Yes. Root beer. Vodka. Root beer vodka. One product. Not a joke.

Three Olives now has a whopping 15 vodka flavors, so like the folks at Cruzan, coming up with something new to expand the line takes some work. This is a company, after all, that already has mango and watermelon vodkas, so what’s next.

The obvious choice: Root beer.

I was shocked when I tried the stuff. It’s 70 proof, unlike many far less alcoholic infused spirits that put much more emphasis on the flavoring agent, so I figured it’d be harsh and tough to drink. Not so. Three Olives Root Beer tastes exactly like a vodka with a big splash of quality root beer in it (only the crystal clear color really throws your senses for a loop). I’m not a huge root beer fan, but I had no trouble drinking this stuff. Blended with cola or even 7-Up didn’t change the flavor a whole lot. I suppose you could even blend it with, gulp, root beer. (B+ / $20)

Less unusual is Three Olives’ Triple Shot Espresso vodka (also 70 proof), maybe a one-upping of Van Gogh’s Double Espresso? It’s another solid coffee flavored spirit, with a smooth coffee core and strong notes of both chocolate and vanilla. Works well straight or in cocktails. Check the following post for Three Olives’ Triple Espresso Martini recipe. I pronounce it good! (A- / $20)

Stay tuned for one more shocking vodka flavor, hopefully in a few days…

threeolives.com