Belvedere Vodka

The first time I tried Belvedere was almost 6 months ago, on the recommendation of the charming Italian bartender at Angelo's of Mulberry Street in New York City
(http://theseus.epinions.com/rest-review-6B92-4E4C59-389204DD-prod3). He made me a vodka tonic, and out of curiosity I also asked for a sip in a shot glass, always looking to differentiate the alcohol flavor from the sometimes overwhelming tonic water. What I found was a pleasant if not clingy sweet vodka that had a surprising weight to it. Panned by many critics(It scored under 85 in the World Spirits Championships), I still feel strongly that this is a high-quality super-premium vodka that warrants some attention...

Originally created as a potato brew, vodka has been seen as an alcoholic symbol for Eastern Europe for generations, as stereotypes still abound of hairy Russian men drinking it like water. Within the last 3-4 years, however, the spirit has had a resurgence of popularity, making an even bigger commercial comeback than David Letterman. Super-premium vodkas are being unveiled at the rate of one a month, and many of them display the incredible delicacy that this drink can have. Each country now wants into the act, looking to its own super-premium vodka as a source of national pride, as vodka quality is still an important aspect of many European cultures. Belvedere Vodka is the Polish answer to such contemporary juggernauts as Grey Goose and Stoli Gold...

Tasting Notes

Belvedere is one of the few vodkas in which the emphasis it put more on location than on technical production. The fashion today in super-premiums is to tout endlessly one's methods filtration of distillation and filtration, with the actual ingredients(be they grain or potato) placed in the background. Belvedere is proud of its Polish heritage, however, and each of its advertisements is a statement about the hard working members of the agricultural community who make the vodka what it is...the Polish rye itself is the star of the show here. This distinctive ingredient is part of what gives the vodka its especially sweet character. For those more interested in technicalities, you will be happy to know that Belvedere is quadruple distilled.

As funny as it sounds, Belvedere is a sweet vodka. It has a caramel quality to it that not only adds a distinct layer of rich sweetness to the drink, but also lends it a smoothness beyond compare. It can best be compare to melting ice cream, a parallel made even stronger by the subtle vanilla notes of the Belvedere. This is much like drinking silk, but the problem is that many vodka purists find the strong sweetness to be both cloying and excessive; "dessert vodka" is how I've often hear it referred to by vodka enthusiasts.

This is a heavy vodka. I know that sounds crazy, but there is a particular weight to the drink that I find pleasant but that seems to annoy many vodka lovers. In texture it almost tends more towards liqueur than pure spirit, a strong silky presence that defies the normal laws of vodka making.

That being said, your enjoyment of this vodka will depend heavily on what you're looking for in a drink. If you enjoy sweetness, this is the vodka for you. If you're looking for some a bit more traditional and "mature" in its character, I would recommend you try Cristall or Stoli Gold instead.

Serving Notes

It's thick and sweet character make Belvedere an interesting drink served over ice, with almost a gelato feel to it as the cold masks the bite of the alcohol. It's strength makes it perfect for almost any mixed drink, except for those precluded by sweetness(this would make a bad Bloody Mary for example). Try it as a White Russian, Chocolate Martini or Scropino for a pleasurable dessert-like experience.

Because of its powerful flavor, Belvedere does well with stronger foods, especially red meat. In a martini it would make the perfect drink to serve with a nice steak, or throw in some tonic water to provide a slow-drinking complement to a nice stir fry or a grilled burger. Vodka is an extremely flexible liquor, so feel free to experiment!

Availability

Within the last 3 months Belvedere has begun an intense marketing campaign to establish a name for itself, placing itself in such wide ranging magazines as The New Yorker and Maxim. What this means for the consumer is that it can already be found in the vast majority of high-end liquor stores, and the hold-outs will be offering it soon. At $25-28 a bottle it's comparable with the other super-premiums on the market...quality don't come cheap...


The Final Verdict

I like sweet vodka...in fact I like all kinds of vodka. For me, Belvedere is the perfect after dinner vodka, a sweet and refreshing drink with all of the formidable alcoholic bite of regular vodka. If you have a sweet tooth like mine, you've just found heaven...