Absolut flavored with elderflower and black tea. Hmmm, where have we heard this one before? Ah yes, about a year and a half ago, when it was first released as the limited-edition Absolut Boston.

Absolut must have had a hit on its hands with Boston, and I can back that up: It’s the only one of the “city” Absoluts that has been completely consumed here at Drinkhacker HQ. While not a stellar vodka for sipping straight, it was a peerless mixer, and I regularly turned to it when a party guest would ask to be surprised with a cocktail they’d never tried before. To date, it’s the only one of the city vodkas to be reissued by the Swedish company.

Absolut Wild Tea works because it’s the best of both worlds: Fruity from the elderflower and bitter and earthy from the tea. The elderflower hits you first, but lightly, while the tea finish lingers. I’m not sure if Absolut has tweaked the recipe, but the medicinal notes and harsh bitterness I commented on with Boston is muted here. Now, the black tea is pleasant, refreshing, and authentic, a solid counterpoint to not just the elderflower but also the toughness of straight Absolut.

I’m rating this a touch higher than Boston (whether it’s changed or I’ve changed, who knows), but there’s more to like here, too: The price has dropped considerably, making Absolut Wild Tea a bargain to boot.

80 proof.

A- / $19 / absolutwildtea.com 

Absolut Wild Tea Vodka

$19

9

Rating

9.0/10