Beluga Noble Russian Vodka

Rating: 14/23 Something that's funny is that I don't remember why I bought this vodka. I really have no definitive recollection of it being considered to be good and I didn't know that the fish on the front of the bottle is 3D and made of metal. So the bottle looks freaking awesome, but this is vodka, so who knows what they're trying to pull with the liquid inside. N: It's vodka; it smells like nothing. There's a faint hint of grain, with that signature citrus like in a single grain whiskey. P: This really knocks my socks off. Immediately, I love this vodka. It's super smooth and very much in the neutral camp with a light sweetness that brings in the tender grain. There's just a tad of harshness, which I can forgive (it's barely perceptible) and maybe a faint hint of earth and pepper if you really look. There's a tad of alcohol, but you really need to be looking for it. A light pop of fruit and tartness do come out. I don't believe that all vodka needs to be neutral, but this is a neutral vodka that really shows how great a neutral vodka can be. It's a really nice sipper, aside from that little bit of harshness. There's no rubber or any other off flavor here. Just pure grain alcohol. F: The light sweetness, tartness, and alcohol remain the longest. It is sadly harsher than Ocean Organic Vodka, so even though I slightly prefer the profile of this, it is a bit harder to sip. This is still a great vodka, but it isn't at the level of something like Ocean or Chopin Wheat, unfortunately. Still, it immediately makes it into my top 3. Because of the harshness, I can't give it a 16, but I think it does earn a 15. I'd be happy sipping it. It's so disappointing that it's harsh on the finish though because it's so delightfully smooth up front. Chopin Wheat costs a little less than this and is just generally a bit better. If you need something truly neutral, this would be a solid choice, but Chopin Wheat is less harsh and has a good flavor to it. Ocean is a hair more expensive, so I can kind of understand picking this over it in certain circumstances. I don't regret buying this by any means, but when my Chopin Wheat runs out, I'll be buying a new bottle of it rather than just subbing this in. It's such a shame because aside from the harshness this is just as good as Chopin, albeit different in nature. I like the flavor (or perhaps lack thereof) here so much that I want to give it a higher rating than 15, but frankly given the harshness even a 15 feels a tad generous. Flavor-wise, it's about on par with Ocean, but the harshness here is much more substantial. I think I'm going to land on a 14 for this initial tasting.

Nose - bright grain, bitter herbal notes, black pepper, lemon pith, earthy vanilla, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - soft grain, black pepper, lemon zest, dry herbal and floral notes, creamy vanilla, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium short and silky with sweet green, creamy vanilla, and black pepper flavors. After reading some very positive reviews, I’m immediately disappointed with the nose. I was unpleasantly surprised by the level of astringent grain aroma that is present. Of the vodkas that have been part of this series, it’s close to the top of the ethanol burn index. It’s not robust and chalky like I found Stoli and Russian Standard to be. It’s just mediocre and hot. The palate is a completely different story, though. The harsh grain on the nose is now extremely soft. The mouthfeel is oily and velvety smooth. The dominant flavors are the standard black pepper and citrus, but there’s a vanilla note that comes across as pleasantly creamier than on other vodkas. It’s definitely in the upper echelon of vodka palates I’ve experienced. Overall I’m split here, but I think the quality of the palate overcomes the disappointment of the nose. Beluga is not quite playing the same game as other vodkas. It’s considered unflavored, but there are additives thrown in the mix. I can’t taste them specifically, but I’m sure the extra engineering is responsible for the superior palate and texture. Regardless, I don’t take this into account with my assessments. I judge only on how much I like the end result. And I like this. It’s right up there with Stoli and Ketel One. I’d need to taste them side by side to give one the edge over the others. However, this is almost double the price of Stoli near me, so it’s probably not the one I’d reach for first. And for all these reasons, it’s about on par with Jim Beam Original for me.

A crisp, special occasion vodka from Siberia, Russia; which undergoes quartz sand filtration crafted from grain & rested at every step of the process leading to a smooth finish. December 2015 / 2016 / July 2017

I've never been much of a vodka fan, I usually stick to bourbon, scotch, some other kind of whiskey or beer. However this was hands down the smoothest vodka I've ever tried 10/10 would recommend.

Very smooth when drinking cold. No hangover and true to Russian vodka flavor. No after taste. Pair with salted meats, fish or board of charcuterie.

Not sure why this has such low reviews. I find this to be quite a nice sipping vodka. Pairs exceptionally well with caviar.