Imperial Exclusive Vodka

Imperial Exclusive Vodka is an impressive spirit for its price. It is produced in France from rectified grain which is distilled five times and combined with spring water from Normandy. Despite being at the bottom of Emperor Brands' hierarchy of vodkas, Imperial is better than most vodkas of equal value. It is only sold in 1 liter bottles but at $30 it is well worth having a little extra in stock for the everyday vodka cocktails and if you want to sip it straight, you'll find it surprisingly pleasant.

Vodkas are all about comparison, especially when we're talking about one of the newer, lesser known brands such as Imperial. People want to know which of the other, more familiar vodkas it is like and in this case there are many comparisons to be made. Among the other vodkas produced by the company like Emperor, Winter Palace and Versailles, Imperial is clearly the cheaper bottling but that doesn't mean that it isn't good - it's just not as good as the super-premiums, which is natural.

The best vodka to reference Imperial to is Absolut. They are both in the same price range, both have that bite in the finish that many vodka drinkers are used to and both have some flavor notes to them. However, side-by-side Imperial comes out on top. It is considerably smoother with comforting waves of butter and caramel that you might expect to find in the pricier vodkas. If you like Absolut but are looking for a change, Imperial would be my recommendation and even though it is harder to find than a bottle of the vodka giant, it is worth every second of the hunt.

Tasting Notes:
Very fresh, clean nose with buttery tones. Luscious and silky palate that is warm and filled with underlying caramel and butter notes. A rich, clean finish that is short but has a little bite.