Review 49: Hammer & Sickle

Review 49
5/29/12
Hammer & Sickle Vodka: 40% abv

Alright, so this is my first vodka review. This might catch the attention of a few people, since vodka is the spirit of the college student. Why don't we throw it under scrupulous analysis and see if it comes out to be worth all the attention. To start, there is one huge misconception with vodka that you can hear if you talk to any regular mixed drink "connoisseurs": vodka doesn't have a taste. Last time I checked, this isn't true. So I put it under the test to see. Let's start on the nose. There's a large burn on this vodka on the nose, but still, subtle hints of vanilla, agave, spiciness, caramel, and a more prominent wet paint smell come through. In the taste, one can gather very little, as most of the flavor comes in the finish, but there is vanilla, wheat, caramel, and cream with a notable pasty mouth feel to it. When water is added to the vodka, (admittedly too much) the taste balances out and provides a much better buttery cream taste to it, with a sort of flour dough taste that might scream baking soda to it. On the finish, there is much more flavor, presenting wheat, vanilla, cinnamon, orange malt, slight slight SLIGHT hint of egg, coconut and presents a hot burn with a medium long finish. The addition of water kills the finish completely. So believe it or not, there is something to be noted in vodka. This one isn't exceptional, but it beats your standard cheap Burnetts or Smirnoff. 

Score: 8.0/10