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Now Viewing: Belvedere Vodka Distillery
Tasting flavored vodkas
To taste flavored vodkas, Belvedere vodka suggest to chill the vodka in the refrigerator overnight along with other brands to sample. Use optimal glassware only. While tasting you may have unsalted crackers to cleanse the palate between vodkas. Lukewarm bottled water is recommended as well. Gently swirl the vodka and look at the "tears" clinging to the sides of the glass. Also known as "legs" - indicators of alcoholic strength and texture. Long legs tell you that the sample is high in alcohol content and it is likely to have a good texture. The closer the tears are from each others the longer the spirit has been aged. For white spirits like vodka, the viscosity is characterized by some additives such as glycerine or sugar. Swirling the spirit in the glass moisten a larger surface area, and this increases the evaporation and intensity of the bouquet. Aromas are perceived in two ways; directly through the nose an by retro-olfaction when aromas reach the nose after passing through the mouth. Smell the spirit first but avoid smelling too long because the nose will be soon become anaesthetized due to the high alcohol content. Once you are satisfied that you have gotten all there is to get by nose, it's time to taste the spirit. Spirits and liqueurs should be consumed in small quantities at a time (average of 1 ounce). Take a tiny sip, enough to roll it over your tongue and hold it for a few seconds then swallow it or spit it. The "finish" refers to the length of time the flavor lingers on the palate after you have swallowed it. The finish is rated as short, medium or long. Ask yourself if the spirit leave an elegant, pleasant aftertaste on the palate? Are there any echoes of primary aromas, raw materials or other derived from fermentation, distillations or blending? Then cleanse your palate with lukewarm water or unsalted crackers and move on to the next sample. Enjoy!
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