When people describebourbon , they say Holy Writ like “ dear ” or “ vanilla extract ” or “ oak . ” enquire someone whatgintastes wish and they ’ll say you “ juniper ” or “ grassy ” or “ floral . ” Talktequilaand you ’ll hear descriptor like “ vegetative ” and “ earthy . ” But ask someone aboutvodkaand you ’ll get nothing — literally . Because that is what vodka is “ supposed ” to savor like . In fact , U.S. law dictates that vodka should be colourless , odorless and flavorless . But if you ’ve ever sipped vodka straight or drunk it top simply with soda H2O , then you hump : Vodka definitely has a flavor . It can be made from a lot of thingslike grains and fruits , and its mouthful typically reflects its foundation . To nail exactly how to describe that flavour , we asked a few of our best-loved barkeep and spirits experts . Here ’s what they had to say :
Vodka Tastes Like: Bread, Sweetness and a Certain Je ne Sai Quoi
Gary Regan , generator ofThe Joy of Mixologyand God Almighty of Regan’sOrange BittersNo . 6
For the legendary Regan , there are a few primal flavors that are distinctive of vodka . “ Describing the feeling of vodka is very elusive , ” he say . “ Sometimes you discover notation of bread or bread lettuce , and sometimes a soft sugariness issue forth through . ” But for Regan , the true sign of a proficient vodka is n’t the exact tasting notes but the whole software . “ In the case of thebest vodkas , it ’s quality you ’re looking for , and that ’s something that ’s unimaginable to trace in word — it must be experienced . ”
Vodka Tastes Like: A Lot of Things
Dale DeGroff , a.k.a . King Cocktail , source ofThe Craft of the Cocktail
“ The TTP says vodka must be tasteless , odorless , without any character . That ’s laughable , " sound out DeGroff . “ Start tasting one against the other and you see how different they are . Vodka can savour like lots and lots of thing . ” He points out that while most vodka are made from grains , others are made from constituent like grape or corn or even milk . “ And even though you distill to a in high spirits proof there are still things left in it , ” he says . He also notes that the piss used to contribute the vodka to test copy can make a difference in the flavor . “ Norse vodka likeFinlandiaorAbsoluthave green apple and mineral notes from the water up there . It ’s unbelievable water . They do n’t have to do turn back osmosis or all kinds of other thing to make it drinkable . ”
Vodka Tastes Like: Watered Down Nail Polish Remover
Chase Johnson , bar supervisor at theAce Hotel Pittsburgh , PA
Johnson is a bit more to the stage than some of the other barkeeper on this tilt . " Boyd & Blairvodka has vanilla notes to it , and I get some almond fromAbsolut Elyx , but to be honest , if I had to describe the flavor of vodka in general it would be watered down nail polish remover , ” he says .
Vodka Tastes Like: Creamy
Greg Seider , co - founder ofSummit BarandManhattan Cricket Club , New York , NY
For Seider , vodka does n’t have a flavor so much as it has a grain . “ A slap-up vodka is smooth with a creamy texture , ” he says . “ It has discreetness and a long finish . ” A bit like a great aria in an opera .
Vodka Tastes Like: Spice, Cream, Citrus and Pepper
Joaquín Simó , possessor ofPouring Ribbons , New York , NY
Like DeGroff , Simó also makes distinctions between vodka depending on the principal component from which they are made . “ straw - establish vodkas run to be smooth and creamy , while Secale cereale - found ones have a touch of spicery to them , ” he says . “ Potato - base vodkascan be a bit more oily in viscosity , while Indian corn vodkas have a rounded sweetness to them . Subtle government note of citrus peels , Theobroma cacao bill , and cracked peppercorns are also teased out — peculiarly in the aromas . ”
Vodka Tastes Like: Baked Bread, Grain, Spice
Simon Ford , co - laminitis ofThe 86 Co.
As someone who work on creating a vodka ( Aylesbury Duck , which he describes as “ risque and grainy ” ) , Ford is in particular raw to the sapidity within vodka . “ Vodka is the most pernicious of all the spirits so it takes a lot more searching to find the notes and characteristic that make them unique , ” he says . He also believes that vodka ’s flavors come from its primarily element . “ A vodka from pale yellow should taste like pale yellow or baked boodle , for example . ” Finding flavor within vodka ( though it does require a more nuanced roof of the mouth ) is particularly rewarding , according to Ford . “ Once someone becomes ripe at tasting vodka they commonly protrude revel it a lot more , ” he says .
Vodka Tastes Like: Black Pepper, Lemon
Ivy Mix , bartender and conscientious objector - owner ofLeyenda , Brooklyn , NY
Mix is straight and to the point : “ All neutral grain spirits smell and smack like black pepper and lemon . ”
Vodka Tastes Like: Spicy, Briny Water
Mary Bartlett , managing director of beverages & bars at theAce Hotel Downtown Los Angeles , CA
" Quality vodkais a lot more subtle than other spirits , which makes describing it a little tricky , ” read Bartlett . While she ventures that vodka can smack either creamy or citrusy or even “ malty like cereal , ” she concede that , as a category , “ vodka tastes like spicy , briny water . "
Vodka Tastes Like: Everything from Fruit to Grass
Jon deBary , stripe director ofMomofuku , New York , NY
“ The true goal of a vodka manufacturer is to create a fair , perfect distillation that retain some reference of the base constituent , ” says deBary , in agreeance with many of the other bartenders surveyed . He go into item about how those baseborn factor can dissemble vodka ’s tone : “ For instance , one of my hangdog pleasures , Ciroc vodka , which we function atKoandMá Pêche , is made from grapevine , and has a distinctly fruity aroma and undimmed acidity . Ketel One , another one of our favorites , is made from straw , and so the result is a softer texture . Aylesbury Duck vodka , which we use extensively , is made fromCanadianrye and so it is slightly grassy and hot . ”
Jag_cz / Shutterstock
