Belvedere Vodka

It's sweet like Chopin Wheat, but it's less rich and earthy and spicy. This is a bit more vegetal and herbal with a lighter flavor profile. Eventually, some more spice comes out this has a spicy, earthy finish, though one that doesn't have the alcohol bitterness of Chopin Wheat. This is some great vodka. There's a bit of fruitiness with some light tropical notes like banana. The alcohol flavor really doesn't stand out. It's a good vodka. It's less viscous than Chopin Wheat, but also has less of that alcohol presence. I have trouble choosing between these two. This definitely doesn't have that wheat characteristic to it, so I suspect it's made of something else. The nose is pretty much non-existent, though there might be a tad of grain. Back to the palate. It's just as viscous as Chopin Wheat, but with less alcohol flavor and a hint of banana sweetness. It has less richness, but between the two, I think I prefer this. Like, 1 point better; 2 tops. This is certainly more herbal and vegetal than Chopin Wheat is. I'm now questioning whether that's an improvement. It has a bit more of that tequila dirt flavor and maybe even a hi t of that agave nectar. There's definitely that rye minerality and earthiness, but there's less alcohol (though there is some) and sharpness than expected. This richness of Chopin Wheat is a bit of an improvement perhaps. Both are really solid choices though. This has more earthy and vegetal flavor that Chopin Wheat does, making it taste more natural. This is a great vodka, though it still doesn't stand out as an excellent spirit. It's less spicy than I expected of a rye vodka (though there is some spice) and it's more grainy with terroir. It gives a bit of a young rye hint, but it's actually still fairly neutral. This is an interesting and very good vodka. A hint of cinnamon lingers on the finish. I might get that hint of lemon zest that Distiller mentions, but it's subtle. This is definitely not complex than Chopin Wheat and I think I like it more with its diminished sickly sweetness. This is definitely a 16 and might even be a 17.

Nose - spicy grain, black pepper, rye spice, vanilla, dry herbal notes, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - sour grain, sweet floral notes, lemon zest, dry herbal notes, black pepper, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium short with sour grain, black pepper, and dry herbal flavors. The rye base definitely shows here. The grain aromas are more prickly and the black pepper and rye spice notes are dominant. It’s a reasonably solid nose. However, the palate is not quite as good. While there are some nice floral and citrus flavors, the arrival is rather sour and a bit unpleasant. Overall, this is better than many vodkas I’ve tried, but not good enough to notch it above the pack. And at $25, it’s priced higher than some much better options. I’ll take Jim Beam Original over this all day.

Rating: 15/23 This is on the earthy side with some light floral notes, some light prickly spice, and a light amount of alcohol with some nice sweetness. There is something a bit bitter, but it isn't too bad. Overall, a good vodka that is far from amazing me. It isn't quite the same profile as Kirkland's French vodka, but it's of similar quality. Either is fine, but I wouldn't take them of Chopin Wheat or Ocean. I have to go with 14 or 15 - certainly not more.

Belverdere is now organic and better.The aroma is reminiscent of crisp sourdough bread, accompanied by delightful notes of citrus and vanilla. Upon the entry, the experience is smooth, with flavors that evoke almond milk and dark rye bread. As the journey unfolds, the long finish reveals a delightful interplay of citrus and a subtle hint of white pepper.

Nose is quite neutral, with some faint accents of toasted grain, wet charcoal, and bean sprouts. Oily mouthfeel. Palate is, again, largely clean and neutral, but also shows peppery rye spice, lemon zest, and wet concrete, plus some subtle almond. Finishes quite long for a vodka, and very smooth. 3.50/5.00 – Impressive (neat)

Appearance: clear Scent: spicy, grainy Flavor: spicy, grainy, hint of citrus This is my first vodka to try by itself, and so I don’t have much to measure against, but I will say that having had vodka in cocktails, this was one of the more drinkable, least jarring vodkas I’ve experienced. Very decent: 3.5 stars!