CÎROC Vodka

Nose - sweet grain, grape skin, lemon lime soda, grapefruit zest, floral tea, black pepper, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - lemon lime soda, sweet grain, grape, mint, black pepper, ginger, powdered sugar, orange blossom, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium short with sugary grape, sweet grain, and citrus zest flavors. This has the most interesting nose of any vodka I’ve tried. It’s more like a toned down modern gin than a vodka, which is good thing in my book. It has a noticeable Sprite vibe mingled with some sweet graininess and minty, peppery notes in the background. The same qualities transfer to the palate, with a strong gin-like presence on the arrival. Grape is also apparent, reminding me a bit of the Remy V eau-de-vie I tasted a while ago, but much less full-bodied. Overall, this is some tasty vodka. It’s actually more akin to a mediocre gin. Based on my initial impression, I think this tops my current leader, Ketel One, in sippability. One caveat is that this really isn’t a neutral vodka. I wonder whether it would mix well in the standard vodka cocktails, as it will certainly impart some flavors of its own. All things considered, we have a new front runner in this series. For me, it’s on par with Jim Beam Original, and I can see myself reaching for this if I had to choose between the two.

#4 in the vodka lineup. Not much nose, but you can definitely tell this came from grapes. The unusual aroma is almost gin-like, with a peppery juniper nature. One sip confirms it: this vodka tastes like gin. Sweet, lemon-lime, practically a citrus soda, with some sweet herbal botanicals and ever-so-slight licorice. This is definitely a high-end martini vodka, particularly for those who feel as though "vodka vs. gin" is a forced binary. However, the unique fruity character sacrifices a lot of its potential versatility, which is an unfortunate thing for what should be a primarily neutral spirit. It is also $30, a ridiculous price for any vodka to have. Character: Gin Smoothness: 3.25, Overall: 3.25

Ciroc hails from France and utilizes grapes for their vodka base. It used to be expensive compared to most, but the price has gone down a bit and while it may not be my favorite vodka, it is a quality product. As with most vodkas, I don't get a ton on the nose, a bit of lemongrass, but just a hint. The palate hits you with the ethanol, but there is a bit of the grape base in there. The finish has little burn, very smooth and with a bit of pepper. Overall, it is one of the better vodkas that I have tried, however, the price, while cheaper than before, is still a bit high. There are better values to be had out there (Absolut for example).

Extremely overpriced for the quality. Not a bad vodka by any means, but cost vs. quality it really loses to pretty much any other vodka at that price. It is smooth, but it has a mild aftertaste. The distilled from grapes is gimmicky, and really adds nothing to the experience. There is no reason to ever get this over a Stoli Elit or Imperia at that price range. It’s worth a try and that’s about it.

Sweet, grape-like notes on the palate, which makes sense as this is made from grapes. Starts out harsh, but mellows once you let it breathe 10 minutes. Still, the alcohol flavor is strong and clashes with the sweetness. The sweet notes linger pleasantly on the finish, but it’s not enough to redeem the harshness on the palate. Far from the worst, but I’m definitely not a fan.

This is quality vodka. There’s pepper on the front end but not too hot. It’s light and has a nice texture. Not too intense. But wait... there’s a surprise. A nice sweet grape taste sensation about a minute later just sitting on your tongue and the back of your throat. Very cool. It’s probably the best finish of any vodka I’ve tasted. A+