Bodegas Cruz Conde VDKA Red Premium Spanish Vodka Liqueur 70 cl 17%

In Montilla the bodega stands with whitewashed walls and cool half darkness, and behind them lie the casks of fino and Pedro Ximenez. Somewhere else in the same house they are filling bottles with red. Not wine, but vodka and red fruit, an Andalusian side road nobody saw coming.

Expert description

Bodegas Cruz Conde VDKA Red is a Spanish Vodka Liqueur with red fruits from Montilla in Andalusia, bottled at 17%.

Bodegas Cruz Conde was founded in 1902 by the army commandant Rafael Cruz Conde and sits in Montilla south of Cordoba. The house is known first of all for wines from D.O. Montilla-Moriles, but alongside the wine the family has spent decades building a broad spirits catalogue: brandy, vermouth, anis, rum, gin and, yes, vodka.

The 17% deserves a pause. The producer itself calls the VDKA range a spirit drink derived from vodka, and below 37.5% it cannot legally be sold as vodka in the European Union. In practice it is a vodka liqueur: sweetened, coloured and dialled down in strength so it can be mixed without shouting over the rest of the glass.

Red is the red fruit version. The colour is strong and almost neon in the glass, and the sweetness arrives with the first sip, but the fruit carries a light acidity that keeps it from reading as pure sugar. It was designed as a cocktail ingredient, and that is where it makes the most sense.

Tasting notes

Nose

Strawberry and raspberry, clear and straight up. Behind them sits a boiled sweet tone and a faint hint of cherry.

Palate

Sweet and light bodied. Red fruit fills the entire middle, while the alcohol registers only as a mild warmth right at the end.

Finish

Short and berry sweet. A touch of acidity turns up and clears the mouth faster than the sweetness suggests.

Specifications

Name: Bodegas Cruz Conde VDKA Red
Producer: Bodegas Cruz Conde
Region/Country: Montilla, Andalusia, Spain
Type: Spanish Vodka Liqueur with red fruits
ABV: 17%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8413026817354
Serving suggestion: Over ice cubes with lemon soda, or as the colour in a simple berry cocktail with lime.

Flavour profile

Red fruits · Sweet · Light · Cocktail friendly

Did you know?

The wines of Montilla-Moriles mature under a veil of yeast just as sherry does, but they are usually never fortified. The Pedro Ximenez grape turns so sugar rich in the Andalusian heat that the wine reaches the strength the flor needs entirely on its own.

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Frequently asked questions about Bodegas Cruz Conde VDKA Red

Is VDKA Red a vodka?

No, it is a vodka liqueur. The European Union requires at least 37.5% before anything may be sold as vodka, and this sits at 17%. The producer describes it as a spirit drink derived from vodka, meaning a product built on vodka but sweetened, coloured and reduced in strength.

What does it taste like?

Red fruits, mainly strawberry and raspberry. The sweetness is obvious, but a light acidity underneath makes it less cloying than the colour suggests. The alcohol takes up almost no room.

What should I mix it with?

Lemon soda or sparkling water is the simplest route and lets the fruit speak. For more body, add a straight vodka and a little lime juice, which turns it into a proper berry cocktail rather than a sweet long drink.

How does Red differ from Blue?

In the fruit. Red is built on red berries and pulls towards strawberry and raspberry, while Blue heads for passion fruit and a more tropical, tangier direction. Strength, bottle size and producer are identical, so the choice is purely about where you want the drink to go.

Should it be served cold?

Yes, fridge cold at the very least. The chill tightens the sweetness and makes the fruit clearer. At room temperature it quickly turns heavy and syrupy, and the small acidity that holds the balance disappears.

Can it be used for shots?

Yes, and at 17% it is far gentler than an ordinary shot. Put the bottle in the freezer and pour small measures. It also works poured over vanilla ice cream or fresh fruit as a quick dessert.

Who is behind Bodegas Cruz Conde?

A family business from Montilla, founded in 1902 by Rafael Cruz Conde. The house is known for wines from D.O. Montilla-Moriles and has built a wide range of brandy, liqueur and distillates alongside them. To see other houses, browse our Vodka Brands.