Stolichnaya Rasberry Flavored Ultra Premium Vodka 70 cl 37,5%

Raspberries are hard to pin down. Fresh off the cane they are tart with a green edge; cooked down into jam they turn dark, round and almost syrupy. This bottle sits closer to the pan than to the cane, and that is a deliberate choice.

Expert description

Stolichnaya Raspberry Flavored, known as Stoli Razberi, is a Latvian Vodka made from wheat and rye with raspberry flavour, bottled at 37.5%.

The flavour range drove the house for years. When bartenders in the 1990s started building drinks around colour and fruit rather than dry classics, Stolichnaya already had a shelf of expressions ready, and the raspberry became the most asked for of the lot.

The base is the same as everything else in the range. Wheat and rye go through columns, get blended with Latvian artesian water and filtered through quartz sand, birch charcoal and woven cloth. Production sits at Latvijas Balzams in Riga, not in Russia, however much the name pulls that way.

The raspberry is added after distillation. That means the fruit lives in the aroma and the front of the palate while the rye still registers behind it as a dry streak. It is exactly that combination that stops the bottle collapsing into sweetness once you mix it with cranberry or lemon.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raspberry jam and boiled sweets, with a twist of lemon peel at the edge. The aroma is sweeter than the palate promises.

Palate

Full berry with a creamy texture. Halfway through, the grain arrives as a dry, spiced streak, and there is more acidity than the nose suggests.

Finish

Short to medium. The sweetness lets go quickly and leaves a faint stalky bitterness from the fruit.

Specifications

Name: Stolichnaya Raspberry Flavored
Producer: Stoli Group
Region/Country: Riga, Latvia
Type: Latvian Vodka
ABV: 37.5%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Column distilled and filtered through quartz sand, birch charcoal and woven cloth
EAN no.: 4750021000256
Serving suggestion: In a Cosmopolitan instead of clear vodka, or ice cold with sparkling water and a few fresh raspberries.

Flavour profile

Raspberry sweet · Tart · Creamy · Short

Did you know?

Stoli Razberi passed a million cases sold in a year in 2004, the first expression in the house flavour range to get there. The range now runs to more than a dozen variants, from jalapeño to salted caramel.

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Frequently asked questions about Stolichnaya Raspberry Flavored

How sweet is it?

Less sweet than it smells. The berry aroma is strong and reads as syrup, but in the mouth the rye pulls the sweetness down and leaves a dry close. It sits nowhere near a liqueur, which is why it can carry a whole drink without turning it sticky.

Is there fruit in the bottle?

No, the flavour comes from raspberry aroma added after distillation. There are no berry pieces or pulp, and the vodka is clear. If you want fresh fruit in the glass, you need to muddle it in yourself.

Which country is it made in?

Latvia. Stolichnaya for Europe is blended and bottled at Latvijas Balzams in Riga using Latvian artesian water. The label and the name point to Moscow, but the bottle is Baltic.

Which cocktails suit it?

It is built for fruit drinks. A Cosmopolitan gains berry and loses sharpness, a Bramble-style build with lemon works, and so does a Sea Breeze. Avoid it in dry drinks such as a Martini, where the sweetness gets in the way. See other options among our Vodka brands.

Should it be served ice cold?

Cold, yes, but not frozen. Freezer temperature compresses the berry aroma until you mostly taste alcohol and sugar. Fridge temperature gives the best balance of fruit and grain, and over plenty of ice it holds up well.

Can it be mixed with something sparkling?

Yes, and it is one of the easiest serves. Sparkling water makes a light summer drink, tonic adds a bitterness the berry stands up to, and a splash in sparkling wine turns into a quick aperitif. Add lime if you want to pull the sweetness back.

How does it differ from a raspberry liqueur?

Strength and sugar. Liqueurs usually sit lower in alcohol and far higher in sugar, which makes them flavouring agents used in small amounts. This is bottled at 37.5% and works as the base of the drink rather than an accessory.