almost perfect

This is a review of Beluga Noble Winter vodka from Russia. I sampled it in Germany in 2017. It’s clear, 40% alcohol, owned by the Beluga Group, and it left me confused.

Ever since trying Beluga Noble for the first time when I was in Russia in the summer of 2010, I’ve been a fan. But you can only drink so much of this stuff, especially since it’s pretty expensive. So every now and then I keep an eye open for special editions that they put on the market. Like Beluga Celebration just a short while ago, or like this one.

again with the bottles

I found almost no information on this vodka online. Some stores seemed to carry it, but there was nothing on the official Beluga website. After a bit of searching, the only thing I could come up with was a press release on the Beluga Group website.

It said that Beluga Noble Winter vodka was dedicated to the winter season of 2016/2017, and it talked a little bit about the bottle design.

[online search from April 14th 2022]

There was no mention of the vodka itself. Was it different from the regular Beluga Noble? Or was it just the same stuff in a different bottle?

top shelf with Bowie

I’m listening to “Hunky Dory” by David Bowie while I’m drinking this, and I’m once again reminded that Bowie should be forgiven for making that shitty “China Girl” abomination of a song. But we were going to talk about vodka, right?

This one came with a price tag slightly lower than the average Beluga Noble (though prices can vary, of course): I got the 700ml bottle for 30€.

pay some attention to details?

The bottle design is nice. The big old fish is of course still on there, but it’s golden this time. But there is a winter landscape under it, a sort of art deco style that looks pretty pleasing. I liked it maybe a tad better than the original Beluga bottle design.

There was one detail though, buried within a few lines of text on the label, and I’m still not sure whether I find it cute or not. It was a sort of mission statement that talked about the perfectionist business culture at Beluga: OUR HERITAGE, ATTENTION TOWARDS EVERY DETAIL AND STRIVE FOR PERFECTION ARE EMBODIED IN THE NEW CREATION OF BELUGA MASTERS.

Their strive?

Beluga Noble Winter vodka is noble indeed

But then all vodka must be judged on the merits of its taste and aftertaste. First and foremost, I noted in my review of Beluga Noble Winter vodka that it didn’t have much of a smell, just a faint note of sweetness in the air. The taste was very clean as well, just like you’d expect from a Beluga. There was a hint of sweetness, maybe even of honey, and then it went down as if it was water.

The aftertaste was great, too. It was aromatic, and there was something like wheat in it somewhere. But it didn’t feel perfect this time. Maybe it was me. Or maybe it was the water of the year 2016. Or maybe they didn’t pay attention towards every detail when making this vodka. Anyway I thought that it didn’t taste quite as awesome as usual.

All in all, Beluga Noble Winter vodka is great, and I would really like to know if it’s in any way different from the regular Beluga Noble.