Next up in the serialisation of the BBAs, we look into our judges top five vodkas.
Just one vodka brand took golds across our three assessments – taste, design and value – and it was one that is well known to the BBAs and the drinking public at large: Belvedere Organic. 43/50 made it the top tasting vodka, with our vodka panel pointing to the rye’s “peppery”, “weighty” palate and long finish. The bottle is a “classic” and its upper £30s price point was considered a “premium price” for a “premium product”. All that added up to 87/100.
But if you’re all about great liquid and value for money, look no further than Lithuanian Gold. A gold medal under blind tasting conditions (“creamy, sweet, smooth finish and a lovely mouthfeel”), a silver for design and, at a smidgeon over £13 a bottle, our panel was clearing a space in their well.
Joining the podium is another Belvedere Dirty Brew, a coffee-infused vodka that took a high-ranking silver medal on taste (“powerful nose, good coffee flavour”). The panel loved the bottle and, while they were happier with the price, they thought it could be lower than its Belvedere vodka stablemate, given the reduced abv.
In fourth is Boatyard, which took a silver on taste with bartenders pointing to vanilla sweetness and a punchy palate. Its looks have always impressed (gold) and the price was seen as par for the product (silver medal).
Completing our podium is Stumbras vodka, which took silver medals across the board.
Learn more about how the BBAs works here.