It’s true that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a beloved American classic. I had one for lunch, in fact. But do we really need a PB&J Vodka? Van Gogh thinks so, although their credibility must be examined after introducing the world to other questionable flavors (though non quite so horrid as those perpetrated by others – looking at you, Three Olives).

At this point, it’s becoming difficult to take such releases seriously. It’s also difficult to believe Van Gogh created PB&J vodka with of-age drinkers in mind. And apart from dumping it on bread, what’s the practical application? We’re hard-pressed to imagine a cocktail benefiting from the addition of peanut butter and jelly vodka.

That said, maybe we’re just not imaginative enough to get it. We’re certainly not the target market — 12-year-olds have that segment wrapped up. Which brings us to our next point:

The bottle is decorated like the average Willy Wonka factory. Or My Little Pony wallpaper. It’s hard to believe adults will purchase this. Although, the same can be said for whipped cream vodka, bubblegum vodka, and others of that ilk, which — as evidenced by increasing shelf space — seem to be doing fine.

Obviously, we have no plans to secure a bottle for ourselves, and our storage closet is already jammed with full bottles of obnoxiously-flavored vodkas. But in the spirit of honest reporting, we’ll at least provide some notes from Van Gogh’s Master Distiller, Tim Vos, who decided upon raspberry jelly after taste-testing a variety of sandwiches.

For me, the raspberry jelly came out the best…It is fresh, fruity and mingles very well with the oily structure of the peanut butter. While the fragrance is predominantly of peanuts, it is complemented by the fresh fruit aroma of the raspberry.  On the tongue, the roles are reversed and the raspberry flavor is more of the focal point, giving it a velvety texture with a hint of vanilla on the side.

If that’s your thing, Van Gogh PB&J Vodka is hitting store shelves now and retails for about $27. Or a week’s worth of allowance for your average sixth-grader.

Stolichnaya – one of the industry’s leading vodka brands and current producer of such flavors as chocolate raspberry, white pomegranate and wild cherry – just announced two flavor additions to their portfolio. From the company:

Stoli Hot offers the warm, fiery sensation of jalapeño peppers found on the bottle’s label and is the only jalapeño flavored vodka with significant mouth-heat. It is spicy on the palate yet has a delicate smoky quality. By contrast, Stoli Sticki is inspired by the candied, warm palate of the finest honey and has the added complexity of discernible floral notes that complement the subtle sweetness of its flavor profile.

The new products are updated takes on Stoli’s first flavors – Pertsovka (Pepper) and Okhotnichya (Honey and Herb) – each introduced in 1962. We can appreciate a return to your roots, but why the names? “Hot” is at least a solid reference to jalapeños, but “Sticki”? There are plenty of sticky substances I don’t want anywhere near my liquor. Sure, it’s just honey, and a quick glance at the label confirms it, but who wants to order a “Stoli Sticki and Soda” from their neighborhood barkeep? What’s wrong with naming the product Stoli Honey? It’s like Three Olives Purple. Sure you can make the connection to grapes, but why not simply call it what it is?

We’ll see if the new flavors catch on, or if Stoli Sticki becomes the star of the latest Internet meme. If you’d like to get your hands on a bottle, Stoli Hot and Stoli Sticki will become available in April 2012.

However, it comes from a company best known for producing entertainment awards like the Golden Globe statuettes; it’s a fixture in NYC nightclubs, comes in a chic bottle and relies heavily on lifestyle-oriented marketing. With few exceptions, such a pedigree often suggests a product that masks poor craftsmanship with pretty packaging. That said, let’s take it for a spin.

The first impression is a good one. The soft, sweet nose gives off pleasant grain aromas with no overwhelming medicinal notes. On the palate it’s silky smooth and offers a well-balanced blend of sweetness, citrus and spicy grain. It finishes short, clean and dry with no burn.

Despite some reservations noted above, Vision Vodka performed admirably. It’s a good representative of wheat vodkas and shows how solid production methods can produce quality, ingredient-driven spirits.

The small-batch vodka is currently available in New York and New Jersey.

Stats:
- 40% Alcohol by Volume
- $28

Like that? Drink this:
- Blue Ice Vodka Review
- Cinco Vodka Review
- Death’s Door Vodka Review

Karlsson’s Gold is an industry rarity, in that it’s the product of a single distillation and is unfiltered. To give this more weight, Smirnoff is distilled three times, Svedka and I Spirit Vodka are distilled five times, Tito’s goes through six distillations and Russian Standard Imperia is distilled a whopping eight times. Karlsson’s Gold is a testament to the fact that quality raw materials and proper distillation technique far outweigh the practice of multiple distillations. And whereas most vodka is stripped of flavor via three or more distillations, Karlsson’s retains lots of its natural flavors and aromas.

On the nose Karlsson’s is rich and creamy, with an earthy bouquet upfront followed by some vanilla, citrus and cocoa. Take a sip to find more chocolaty flavors, which are turning into a pleasant surprise. Behind that sweet and creamy component is a peppery spice that leads to a clean, lingering finish.

Pretty good stuff. Karlsson’s recommends adding some freshly ground black pepper to the vodka, which tastes about how you’d expect – Karlsson’s with black pepper. But it seems to bring out more of the vodka’s natural pepper notes.

We’ve made it no secret that we’re not vodka guys, but Karlsson’s Gold Vodka isn’t your typical category representative. Cheers to the company for creating a vodka with plenty of aroma, flavor and character.

Stats:
- 40% Alcohol by Volume
- $40

Like that? Drink this:
- Russian Standard Vodka Review
- Death’s Door Vodka Review
- Blue Ice Vodka Review

On the nose, Bak’s Bison Grass Vodka is full of grains, grass and creamy vanilla rather than vodka’s notorious rubbing alcohol top notes. Take a sip and taste more of that vanilla, plus notes of pistachios, cardamom and honey. It’s warm and oily on the palate and finishes with a lingering sweetness that turns dry and spicy at the end.

Notice the blade of bison grass in the bottle. Rather than being distilled from the grass, Bak’s is distilled from grains and then flavored with bison grass. But unlike most flavored vodkas, Bak’s lacks chemical overtones and tastes quite authentic. There’s also a noticeable yellowish color to the spirit. It’s unclear whether that comes from the grass itself or from an artificial coloring agent.

Overall, it’s an interesting vodka – and certainly one with flavor – but it’s not an easy mixer. Zubrówka is often served with apple juice, which works well enough, and basil with a spritz of soda seems a natural pairing. But get more creative than that and the unique flavor can muddle an otherwise drinkable cocktail.

Stats:
- 40% Alcohol by Volume
- $25

Like that? Drink this:
- ZU Bison Grass Flavored Vodka
- I Spirit Vodka Review
- Blue Ice Vodka Review

Russian Standard Gold uses the finest Russian ingredients including carefully selected Siberian Golden Roots for a uniquely rich and exceptionally smooth taste.  Russian Standard Gold is soft on the palate and has hints of spice, vanilla and cinnamon notes. This exceptional vodka is best consumed neat, as a chilled shot or on the rocks.

The exquisite packing – with its luxurious gift box and embossed gold-foiled label – expresses the tradition of Russian generosity and gift-giving. Open the box and the bottle is revealed in all its glory, adopting the traditional and authentic Russian Standard bottle shape.

Russian Standard Gold debuted in Russia in 2008 and is currently launching in multiple international markets. A 750ml bottle will retail for a hefty $45.

Like that? Drink this:
- Russian Standard Vodka Review
- ZU Bison Grass Flavored Vodka
- Reyka Vodka and Icelandic Bitters

Can you make vodka out of anything?

Almost. Anything that you can ferment can be turned into ethanol. Add some water and filter it enough times, and you’ll get a colorless, odorless and tasteless alcohol, which adheres to the actual definition of vodka. Thankfully, some vodkas do have flavors and aromas, making them more than just vehicles for Red Bull consumption.

Here’s a look at a handful of vodkas featuring different ingredients:

Blue Ice Vodka – American vodka distilled from Idaho Russet Potatoes

Death’s Door Vodka – Wisconsin-based spirit distilled from a 60:40 mix of local organic wheat and malted barley

I Spirit Vodka – Italian vodka made from a blend of white grapes and grains

ZU Bison Grass Flavored Vodka – Polish vodka distilled from rye grains and infused with plant extracts that mimic the flavor of Polish bison grass

Karlsson’s Gold – Swedish vodka that’s hand-made from a blend of seven varieties of virgin potatoes. It’s distilled only once, and is done so in an unfiltered process that preserves the inherent characteristics of the ingredients.

In the below video, Karlsson’s explores the many production methods and ingredients for vodka, and highlights some of the more ridiculous marketing claims and gimmicks.

Autumn Sage

1 1/4 parts GREY GOOSE Le Citron Vodka
1/2 part Green Chartreuse
2 one-inch pieces of fennel, diced
3 sage leaves
3/4 part agave nectar
1 part lemon juice
2 parts seltzer water

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the fennel, sage and agave nectar. Add ice and the remaining ingredients, and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with fennel fronds.

Golden Harvest

1 1/2 parts GREY GOOSE La Poire Vodka
1/2 part St. Germain Elderflower Cordial
1 part lemon juice
1/2 ounce agave nectar
1 tablespoon freshly shucked or roasted corn

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the corn and agave nectar. Add ice and the remaining ingredients, and shake vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and chili powder.

Balsamique

1 1/2 parts GREY GOOSE® Vodka
3/4 part Crème Yvette
1/4 part balsamic vinegar
1 part pomegranate juice
3/4 part agave nectar
1 to 2 parts seltzer water

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add first five ingredients. Shake vigorously and strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice. Top with seltzer, and garnish with a fresh orange slice.

Like that? Drink this:
- Belvedere Vodka Cocktails
- Reyka Vodka and Icelandic Bitters
- Vodka Reviews

Death’s Door Vodka is clean and simple on the nose and lacks the rough, alcoholic top notes present in so many vodkas. The 60:40 mix of locally-sourced organic wheat and malted barley comes through, with mild aromas of grain and cereal. Take a sip to taste one of the softer vodkas on the market. It’s oily and creamy on the tongue, with semi-sweet flavors of vanilla. It finishes clean with a dryness that slowly fades. This is pretty drinkable stuff.

Overall, we like these Death’s Door chaps, and it’s not just because of their good gin, good vodka and decent white whisky. We’re suckers for artisan distillers utilizing local, organic ingredients and traditional processes. Yes, you pay more for such luxuries, but unlike similarly priced imported brands, your extra money goes toward their production costs rather than their marketing bills.

Stats:
- $28
- 40% Alcohol by Volume

Like that? Drink this:
- Death’s Door Gin
- Cinco Vodka
- Blue Ice American Vodka

Black Cherry Mule

1.5 oz Belvedere Vodka
6-7 fresh black cherries
Dash of simple syrup
1/2 oz lime juice
Dash Peychaud’s bitters
Ginger beer

Muddle cherries, then shake all ingredients except ginger beer with ice. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Top with ginger beer, and garnish with a cherry.

Intense Liquorice Sour

1.5 oz Belvedere Intense
1/2 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz licorice syrup
Dash licorice bitters
Dash egg white

Dry shake all ingredients. Add ice and shake again. Strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass, and garnish with a lemon wheel.

Monin makes a serviceable licorice syrup. Licorice bitters are difficult to find in stores but can be purchased online.

Like that? Drink this:
- Reyka Vodka and Icelandic Bitters
- Cinco Vodka Review
- Blue Ice Vodka Review