September 2024 163

Hailing from Schiedam, Holland, Ketel One vodka stands as a prominent figure in the spirits industry. Particularly favored by bartenders for its mixability, Ketel One was established in 1983 by the Nolet family’s 10th generation, well-known for their historical Nolet Distillery. The creation of Ketel One was driven by the ambition to craft the ideal vodka for cocktails. Even after several decades, the brand stays at the forefront of innovation within the alcohol and bar industry through its introduction of different flavored vodkas such as Citroen, Oranje, and the Botanical series.

These Ketel One flavors complement a diverse array of other popular vodka brands, stretching from names like Smirnoff and Svedka to Absolut. Flavored vodkas are primarily utilized to enhance the tastes in mixed drinks, extending from fruity to citrus profiles, and experimenting with unique combinations such as orange blossom or cucumber with mint.

For enthusiasts keen on discovering the ideal Ketel One vodka tailored for their tastes, I will evaluate the brand’s current offerings. I’ll analyze these options based on their intricate flavor combinations, ultimately selecting the top recommendation. Even if vodka is not usually your favorite spirit, the top contender on this list might just sway your preference.

Some recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.

Read more: 13 Liquors Your Home Bar Should Have

Ketel One Citroen vodka is crafted with four types of lemon and two types of lime, aiming to achieve a spirit that’s fresh and rich in citrus flavors. However, it disappointingly doesn’t hit the mark of being fresh or tasteful. The citrus nuances are subdued by the 40% alcohol content, resulting in an 80-proof vodka that is dominantly alcoholic in taste.

The appearance of the Citroen bottle is visually pleasing, featuring a frosted glass look with splashes of yellow adding vibrancy. Yet, upon opening, it releases a strong smell resembling citrus-scented nail polish remover. This aroma confirms the dominance of alcohol in this vodka, echoed by its flavor. The taste of citrus is faint, lacking distinct notes of lime or lemon.

This vodka could potentially be suitable for a martini with a twist if that’s your preferred cocktail, as it won’t overpower the drink with lemony flavors. The addition of vermouth and a lemon garnish might help soften the vodka’s harshness. Nonetheless, drinking this vodka straight is less than ideal; it’s far from the smooth experience advertised by the brand, feeling more burning on the tongue and unpleasant on the nose when consumed on its own.

Ketel One’s orange vodka skillfully blends Valencia and mandarin oranges, enhancing the brand’s range with a more vibrant and distinct orange freshness. Oranje possesses a potent orange scent that introduces a tropical nuance to its flavor profile, while maintaining a 40% alcohol by volume. This flavor profile makes it an ideal choice for summer drinks, presenting a welcoming mild sweetness upon opening.

Compared to the Citroen variety, Oranje is noticeably smoother, making it potentially more suitable for drinking neat or over ice. The subtle sweetness is likely attributed to the Valencia oranges, known for their balanced sweet and tart characteristics. These oranges retain their sweetness after being exposed to air, unlike others that might turn bitter. This characteristic makes them a popular choice for orange juice, and in Oranje, they ensure a lasting sweetness throughout the consumption of the bottle.

While the mandarin element is subtler, it enhances the tropical scents of this vodka, as mandarins are often noted for their citrusy, floral aroma. Although the two orange varietals are blended smoothly, they distinctly contribute to creating a singular, enjoyable flavor in Ketel One Oranje.

In line with Ketel One’s Botanical series, the peach and orange blossom variant also boasts natural flavoring without the use of artificial additives. Like other spirits in this series, which all possess a 30% alcohol by volume, these flavored vodkas contain no additional sugar. Despite the absence of extra sugar, the pronounced peach flavor remains pleasant and satisfying to drink.

Scents play a crucial role in setting the first impression of various foods and beverages, and Ketel One has successfully captured this essence with their bottle. The aroma of this flavored vodka is akin to a warm, tropical, fruity candle, enticing like a carefully mixed beverage tempting you to indulge. Although the scent is more pronounced than the flavor, this peach and orange blossom variant stands out as the smoothest and most palatable in their flavored range to date.

The distillation process includes botanicals to embed the peach and orange blossom flavors directly into the vodka. While the orange blossom is subtle, its absence isn’t felt due to the dominant and delightful peach flavor. This makes it enjoyable straight, without the need for mixing. Nevertheless, it would also complement a sweet cocktail, such as a cosmopolitan, enhancing the versatility of the Ketel One Botanical for various drinking preferences.

Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit & Rose vodka is also a top contender, equally celebrated for its aroma and flavor. The fragrance features a floral note from the rose paired with a prominent grapefruit presence. Yet, in taste, it is the rose that dominantly flavors the vodka, bordering on overwhelming but maintaining a delightful balance. This rose flavor addition enriches the beverage.

You will notice a subtle sweetness in this vodka that contributes to its overall smoothness, making it suitable for neat consumption or served on the rocks. For those who prefer mixed beverages, it blends superbly into a cosmopolitan due to its floral and sweet notes that align well with the cocktail’s character. Like the other Ketel One variants, the pleasant and strong aroma enhances the drinking experience, with the grapefruit and rose vodka tasting as enchanting as a high-quality candle smells.

If you’re a fan of unflavored spirits, you’re in luck. At 40% ABV, the original Ketel One Family Made Vodka bottle stands strong among its flavored counterparts — proving that simplicity often prevails. This traditional vodka is characterized by a smooth texture and a crisp taste. It’s comparable to the brand’s Botanical Cucumber & Mint, albeit less intensely vegetal.

Vodka is generally known for its neutral flavor profile, and this Ketel One bottle is no exception. It offers a smooth, almost creamy texture, with the taste of alcohol being distinct yet not overpowering. Hence, it serves as an excellent base for any cocktail, ranging from espresso martinis to bloody marys. Ultimately, the quality of vodka is enhanced by the flavors with which it mixes, and Ketel One has nearly perfected its original formula, making it an ideal choice for vodka-based drinks.

The Ketel One Botanical Cucumber & Mint vodka stands out due to its versatility and broad appeal. Its aroma is predominantly vegetal, so much so, it’s reminiscent of tequila. This makes it an attractive option for tequila lovers who are exploring vodkas, whether it be for an evening or a more permanent switch.

Initially, I anticipated a robust mint flavor, but it turned out to be quite the opposite. The cucumber leads the flavor profile, rendering this vodka exceptionally refreshing and suitable for neat consumption. The mint adds a subtle zest, enhancing the balance and roundedness of the flavors. This flavored vodka is perfect for a vodka-based mojito recipe or to innovate a spritz cocktail. Its refreshing nature was a pleasant surprise, striking a perfect balance between maintaining vodka’s simplicity and infusing excitement into each sip. Among all the Ketel One varieties, this one is my top preference.

Each variety of Ketel One vodka was sampled neat after being chilled. The most appreciated flavors were those with a balanced taste profile, smooth on the palate, emphasizing the neutral character typical of vodka over the alcoholic bite. Flavors that seemed most adaptable—suitable for mixing in various cocktails or enjoyable on their own—received the highest ratings. Preference was also given to those flavors I would revisit and recommend as staples for vodka enthusiasts or those new to vodka.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

For whiskey lovers, perusing the kaleidoscope of light amber to darker mahogany spirits in the liquor store is an experience to relish. Seemingly endless choices fill the shelves, but only one will end up filling your glass. Understanding this, a touch of FOMO commonly creeps in. With so many options, how can you determine which one you’ll enjoy the most? Which browns are best, and can you know if a whiskey is good just by looking at it?

To get answers, Foodie contacted Chris Blatner, an executive bourbon steward, founder of Urban Bourbonist, LLC, and the executive director of Bourbon Charity. One of the first two things Blatner searches for when picking out a whiskey is where it came from. He says, “I am always looking to see where the bourbon was made, the state of origin, as well as the distillery that made it. This will give you some clues as to the quality of the product.”

Contrary to what some believe, bourbon does not have to be made in Kentucky. It can only be made in the United States, but different states distill it under varying conditions. Cold winters and hot summers in the Bluegrass State create an optimal environment for aging the liquor that accents its sweeter notes. States with more arid conditions experience different environments during distillation, which affects the interaction between spirit and barrel and therefore the final flavor profile. After you’ve learned where a whiskey comes from, Blatner also recommends taking a look at the age listed on the label.

Read more: The Sweet Reason Mexican Coca-Cola Tastes Different

Most folks understand that the longer a spirit ages, the more flavor aging barrels impart to the liquid. “I’m also looking for an age statement,” says Blatner. “Typically I want my bourbon to be at least 4 years old which is a minimum amount of time in a barrel to start taking on some nice flavors and transform into a quality product to drink.”

While some whiskeys come with a no-age-statement printed on the label, many others proudly display how long the liquor has matured before it was released for distribution. Older varieties are not necessarily better whiskeys, but the aging process does help to soothe some of the harsher flavors detected in younger spirits. The precise amount of time it takes for bourbon and other similar liquors to reach peak drinkability varies, but many believe that bourbons are just right after maturing for between four and eight years.

The type of barrel the spirit ages in also affects the flavor profile, but no matter the kind of barrel used to mature the liquor, it takes time to develop the delicate sweet notes expert connoisseurs long for when they take that first sip. While we’re often urged to not judge a book by its cover, when it comes to whiskey, it would serve you well to take a gander at the label before making your final decision on what to take home.

Read the original article on Foodie.

The Virgin Islands received nearly $31 million less in rum cover-over payments for 2025 than it received in 2024, as announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior on Thursday.

The anticipated rum tax rebate for 2025 amounted to $181,068,638, which was $30,970,946 less than the $212,039,584 sent for 2024. The amount received in 2024 was $14 million less than what was allotted in 2023. Links to more information about these figures can be viewed here for 2024 and here for 2023.

According to the territory’s Revised Organic Act, essentially acting as the constitution, any excise tax collected on rum produced in the Virgin Islands and exported to the mainland U.S. is transferred back to the Virgin Islands. Every year, the V.I. government provides an advance estimate of these rum excise taxes to the Interior Department’s Office of Insular Affairs, to facilitate a payment by September of each fiscal year.

Adjustments to these payments are calculated and issued based on the advance amounts from rum excise taxes derived from the Virgin Islands against the actual receipts collected by the federal government. For the fiscal year 2025, the advance payment to the V.I. government was calculated using the rate of $10.50 per proof gallon.

The rate had been capped at $10.50 since 1984, with brief fluctuations.

The rate changed to $13.25 in 1999 but required annual approval by Congress, making the territory’s financial planning uncertain. The federal Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 set the per-gallon rate to $13.25 for five years following the back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes of September 2017, but that expired at the end of December 2021.

Governors and congressional delegates have long pushed for a higher rate, with Gov. Kenneth Mapp advocating shortly before the storms.

The per-gallon rate is crucial as legislation was signed into law in February 2022 to use the cover-over funds to stabilize the Government Employees’ Retirement System, projected to run out of funds by October 2024, according to GERS actuary Segal and Company.

Angel Dawson, the administrator of GERS, communicated that his estimates showed a significant reduction in the rum cover-over revenue, amounting to $47.4 million less than the previous year.

“We do not possess specific details about this issue yet. Nonetheless, it warrants attention for GERS, which anticipates receiving about $158 million on October 1 through a ‘funding note’ from the yearly cover-over revenue,” Dawson explained via text on Friday evening. “It seems GERS will face a shortfall again. Our actuaries predict we can sustain liquidity until at least 2036 with our current financial setup. However, they also suggest that our capacity to maintain retiree payments could become critical between 2037 and 2039 should the funding note fall short for another two years.”

Dawson highlighted that GERS achieved an investment return of $124 million in less than two years, which is a 31 percent increase from $400 million in September 2022 to $524 million by July.

“However, as I presented to the Virgin Islands Legislature just last week, our marketable assets could have been at least $34 million higher if we had received the complete allocation from the ‘funding note’ last year. When considering the time value of money and lost opportunity for investment income, the actual loss would have been even more significant,” Dawson added.

Neither the offices of Governor Albert Bryan Jr. nor Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett responded to requests for comment about the Interior Department’s announcement.

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The Virgin Islands received nearly $31 million less in rum cover-over payments for 2025 than it did in 2024, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced Thursday.

The estimated rum tax rebate for 2025 was $181,068,638 — $30,970,946 less than the $212,039,584 the territory was sent for 2024, which was $14 million less than allotted in 2023.

Under the territory’s Revised Organic Act, which serves as the territory’s constitution, any excise tax collected on rum manufactured in the Virgin Islands and exported to the mainland United States is transferred to the Virgin Islands. The government of the Virgin Islands provides an advance estimate of rum excise taxes to the Office of Insular Affairs at the Interior Department each year to facilitate a payment by September of every fiscal year.

Adjustments are made based on the initial estimates from rum excise taxes originating from the Virgin Islands versus the actual receipts collected by the federal government, as stated in a release. The fiscal year 2025 advance payment to the Virgin Islands government was calculated at a rate of $10.50 per proof gallon.

This rate has been fixed at $10.50 since 1984, although there were temporary changes.

The rate was increased to $13.25 in 1999 but required annual congressional approval, which made financial planning for the territory challenging. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 established the per-gallon rate at $13.25 for five years after the consecutive Category 5 hurricanes in September 2017, but this provision expired at the end of December 2021.

Governors and congressional delegates have long pushed for a higher rate, with Gov. Kenneth Mapp making such a plea just weeks before the storms.

The per-gallon rate is of particular importance since legislation was signed into law in February 2022 to use the cover-over funds to stabilize the Government Employees’ Retirement System, which was forecast to become insolvent by October 2024, according to GERS actuary Segal and Company.

Angel Dawson, administrator of GERS, said his calculations had an even deeper cut to the rum cover-over. He puts the figure at $47.4 million less than last year.

“We do not yet have any details regarding this matter. However, it is of concern to the GERS, which is scheduled to receive approximately $158 million on Oct. 1 under a ‘funding note’ paid by the annual cover over revenue,” Dawson said by text Friday evening. “From all appearances, the GERS will, once again, be short-changed. While our actuaries project that we will remain liquid through at least 2036, given our present financial structure, they also forecast that the system’s ability to continue paying retires will be threatened between the years 2037 and 2039 if we were to experience just two more years of funding note shortfalls.”

GERS put together a $124 million investment return in less than two years, increasing 31 percent from $400 million in September 2022 to $524 million in July, he said.

“However, as I testified to the Virgin Islands Legislature just last week, our marketable assets would have been at least $34 million higher had we received the full amount pledged under the ‘funding note,’ last year. Given the time value of money and the accompanying lost investment revenue opportunity, in actuality the amount would have been even greater,” Dawson said.

Neither the offices of Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. nor Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett responded to requests for comment about the Interior Department’s announcement.