Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit & Rose

Without a doubt Ketel One have crafted something extremely special here. From the nose alone you get an elegant, sophisticated aroma of grapefruit. It's strong without being overpowering or overly assertive, almost as if some grapefruits had been freshly squeezed and you were standing next to their husks. There's a nice floral hue to the fragrance as well that is in perfect balance with the more fruity aromas. If I didn't know any better I would imagine I was smelling a fine grapefruit extract or perfume rather than a flavored vodka. Amazingly the taste is even better than the nose. It begins with a nice grapefruit zest that gradually expands to the full bittersweet goodness of a fresh grapefruit. I legitimately felt as if I had just chewed into a juicy fresh fruit. The back palate is where the rose flavors come into full bloom complementing the rising fruity sweetness perfectly with just a trace of floral bitterness. Meanwhile the finish is like a careful, bittersweet dance between the complexity of the grapefruit and rose. If anything I felt like I had just drank a two-ingredient gin rather than a flavored vodka with the botanicals each serving a clear sense of purpose. Texture wise there is a distinct oiliness to the proceedings that won't be unfamiliar to those acquainted with extracting the oils from citrus peels. This feels like an all-natural, carefully crafted affair and it is one of the most stunning products on the market. Highly recommended.

Looking for something different; a brief deviation from whisky for the beach house vacation, I had previously tasted this and the Cucumber and Mint vodkas. I grabbed both, again, for said beach house, Fire Island vacation. The nose in intensely pink grapefruit with coy rose petals aromas. The rose notes are more easily detectable on the palate though the grapefruit takes the spotlight. It’s slightly citric and bitter, as expected. All that being said, I mainly brought this and the Cucumber to the beach (of course with some scotch) for several reasons: The alcohol level is a mere 30% and the flavor profile is ideal for summer drinking. It is light, clean and crisp. Not the saccharine, sticky flavored vodkas that seem to be a dime a dozen. For this Grapefruit and Rose vodka, I found that this makes a perfect addition to margaritas. The citric and sour flavors of a margarita were quelled with a splash of this vodka. Much we were amazed and all week we sipped upon margaritas with Grapefruit and Rose under the warming beach sun. Simple and straightforward. Well done Ketel One.

This vodka tastes like soap. We live in a house of gutter-punks who literally eat food out of the dumpster. We have a liquor cabinet that is a best-of mixed tape of the Bottom Shelf. And none of us can finish this vodka. For months it has sat on this shelf. Not even GG Allin could drink this vodka.

Just buy a bottle. It is a game changer in the world of flavored vodka. Honest, clean, refreshing. Perfect cold and over ice. A flavor powerhouse without the artificial syrup of other flavored vodkas.

A crisp, flavored Vodka from the Netherlands made from wheat, distilled 3x in copper pots & then infused with Grapefruit & Rose for a tart finish of medium length. March / August 2020

This is bright and bursting with grapefruit with just a touch of rose detected. It is great for a light summer sipper on the rocks if you are opting for a non-GMO botanical vodka.