Svedka Vodka (Sweden)

Going through a bunch of my 50ml sample bottles, I found this imported vodka, which is definitely one of the least offensive starting points based on what else I found. I've never been a fan of vodka, mostly because a grain neutral spirit that's 100% a single grain just isn't enough to give a desirable flavor on it's own, so I've associated drinking vodka with the desire just to be drunk without flavor, and very few distilleries have been able to break that mindset otherwise with their vodka. Considering this is the imported Swedish version, the winter wheat may help to provide a noticeably softer body, but I can't imagine it will be too much flavor overall. The nose is indeed very neutral, with just a whisper of red fruit, and a fairly heavy ethanol presence. I just cleaned the toilets about an hour ago, and even though I aired the house out, this vodka has that same aggressive nose burn and cleaning tinge that the bleach did, as vodkas unfortunately often do. The flavor begins soft and hot at the same time, letting the low proof move the flavors around, which end up being slightly oily baking spice, with a focus on spicy cinnamon. The finish is just a bit dry, and does have a faint fruitiness, but overall the spice still prevails. Strangely, repeated sips refine the finish into a dry maltiness instead of the expected softer, fruity, nutty winter wheat. In the end, this is as neutral a vodka as most others on the market, and has nothing outstanding nor unique to bother reaching for it if cheaper options are available. Having said that, the flavor was much spicier and aggressive than expected, so it does make me wonder how this plays along with the flavored variants, and at what proof they choose to bottle those.

On the better end of the cheap vodkas. I prefer it to Absolut, Skyy, or Smirnoff. Still not going to drink it straight very often, but nice to have with bloody mary’s, salty dogs, Moscow mules, or White Russians. Burn is not overwhelming, and does have a touch of oily flavor to it.

Nothing too special but nothing too off-putting either. Of course it’s hot but that’s to be expected for even the best vodkas. Just fairly smooth and neutral. I’m guessing this would do so much better in a blind tasting.

My mother-in-law takes this out of the freezer and sips it. I'm not sure she has many tastebuds left from doing this for so long. This stuff is bitter and burns like raw alcohol.

Clear, scent of lemon, taste is peppery and filled with spices with hint of lemon. Would pair well with lemon or orange.

A clean, gluten-free, Vodka from Sweden crafted with winter wheat & distilled 5 times for a crisp finish. January 2023