Three Olives Flavored Vodkas

Three Olives is one of the vodka brands that makes a superior premium clear vodka and backs it up with many outstanding flavors. The vodkas are handcrafted in small batches in England from fine English wheat. This vodka line is matched in quality, availability and flavors by only a few other companies and many of their infused vodkas stretch the limits of what we consider the "clear, flavorless spirit" but do so in an austere, yet innovative, fashion.

When I first heard of Three Olives releasing these three flavored vodkas and tomato was on the list I thought there was some great potential here. My Garden Jubilee cocktail is an example of the mixability of this unique vodka, which is great paired with other flavors of the garden like basil, oregano and cucumber. A hint of citrus is almost necessary in these cocktails to offset the tomato. If you're thinking of a Bloody Mary don't bother; the tomato juice covers up every aspect of the tomato vodka and leaves it useless. However, in fresh tomato cocktails (especially with cherry tomatoes) like the Tomojito it is the perfect balancing ingredient. The main point with a flavored vodka like tomato is to compliment it without suppressing it.

Cocktails:

• Garden Jubilee
• Tomojito

Tasting Notes:
Tomato-infused vodka is an interesting experience and in the Three Olives bottling the tomato is light and airy, especially in the aroma. The palate is slightly bitter and the tomato flavoring is pleasant but needs to be mixed in cocktails. The finish is very dry and the tomato taste stays around just a little too long.

Released in July, 2008

Why take on a flavor like root beer in a vodka? There are a number of advantages. First of all it is great well chilled and on the rocks - a sort of non-carbonated root beer with alcohol. Then there is the ability to create a vodka and cola that has the flavor of root beer or combining it with vanilla vodka and ginger ale to create your own root beer - both of which essentially create an adult root beer that tastes better than the average commercial root beer. Finally, a spiked, uncarbonated, short root beer float, need I say more? If you like root beer and vodka on their own and want the taste of root beer without the soda aspect this vodka is perfect.

Cocktails:

• Rock Star Root Beer
• Root Beer Floatini

Tasting Notes:
Three Olives Root Beer Vodka is like a spiked, homemade sasparilla through and through. The fragrance, even of an open bottle, screams small-batch sarsaparilla and makes you think you're belly up to the bar with an old-fashioned root beer in hand. The entry is light an relatively transparent with a palate of light sarsaparilla, vanilla and cherry. This vodka finishes as clean as any carbonated root beer with notes of licorice, cherry and an oh-so-smooth sarsaparilla root.

Released in July, 2008

Espresso is one of the hot new flavors of vodka and Three Olives has released a Triple Shot Espresso which is rich and has a great roasted bean flavor to it. There are three shots of Italian espresso inside each bottle and if you're looking for an delectable coffee-flavored martini this is a tasty and easy way to get one. The vodka is rather thick, but that's to be expected when working with espresso and with a few ice cubes it makes a great after dinner sipper. When mixing this espresso into cocktails I highly recommend putting it against citrus or tropical flavors that balance its darkness. The drinks below are great examples, one with orange and the other with amaretto and coconut.

Cocktails:

• Ginspresso Martini
• Spiked Three-O Mocha
• Triple Espresso Martini

Tasting Notes:
The fragrance of the Triple Shot Espresso is filled with fresh roasted coffee beans with hints of dark chocolate. The palate is the ultimate in smoothness throughout with a dark coffee and chocolate base, finishing off with dark roasted hazelnut coffee subtly fading into a caffeine "high."

Released in July, 2008

Three Olives Vodka produces 16 flavored vodkas (beyond the popular clear vodka, which is the base for all others) including:

• Berry
• Cherry
• Chocolate
• Citrus
• Grape
• Green Apple
• Mango
• Orange
• Passion Fruit
• Pomegranate
• Raspberry
• Root Beer
• Tomato
• Triple Shot Espresso
• Vanilla
• Watermelon