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

Vanilla is one of the most expensive spices in the world and one of the most misread. A real pod is not simply sweet. It is dark, resinous and faintly smoky, and that is exactly the side a vanilla vodka either catches or misses altogether.

Expert description

Stolichnaya Vanilla Flavored is a Latvian Vodka made from wheat and rye with vanilla flavour, bottled at 37.5%.

Plenty of people still assume the bottle comes from Russia. It does not. Stolichnaya for the European market is blended and bottled at Latvijas Balzams in Riga, a plant that has made spirits since 1900, and the water is Latvian artesian water drawn from wells beneath the site.

The base spirit follows the house recipe: wheat and rye run through columns, then filtration through quartz sand, birch charcoal and finally woven cloth. The rye is the whole reason there is something for the vanilla to hang on. It lays down a dry, faintly peppery floor that the sweetness can lean against instead of spreading out.

The flavour itself comes from natural vanilla aroma added after distillation, as is the norm for flavoured vodka. Bottling strength sits at 37.5% against 38% for the clear expression, and that half a percent shows: this one is a shade rounder in the mouth and less sharp at the close.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla pod and a touch of white chocolate. Behind it sits a dry grain note that keeps the aroma from tipping into cake batter.

Palate

Soft and round. Vanilla and candied sugar fill the front of the mouth before the rye cuts in with a dry edge.

Finish

Medium. The sweetness lets go slowly and leaves something close to vanilla sugar on the tongue.

Specifications

Name: Stolichnaya Vanilla 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.: 4750021000393
Serving suggestion: Ice cold over ice with a strip of orange peel, or in an Espresso Martini where the vanilla replaces the syrup.

Flavour profile

Vanilla sweet · Creamy · Round · Lightly peppery

Did you know?

The name Stolichnaya is the adjectival form of the Russian stolitsa, capital. The bottle is literally called the one from the capital — a name from the 1930s that today sits on a vodka filled in Riga.

See our full range of Vodka

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently asked questions about Stolichnaya Vanilla Flavored

How strong is the vanilla flavour?

Clear, but not overpowering. Vanilla fills the aroma and the front of the palate, while grain and a dry spiced edge take over towards the end. It is far more restrained than a vanilla liqueur, which is why it still works as a base in drinks rather than as a sweetener.

Which country does the bottle come from?

Latvia. Stolichnaya for the European market is blended and bottled at Latvijas Balzams in Riga using Latvian artesian water. The name and the label point towards Moscow, but production sits in the Baltics.

Should it be served ice cold?

Only if you want it as a shot. Freezer temperature shuts the vanilla down until the aroma nearly disappears. At fridge temperature or a little above it opens up and shows both vanilla and grain. In drinks over ice it copes well, because the sweetness holds.

Which drinks work best with it?

The ones where vanilla can stand in for sugar. An Espresso Martini without syrup, a White Russian or a simple build with cold brew coffee all suit it. Ginger beer works too, because the bite pulls in the opposite direction. See more bottles among our Vodka brands.

Can it be used in desserts?

Yes, and that is one of its better uses. A couple of centilitres in pancake batter, in whipped cream or over fresh berries brings vanilla aroma without adding water. Some of the alcohol cooks off, but the aroma stays.

How does it differ from the clear Stolichnaya?

The base is the same, the flavour and strength are not. The clear expression is bottled at 38% and tastes of wheat and rye, while this one carries added vanilla aroma and sits at 37.5%. The lower strength makes the mouthfeel softer.

Is it a good starting point for someone who rarely drinks vodka?

Yes. The sweetness covers the alcoholic sharpness that puts off many newcomers, and it mixes easily with coffee, soda or dairy. If you later want to move towards dry drinks, it gives you a gentle place to begin.