Product: Idôl Vodka Producer: L’Heritier-Guyot Approximate Retail Value: $35/bottle Category: Vodka Country of Origin: France Reviewer: J. Harding The F Words: Flavor – Clean, crisp. Feel – Smooth, classy. Finish – Icy perfection.

Rating:

I did something trashy with my bottle of Idôl Vodka. I snuck it into the 6:45 showing of Happy Feet and mixed it with Diet Coke. I know; I should be ashamed. But honestly, I couldn’t help myself. I needed to take Idôl Vodka down a notch, down to my level, and see if this upscale liquor could perform in my world; the world of poorly mixed drinks and police auctions. As it turns out, Idôl Vodka performed remarkably, even in a theater full of screaming children and drunks.

I guess that’s the hard truth about high quality: It delivers no matter what the situation. Idôl Vodka is made from French wine grapes and the science and tradition of winemaking is certainly evident. The nose is sharp and invigorating, without being overwhelming. The first sip of the vodka on rocks I mixed myself after the movie was smooth and luxurious. I could tell that I was drinking something special. It had the slight burning edge of all good alcohol, and none of the gag-inducing impurities of cheaper brands. The finish was superbly crisp and refreshing. All in all, straight Idôl is a drink to cherish.

My martinis were also excellent, though I found the fruitier versions a little more satisfying than the dirty olive staple. Idôl’s origins in the vineyards of Burgundy may have something to do with that, because the cosmopolitan I tasted was top-notch. My dirty martini was good, but it was nothing compared to my lemon drop. Idôl’s website offered numerous martini recipes that included wine. I tried out the Black Pinotini and it was a truly splendid creation, fruity and subtle with just the right notes of blackberry. Idôl has made sure that I’ll be incorporating more wine into my cocktails. My vodka tonic was good, as was my gimlet.

And truly, the best thing about Idôl Vodka is its hangover. As evidenced by the list of drinks I tested, I should have been rolling on the floor the following morning. Instead, I was up and about, relishing the fresh sunlight hitting the water marks on my bedroom wall. High-quality filtered vodka does not give you the splitting headache or aversion to bright lights that Jim Beam or Popov do. If that’s not a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is.