Review: Belvedere Vodka
Any vodka named after a lovable TV butler can’t be bad.
Alas, Belvedere, a Polish vodka distilled from rye and one of the older guards of the super-premium vodka space, isn’t entirely the hit that its namesake (OK, not really) was.
There’s strong vanilla on the nose of the 80-proof spirit, but the taste is all medicinal, old-school vodka like mom used to make. Though it goes down fairly easily, the finish is pretty harsh, with a lingering aftertaste that turns bitter after a few seconds, with a grain- and herb-like character that I’d attribute to the rye base.
Why the hip hop crowd crows about Belvedere when Grey Goose is the same price and considerably better, I’ll never know. Love the stark, spooky, leafless tree on the bottle, though.
80 proof.
B- / $28 [BUY IT NOW FROM TOTAL WINE]
Belvedere Vodka
$28
The Hip-Hop crowd crows for it because Jay-Z tells them to. I once walked into a party with hip-hop blaring in the background, Jay-Z posters on the wall, and a SHIRINE to Belvedere, Gray Goose, Ciroc, and Remy Martin….all empty bottles.
Finally a review of this stuff that I completely agree with. It does go down fine, as any expensive vodka SHOULD. However that aftertaste is awful. It mixes well, but why bother spending 30 on a bottle of vodka if you’re just going to mix it.
Gray Goose is shit.
The French should stick to Champagne and leave the Vodka to the Pollacks and Ruskies. :P