The never-ending battle between vodka purists and fans of flavored vodka continues.
We’ve never been too hard on flavored vodka. Nothing worthwhile has ever been achieved by playing it safe and not trying anything new.
As such, we tend to gravitate to the higher-quality flavored vodkas. Because just like in your standard liquors, the higher the quality, the better your cocktail is going to be. Van Gogh (despite some perceived missteps) is among the best of the best when it comes to flavored vodka. Their flavors are routinely robust, without being cloying, while backed with a high-quality spirit that mixes well.
Some information from Van Gogh:
Super premium Van Gogh Vodka, Van Gogh’s flavored vodkas and Van Gogh Gin are distilled and bottled by the Royal Dirkzwager Distilleries in Schiedam, Holland. The city is famous since the 16th century not only because of the excellent water quality but also for innovation in distillation sciences. The Royal Dirkzwager Distillery is a family owned business, passed down from father to son since 1879 received in 2004 a Royal Appointment by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands for 125 years of consistent excellence and reliable quality. Over the years the distillery expanded and needed more space for bottling lines, distilling tanks, pot stills and inventory. Rebuilding and modernizing the distillery is an ongoing process and always under the supervision of the Holland Monument Society.
Van Gogh’s Dutch Caramel iteration was our first introduction to the line. The average price point on a Van Gogh flavored vodka is $30. So, now we’ll address the question we’re looking at this year — is it worth the cost?
Nose:
Strong hints of heavy caramel without any sort of alcohol burn on the end.
Neat:
Very, very smooth with strong sugary hints right up at the beginning with a pleasant, clean finish. The caramel flavors linger for a few moments, then disappear.
On the Rocks:
It’s so sweet that it’s almost like a liqueur. However, there’s enough lightness on the back-end that it’s not like drinking syrup. If you decide you’re too lazy to even make cocktails, this would be a solid choice for a sipping vodka.
The Wednesday Cocktail:
Milk Dud
Cheers!
— Mark
