France

Is this colorful sable going to catch the goose?

Sobolinaya was being marketed as an upscale brand, and as such it would have been understandable had they went with the Belvedere/Goose ground glass finish that seemed to be so typical in this segment of late. But no, they went for clear glass, but they added something to it that gave it a rainbow-like, pearlescent effect…

Are grapes the future of vodka making, or is this just a niche product for the affluent drunk hipster?

I have said it before: It’s fun to try new things. When I picked this one up in the store I thought: well, Bree vodka wass made from grapes as well, and it was pretty good, so…

What will a real pro say about this vodka, and is the word “noble” in any way justified?

Last night I had Alpha Noble with a pro. This one is a French brand, and it’s not cheap. “What do you think?” the pro asked me after the first…

What’s with the historical Russian names on foreign vodka bottles, and will the vanilla flavoring be any good?

This was kind of weird. It’s as if only German vodka brands use the names of Russian personalities to boost their sales. You have Gorbatschow Blue Label from Germany, and then you have Puschkin, also from…

Was it really worth digging deep down into my pocket just to have a few sips of the Goose?

I had been looking at this bottle in the store window for a long time. But just like Belvedere, it always seemed too expensive. So when I signed my second book deal (yes, we’re making a travelogue and an illustrated…