Smirnoff Raspberry Crush Spirit Drink with Vodka 25%

There is a reason pink bottles move into the fridge as soon as the weather turns. Raspberry Crush was built for ice, bubbles and a garden chair late in the afternoon. Not for a frozen glass and a serious expression.

Expert description

Smirnoff Raspberry Crush is a Spirit Drink with Vodka carrying natural raspberry flavour, bottled at 25%.

The foundation is Smirnoff's triple distilled vodka, given the natural flavour of pink raspberries and then brought down to 25%. That strength is exactly why the label reads Spirit Drink rather than Vodka: in the EU a vodka must reach at least 37.5%, and below that line the legal category changes.

The lower strength also changes how the bottle behaves in the glass. Sweetness gets more room, the alcohol does not burn, and it can go into a tall glass with lemonade without the drink turning heavy. The producer points to lemonade over ice or a splash of prosecco as the two obvious routes.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh raspberries and something like boiled sweets. Light and direct, with very little alcohol on the nose.

Palate

Soft and sweet with clear berry. The alcohol sits well back, which makes it more juicy than sharp.

Finish

Short and fruity with a sweetness that clings slightly. No warmth at the end.

Specifications

Name: Smirnoff Raspberry Crush
Producer: Smirnoff
Region/Country: United Kingdom
Type: Spirit Drink with Vodka
ABV: 25%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Triple distilled vodka base
Serving suggestion: A tall glass with lemonade and plenty of ice, or topped with prosecco as an aperitif.

Flavour profile

Raspberry · Sweet · Light · Juicy

Did you know?

The Crush name lives on outside the bottle too. Smirnoff sells a canned range under the same name in mango and peach and in lemon and lime, made by the same people behind the world's best-selling vodka.

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Frequently asked questions about Smirnoff Raspberry Crush

Why does the bottle say Spirit Drink instead of Vodka?

Because it is set at 25%. The EU requires at least 37.5% for anything sold as vodka, and below that line it has to be called a spirit drink. The base is still vodka, but the finished product is diluted under the threshold.

What should I mix it with?

Lemonade and ice is what the producer points to, and it works. For something less sweet, use soda water with lemon instead. Topped with prosecco it becomes a light aperitif where the bubbles lift the berry.

Can I drink it neat?

You can, but it is sweeter than most people enjoy undiluted. At 25% there is also not enough alcoholic warmth to cut through the sugar. Ice cold and over ice works best if you want it as it comes.

How strong is it compared with ordinary vodka?

Roughly two thirds. A standard 37.5% vodka gives a clearly stronger drink at the same measure, so adjust the recipe if you swap it into a familiar cocktail. Otherwise the drink ends up both weaker and sweeter.

Is it made with real raspberries?

It is made with the natural flavour of pink raspberries. So this is not fruit pressed straight into the bottle, but aromatics of natural origin added to the finished vodka base. The result sits closer to jam than to freshly picked berries.

Should it live in the fridge?

Yes, once opened that is a sound idea. The sweetness and the volatile berry aromatics do better in cold and dark, and the bottle is meant to be served chilled anyway. Unopened it is perfectly fine in a cool cupboard.

Does it suit a summer party?

Yes, that is precisely the situation it was built for. It batches easily into large jugs, needs no shaker, and the strength lets guests have a couple of glasses across an afternoon. More bottles for the same job sit under Vodka.