Product: Crater Lake Hazelnut Espresso Vodka Producer: Bendistillery Approximate Retail Value: $20/bottle Category: Vodka Country of Origin: Oregon, USA Reviewer: R. Pietsch The F Words: Flavor – Powered down (in the best possible way) versions of Frangelico and Kahlua. Feel – Room temperature espresso, cooled with a drop of vodka. Finish – Doesn’t linger long enough before the delight comes to an end.

Rating:

Rounding out the Bendistillery product line, we end with their most heralded product: Hazelnut Espresso Vodka. This bottle won the platinum medal for Best Flavored Vodka in the World Spirits Competition of 2006. That being said, I approached this product with a bit of apprehension. We taste a lot of flavored vodka’s here at SexHerald. Generally, they represent both the best and bane of this job. But truth be told, this vodka is probably worthy of the title “Best Flavored Vodka.”

Bendistillery Hazelnut Espresso Vodka is more than you’d expect, better than you’d hope, and maybe even a little better than you’d imagine. If you’re into coffee-flavored spirits, then this is simply for you. Prior to this, I had never tasted anything of the quality of Brinley Gold Coffee Rum. That was the benchmark for coffee-flavored anything. Do not mistake me; these are two entirely different beasts altogether. But this is the first flavored spirit I have tasted in quite some time that is of that quality.

I’ve been writing reviews for a long time now (and tasting vodkas for even longer). I realized after a bit of thought that this is quite possibly the best flavored vodka I have ever tasted. The nose tells you exactly what you’re in for. Hell, you don’t even need to taste. It’s the exact same smooth, robust flavor with that sweet hazelnut flavor right up front. You might not even believe there’s alcohol in it. But there is… kind of.

This Bendistillery product falls a bit short on the proof margin. In all honesty, I liked a couple of their other products better, but that is simply taste. While everyone might not enjoy the feel of one of the only perfect American vodkas on the palate, they would most likely appreciate the same vodka’s use in such a concoction.

Bendistillery has a nearly perfect product here. It is what it is: outstanding flavored vodka. It’s doubtful it will find itself served neat besides as an after-dinner cordial. But in truth, it’s the kind of thing a bartender dreams about. See, now they can make that fancy dessert drink without ringing up Goose, Frangelico, and Kahlua. Hell, set those three side by side, pour 1/3 of each into a shot. Then pour one whole shot of Bendistillery’s Hazelnut Espresso. You would, hands down, have the far superior shot in the second glass. If that wasn’t clear enough, Bendistillery’s Hazelnut Espresso Vodka is like three top-shelf spirits combined—but better.