We’ve been playing this game with vodka. It’s called – let’s buy stuff for under 20 bucks and then hate ourselves the following morning all in the hopes that there’s another mark on the list we can give you the readers to avoid. However Alimov is not going onto that list, we are HBR and we speak for the Santa because this is going on the nice list. Of course as always we have our comments, and nobody is perfect, but strap in because it’s been a long time since something that cost $13 bucks didn’t extract a blood price in return.
The key here is that the wheat flavor is what you really git, and it’s not been spoiled by being distilled too few times to taste like rubbing alcohol or charcoal. We’re not sure what they’re getting up to in Saint-Petersburg that others of it’s ilk aren’t but when you make something that’s more than halfway decent and then decide to not charge for it like some eurotrash nonsense – well we certainly perk our ears up.
What they Say: “In Saint-Petersburg we value art and stand strong for our beliefs as no one else does. Such is our product ALIMOV Russian Vodka. Saint-Petersburg is all the culture that Russia has offered to the world: beautiful architecture, Mariinsky Ballet, Shostakovich Symphony No 7, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy. Yet Saint-Petersburg stands for character. 900 Days lasted the siege during the WWII. We never gave in. We value what we do, we stand for it. Saint-Petersburg is where we craft ALIMOV Authentic Russian Vodka. Soft, but traditional, as a Russian vodka can be for centuries. We stand for it. Cultivated in small batches and based on Volga region rye and wheat. This authentic Russian Vodka is made to enjoy with friends, family, and always Zakuska as we do in Russia. Come on, have your taste of Russia with love from Saint-Petersburg, ALIMOV ❤️”
Taste: 7.0 – Very earthy and wheat-y. It’s also rather clean tasting being very abrupt and not adding any sort of charcoal/sweetness/or other flavors.
Aftertaste: 5.0 – That wheat carries on, and while it’s not as clean and refreshing as the initial taste it works.
Burn/Smooth: 6.0 – You expected this to burn, and sure it does. That being said – there are far and away so many worse burning sensations from cheap vodkas. Add a nice lingering warmth, and this is quite good.
Aroma: 5.5 – There is a minor twinge of awfulness there, but for the most part you simply get the prevailing sense that this is vodka. Sure it’s not creamy or odorless, but as mentioned it at least doesn’t smell like a cleaner or regret.
Honesty: 7.5 – They don’t wax poetical about themselves, but about the city they love – one they love so much they actually included a ❤️ in the fricken text. Add the decent attempt at a design that can stand out, but isn’t overly crazy and it sort of all works for us. They talk of the good with vodka, and less about aspects of purity, perfection, virginity, and smoothness – a trap many fall into.
Mixability: 6.25
Vodka Tonic: 5.0 – It’s okay – the flavor from the vodka isn’t unwelcome here, but it’s not exactly the best cocktail.
White Russian: 7.5 – Well that’s about as good as seven fridays in a week. There’s just a bit of that burn there, but overall the wheat plays it’s part perfectly – bringing so much to the table. Don’t skimp on using milk over cream though because this is a great white russian maker.
Value: 7.0 – Given that price range, it wouldn’t be surprising if this manages to make a deep run in the scores compared to other vodka’s of the price range. All too often they have a singular fault that drags them down. Here though – sure not everything is spit-n-polished to make it great, but one great cocktail and no faults is a high watermark to beat for our minds.
Google Shop Average: $13
Website: http://www.alimov-vodka.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 7.0
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Metric Score: 44.25/70 |+| Metric Average: 6.32 |+| Reviewer Average: 7.0
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Final Thoughts: We’ll make it simple for you – if you are looking for a great white russian – nothing will beat this price. Point for dollar, this is unmatched in the cheap price range with only Vladivar coming close, and costing a full 2 dollars more. Like we said though – something that does good in at least one cocktail, costs less than certain Starbucks coffees, and has no glaring faults – well that’s a damn good spirit, good on you Saint Petersburg.
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