still clean with a hint of grain and incredibly warming.

Martini

Very clean at the beginning with a distinctive hint of bitterness near the end followed by the vermouth. Still pleasantly clean but with a light sweet nuttiness on the finish. Pretty good and a little unusual.

* I'm not sure how well Brown's Brandy, Obama Ouzo or Cameron's Cream Liqueur would go down.

Pash-ion for Vodka #5 - Mayfair Vodka

On a recent trip to the Vanquish Office I got the chance to try some Mayfair Vodka and was lucky enough to be able to take some back to the Institute for a more vigorous testing. Mr Hartley and I find Mayfair's brand concept very interesting—rather than looking at one specific product their aim seems to be focusing on the Mayfair brand so that becomes trusted by their customers and becomes synonymous with a guaranteed level of quality.
They have a concise, yet informative, website, my favourite part being some helpful tips on how to be a gentleman. I'm particularly attracted to the idea that "Good flirting is a form of politeness".

In the current range are a vodka and a gin but a champagne is in the pipeline.

Mayfair vodka is bottled at 40% ABV, made from British grain and is distilled six times. A small portion of this distillate is then re-distilled in a pot still; according to Mayfair, this helps to soften the vodka.

But how does it taste?

Own (Room Temperature):
Minimal nose some alcohol, pleasant; tastes a little musky, a touch bready. Smooth but flavorful and a touch of floral/perfume at the end.

Own (Freezer)
Syrupy texture, the musky, bready elements are really accentuated and there is a little chalkiness too. Still quite smooth with warmth at the end.

Martini
Smooth and lightly perfumed. Again the slight breadiness comes out; slightly sweet but rather good.

A Pash-ion For Vodka #4 - Precious Vodka

Last Wednesday, Mr Hartley and I put down our test tubes, switched off the Van-de-Graaf and headed to the docklands on a field trip; our destination: Distil 2011. We tried a variety of interesting potions and draughts during our visit and we especially enjoyed a wine and chocolate tasting with Bava (the folks behind Cocchi Americano).

But one of the most eye-catching products that we tried would have to be Precious Vodka.

Precious Vodka is part of Jewel Lines Global and, although represented from Poland, it is actually made in Bulgaria, this is because the desired water source for the vodka was located here. Precious Vodka emphasise the importance of their water source for the quality of their vodka.

Precious Vodka is a grain-based vodka, distilled six times and charcoal filtered three times. What is immediately noticeable about the vodka is the rather unique bottle: it is shaped like a deep Brilliant-cut (Pre-Tolkowsky) Diamond and at the top is a small compartment which contains a gemstone. There five different types of gemstone available:

Sapphire

Emerald

Ruby

Topaz

Peridot

So after the background, let's look at the taste:

Neat (Room Temperature)
Quite alcoholic on the nose, the taste is much more impressive: sweet and smooth, with a touch of honey-like viscosity and maybe even a little bit of honeyed sweetness. Quite short on the finish, but when you can taste the vodka it provides a full sensation in terms of taste and texture.

Frozen
Very, very clean, with only the faintest hint of burn and very light, sweet grain at the end.

Martini (Shaken)
I like it; very clean and very crisp. Perfect when served with an olive or a twist of lemon. For me, the olive was my preference. A very classic vodka Martini.

A Pash-ion for Vodka #3 - Chase Marmalade Vodka

For the first Pash-ion for vodka, I looked at Chase Smoked Vodka, and today we'll look at Chase Marmalade Vodka. This was first released around the same time as the Smoked, but due to its great popularity it is to be re-released in some funky new packaging.

The vodka is bottled at 40%ABV and is made by marinading marmalade with their English Potato Vodka in the belly of their still; this is then boiled and infused in a Carter Headstyle still with fresh Seville Orange.

Own

Sweet citrus on the nose, like Triple Sec or country marmalade. Packed with flavour, there is a touch of vanilla that reminds me of ice-cream. This straw-yellow liquid has a slight warming effect and a moderate bitterness from the orange peel. It's rather complex and is dry rather than sweet. It has a certain smoothness, but has a touch more burn then some of their other products.

Frozen

A lovely texture, as the cold of the ice box has made the vodka a little more viscous, like a thin syrup. At this temperature some floral or perfume elements come to surface. The vodka is characterised by the preserve's sweetness and the bitterness of the peel (in the same way that marmalade is), but, when served at a low temperature, these two flavours seem to separate. This doesn't detract from the drinking experience, however, and this is still a well-rounded tipple.

Martini

6:1 Martini Extra Dry - Shaken

With a nose of freshly zested orange, the drink is smooth, yet crisp, and has an initial flavour of sweet citrus, a bit like Cointreau. It has just the right balance between sweet and bitter and has a long finish. Pleasant and delicious; if only you could spread it on toast!

In Conclusion

It was great to get a chance to try the new batch of Chase Marmalade Vodka and I wasn't disappointed. This is great to drink on its own or to experiment with in some summery cocktails. A Harvey Wallbanger variation: 2 parts Marmalade Vodka, 1 part Galliano, 3 parts Orange Juice and shaken would, perhaps, be a good starting point.

All in all, this is an enjoyable spirit to drink, but my heart, for now, remains with the luverly Chase Smoked Vodka.