Hailing from Schiedam, Holland, Ketel One vodka is likely one of the hottest manufacturers within the business. Actually, Ketel One is commonly thought of a favourite vodka amongst bartenders, particularly for its versatility for mixing into cocktails. In 1983, Ketel One was created by the tenth era of the Nolet household — who’re behind the influential centuries-old Nolet Distillery — and the corporate is claimed to have been born out of an ambition to create the right vodka-based cocktail. A long time later, the model continues its try to innovate the alcohol and bar business by curating varied flavored vodkas, like its Citroen and Oranje choices, in addition to its Botanical line.

These flavored Ketel One spirits be part of a group of different common vodka manufacturers, starting from corporations like Smirnoff and Svedka to Absolut. No matter your model of choice, flavored vodkas are mostly used to raise the flavour of combined drinks, with corporations piling on fruity, citrusy style profiles whereas additionally veering into extra distinctive territory — like Ketel One does with flavors like orange blossom or cucumber mixed with mint.

For many who are vodka fanatics however are not sure precisely which Ketel One vodka must be your go-to, I’ll rank Ketel One’s present vodka varieties primarily based on their stability of advanced taste profiles — crowning one as the most effective. Even when your go-to spirit is not vodka, the No. 1 decide on this checklist would possibly simply make you alter your thoughts. 

Some suggestions are primarily based on firsthand impressions of promotional supplies and merchandise offered by the producer.

Ketel One Citroen vodka infuses 4 forms of lemon and two forms of lime right into a spirit that’s meant to be refreshing and bursting with citrus flavors. Sadly, this taste falls in need of freshness or a nice style. The citrus notes are overpowered by the 40% alcohol by quantity (ABV), making it an 80-proof vodka with an amazing alcohol presence.

The bottle of Citroen is kind of interesting to the attention, with a frosted glass exterior and hints of yellow bringing colour to it; as quickly as you open the bottle, nonetheless, you’re hit with a pungent aroma of what can solely be described as citrus-flavored nail polish remover. The scent makes it clear that the alcohol is current on this vodka, and so does the vodka’s flavoring. There may be solely a slight citrusy taste — I didn’t get particular hints of lime, and the lemon is just vaguely current.

This vodka would possibly work effectively in a martini with a twist, if that’s your drink of selection, as it could not overpower the drink with lemon flavors. The vermouth and lemon garnish might also be sufficient to chop the harshness of the vodka. Consuming this taste neat will not be excellent, nonetheless, because the silkiness the model claims the vodka has is basically nonexistent. It as a substitute burns on the palate as you style it and as you odor it, and it’s not nice to drink alone.

Ketel One’s orange-flavored vodka infuses two forms of oranges — Valencias and mandarins — and it is an enchancment from the model’s different try to offer a citrusy, zesty flavoring. Oranje has a robust orange aroma, which provides a nice tropical really feel to the style of this vodka, which can also be 40% ABV. It looks as if a flavored vodka excellent for summer time, with a lightweight sweetness that welcomes you to the bottle.

Oranje can also be a lot smoother than the Citroen taste, so it could be a extra agreeable vodka for sipping neat or on the rocks. The sunshine sweetness doubtless comes from the Valencia oranges, that are a few of the most balanced oranges in relation to candy versus tart flavors. Following air publicity, Valencias additionally generally tend to keep up their sweetness, somewhat than turning into bitter like different oranges, in order that they’re the kind of orange that is mostly used for orange juice. As such, on this vodka, the Valencias present an eternal sweetness that ought to stay till you end your bottle.

The mandarin flavoring is much less outstanding, but it surely’s discovered within the extra tropical aromas that accompany this orange vodka, as mandarins sometimes have a extra citrusy, floral scent. The 2 orange flavors will not be extremely distinct, however Ketel One Oranje does effectively to mix them into one constant, tolerable sip.

Like the opposite two flavors in Ketel One’s Botanical collection, the peach and orange blossom bottle boasts no synthetic flavors. And though vodka sometimes incorporates zero carbohydrates, Ketel One’s Botanical varieties — that are all 30% ABV — provide flavored vodkas that additionally eradicate added sugar. Fortunately, the style profile of this vodka doesn’t endure because of the lack of added flavoring, because the outstanding peach notes make this nice to drink.

Scents are your first impression in relation to most meals and drinks, and Ketel One completely nails it with this bottle. This flavored vodka smells like a comforting, tropical, and fruity candle — and concurrently like a combined drink you can not wait to take a sip of. The aroma is stronger than the style right here, however this taste is the smoothest and most tolerable of the model’s flavored assortment so far.

This vodka is distilled with botanicals to infuse the peach and orange blossom flavors instantly into the product — whereas the orange blossom takes a again seat, I don’t discover that I miss it. The peach flavoring is tasteful sufficient for me to get pleasure from this flavored vodka straight, with no need to chop it in a combined drink. I am certain it could, nonetheless, work effectively in a candy cocktail like a cosmopolitan; certainly, the peach and orange blossom from Ketel One Botanical is flexible sufficient for any ingesting type.

Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit & Rose vodka makes the highest three on this checklist as a result of its aroma is as fairly as its style. The scent is floral, as you’ll anticipate from the rose, however the grapefruit does take cost over the rose on this scent. However quite the opposite, it’s the rose that overpowers the grapefruit within the style of this vodka — it hovers proper on the border of being an excessive amount of however doesn’t cross that line. That rose taste, as a substitute, is pleasurable.

There’s a refined sweetness on this taste that provides to the drink’s smoothness, so it could be straightforward to drink neat or on the rocks. If you’re extra of a combined drink particular person, nonetheless, this vodka would additionally work nice in a cosmopolitan, because it has related floral, candy, and fruity notes which might be typical of that cocktail. Up to now, all of the Ketel One flavors have had some important aroma, and on this taste, the aromatics work effectively for the style; the grapefruit and rose vodka tastes the identical means a very good candle smells.

If you’re extra of a fan of straight-up spirits with no flavoring, you’re in luck. At 40% ABV, the unique Ketel One Household Made Vodka bottle holds up towards most of its flavored vodkas — proof that generally easy is finest. This traditional spirit goes down with an impressively easy texture and a refreshing style profile. It’s nearly much like the model’s Botanical Cucumber & Mint, however with much less of a heavy vegetal style.

Vodka largely has a impartial taste profile, although, so this Ketel One bottle doesn’t essentially have a selected taste that stands out. It’s easy, and nearly creamy in its texture, and the precise alcohol style is outstanding with out going overboard. As such, this can be a top-tier vodka to make use of for any combined drink of your selection — from espresso martinis to bloody marys. Typically, vodka is often solely nearly as good because the flavors it’s combined with, and Ketel One has almost perfected its normal vodka, making it the right base spirit. This shall be my go-to vodka for any vodka-based cocktails any more.

Ketel One Botanical Cucumber & Mint vodka takes the cake due to its versatility and adaptableness for just about anybody’s palate. Its odor could be very vegetal-prominent, a lot in order that it has an analogous odor to tequila. As such, this could be the right vodka for somebody to attempt in case you are a lifelong tequila drinker trying to transition to vodka — whether or not for the evening or completely.

Going into this, I used to be anticipating the mint taste to be a bit harsh, however that’s nowhere close to the case right here. The cucumber flavoring takes cost, making this flavored vodka extraordinarily refreshing and simple to drink neat. The mint provides a slight zest to the style profile, however not in a means that’s overwhelming — the flavoring could be very balanced and well-rounded. This flavored vodka can be excellent in a vodka-based mojito recipe or for a play on a spritz cocktail. Its refreshing taste was sudden however very appreciated, and it strikes the fitting stability between preserving the simplicity and neutrality of vodka however nonetheless making it enjoyable to drink. Of all of Ketel One’s vodkas, this one is by far my favourite.

Every Ketel One vodka selection right here was tasted neat after being chilled within the fridge. Essentially the most satisfying flavors had been people who balanced the style profiles effectively, weren’t too harsh on the palate, and highlighted much less of the alcohol and extra of the impartial palate that vodka is thought to have. The flavors that may be most versatile, good for mixing into any combined cocktail and even capable of be consumed straight-up, had been ranked the very best. Greater rankings had been additionally given to flavors that I’d doubtless return to, and that I’d advocate holding on-hand in case your drink of selection is vodka, or in case you are trying to make the transition to ingesting vodka.