Product: Level Vodka Producer: Absolut Spirits Co. Approximate Retail Value: $27/bottle Category: Vodka Country of Origin: Sweden Reviewer: Jerome D'Angelo The F Words: Flavor – Spicy with a bit of citrus. Feel – Silky, lingers on the palate. Finish – Smooth and clean, no sting.

Rating:

Try this for a second: Think of the last time you saw a bottle of Absolut vodka that didn’t have anything else besides the word “Absolut” in the name. Mandarin, Apeach, Raspberri, Kurant…yeah, it’s probably been a while, right? And just maybe, if you’re the type of drinker that bleeds grain alcohol, you’re wondering why Absolut is no longer so, well, absolutist in its approach to making a fine spirit.

Enter Level, a clean, smooth, pure grain vodka straight from Ahus, Sweden. Absolut Spirits Co. has created a truly splendid vodka made with a double distillation process resulting in one of the nicer vodkas out on the market today. Level combines the continuous distillation process created by Absolut to make its regular vodkas with a batch distillation process to give it a richer texture. The water used to make Level comes from Absolut’s well in Ahus, and its grains come from winter wheat grown in the south of Sweden. No additional sugars or additives poison this spirit, either.

Drinkers used to Absolut will find Level a remarkable improvement over its lower-shelf cousin. There’s no stinging biting bitterness to the finish. Level tastes as clean as the frosted glass bottle it comes in looks. You’ll notice some spiciness to it which, along with the citrus tones, don’t make Level feel light or watery on your tongue. The taste certainly doesn’t need to be masked by cranberry or orange juice, as Level is just fine poured over a few ice cubes and into your favorite glass to be enjoyed slowly.

If it’s a round of shots you’re ordering, though, maybe you should try another vodka, depending on where you happen to be enjoying the night out. Level’s not cheap; a bottle of it will cost about as much as a bottle of Grey Goose will, and sometimes that means the shots get expensive. Ladies, see if you can find some sucker at the club trying to get your number to start peeling off the 20s to cover the round. It’s not the taste that’s the issue. Quite the contrary, if you enjoy a smoother shot that’s actually a shot and not a miniature mixed drink, you’ll probably find Level to be right up your alley.

Drinkers of Grey Goose or Kettle One should definitely give Level a try. It’s even a bit smoother than Kettle One is in this reviewer’s opinion. The $27 per bottle price tag might turn off drinkers on a budget, but Level’s not what you want to be mixing your kamikazes with anyway. Let it sit next to your good whiskey and that unopened bottle of merlot in your cabinet to be enjoyed at a time when you can sit and savor the taste.