Notes: First I want to say hats off to these people for their “Truth in Vodka Campaign” finally someone is bucking the trend and introducing a high quality vodka at the price point where they all should be. 

At $11 dollars a 750 ml or $20 for a 1.75 L, we are back to some common sense. I hope Sobieski sticks a fork in the Avian Fashion Victim Vodka which started the runaway prices on the alcohol industries cheapest (distilled) product to make and all the brands that mimic it. You have to enjoy seeing all the awards it has been winning over the grossly overpriced super premium vodkas.

This particular vodka uses Dankowski Rye, a top shelf rye and distills it four times. Named after a elected Polish King from the 17th century.

Appearance: Crystalline bright appearance,clear as a bell. Silver pool in the glass. On swirling, it leaves a thin clear coat on the inside of the glass with long thin legs and scalloped edging.

First Impression: Alcohol and grain. You can smell the traces of rye sweet/ sour notes – not the smell of rubbing alcohol that many wheat vodkas suffer from. Nicely distillation.

Taste: Slightly oily plump grain body glide past the tongue nipping at it with the alcohol edge and nice lingering finish. Slight sweetness and the sour of a rye, with a nice mineral water body thrown in. Complex, with a nice bite to it.

Drinks:  Martini* was excellent (with olive or twist) the rye lends a a little depth and complexity (something a vodka martini sorely needs anyway).Worked well in every other vodka based drink also. Assertive enough to taste it (in a good way) but not raw or off putting like many in the category.

*Use Noilly Prat and  keep the vermouth refrigerated after opening for the best taste.

Final Thoughts: An outstanding vodka for the money. Head and shoulders above the competition at its price point, and making the much more expensive vodkas look to be just that.

Bottle: Clear glass bottle in a classical Eastern European shape (cylindrical with rounded shoulders and slight flare to base)Sobieski’s Crest is pressed in relief on the front shoulder (and a crown on the backside. Silk screened plastic labels with portrait of Sobieski on the front of bottle.”Sobieski” is embossed at bottom front of bottle. Red screwcap/foil with “Sobieski” in raised letters and crown finish the package.

Website: http://www.vodkasobieski.com/

Amusing, but not particularly informative website. (“Sorry, Russia!”)

N.B.We are grading the Sobieski in the category of cheap or well vodka (under $15 bottle) not in a overall vodka standard (which would include varieties at over 6 times the money.)