Khaoma Original Tien Shan

Kazakhstan
Taste
9
Aftertaste
6
Design
6
Price
10
7.8

eco or not

This is a review of Khaoma Original Tien Shan vodka from Kazakhstan. I sampled it in Kazakhstan in 2017. It’s a clear infusion, 38% alcohol, and it tastes fuckin A.

After drinking that awful Kristall White stuff, I didn’t feel particularly enthusiastic about trying the other contenders. But I had a mission, and it was about four bottles. Not one, not two, not three. But four.

So I grabbed the second one and gave it a look. It was called Khaoma Original Tien Shan vodka (водка Хаома Оригинальная Тянь-Шань)

[online search from April 15th 2022]

English labels

This one was called Khaoma Original vodka (Хаома Оригинальная), and it claimed to be no ordinary vodka. On the label it said that this was a so-called ECOVODKA. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I found an explanation underneath: DISTILLED AND BOTTLED IN ECOLOGICALLY PURE REGION. Interestingly enough, all of this was in English, not in Kazakh or in Russian.

Eco-friendly vodkas were nothing new. I had tried others like 360 and Tarpan before, and in my experience they were just like the other regular brands – they either tasted good or they tasted bad. And I had no way of confirming their proclaimed eco-friendliness anyway.

Khaoma Original is complex

Long story short: Khaoma Original turned out to be a surprisingly complex vodka that I enjoyed a lot. Its initial taste is a bit dry and a bit bitter, but there is also a hint of sweetness in it. Oh, and it has almost no smell at all.

The aftertaste is not quite as impressive. It’s there, but it’s faint and not very aromatic. I would have liked a bit more of the initial taste to be carried into the aroma.

the block

If we’re talking about the bottle design, then I have to say I’m not a fan of the block shape. I think it looks a bit cheap. Sure, the glass is slightly curved, which is a nice touch, but still, the overall design could have been better.

The price, of course, is just awesome. I got this 700ml bottle for 1346 Tenge, which puts it in the 4€ price range. Getting wasted is just so cheap here.

If you’re ever in Kazakhstan, try this vodka!