Król Vodka

The nose is potent but uncomplex. It smells strongly of potatoes and almost reminds me of the scent of a freshly opened bag of Kettle Potato Chips in that it has this oily presence to it. There's also strong impressions of metal coins and a hint of spiciness lingers in the background that almost reminds me of rye. While there aren't ethanol fumes you can definitely tell this is an alcoholic drink. It's not unpleasant although not my favorite. This is a fairly potent vodka in that the flavors present are at the forefront and aren't afraid to make some noise. There's a strong starchy-grain presence that starts off the proceedings followed immediately by a sharp metallic twist. It's decently sweet for the front and mid palate but there's also an astringent, fairly bittersweet finish that reminds me of coal filtered products. Although this last part may sound very negative it actually isn't. If anything I'm neutral on it because if just meshes well with the metallic taste that preceded it and it doesn't actually taste foul. Bitterness can be a positive quality after all and here it isn't a detriment. Texture wise this is fairly oily. About as much as you'd expect from a potato vodka and the alcohol burn is kept to a minimum. It's present to be sure but it doesn't overwhelm the throat nor make you flinch. Overall I'd say this is a pretty decent vodka with some atypical tastes. The metallic qualities can actually benefit it when mixed with sparkling mineral water and certain tonics. It's not a vodka I'm crazy about but I wouldn't pass up a glass of it either.

This Polish-style potato vodka is actually produced in Ukraine. It is clear, with no aroma. The flavor is slightly sweet, with a pure alcohol under flavor. The body is medium and it finishes crisp, with no lingering aftertaste. RJT