Continuing our Russian 🇷🇺 theme, of course I just had to review vodkas this week!
I particularly had my interest piqued, by the brand fronted by Whitley Neill for their more casual gin-based spirits, as well as their non-gin spirits. Having started with a small range of vodka’s, J.J. Whitley now sell an expansive and exotic selection of vodkas - made with particular additions, processes and flavours, which I expect will attract many to most of the range, whether you’re in a party mood, or wanting to add to your connoisseur’s collection.
The only thing you’ve got to keep in mind, is that their bottles are not just ornately patterned, but also taller than the standard Whitley Neill fare. You might not have room to keep it in a small cabinet or shelf for drinks!
For this review, I’ve picked two stand-out choices from the J.J. Whitley range - both very Russian in character!
So here are my reviews of J.J. Whitley’s Potato Vodka, Vanilla Russian Vodka, and Black Russian cocktails which have included each of those (2 parts), mixed with the special edition Cold Brew Tia Maria (1 part), which is flavoured with 100% Arabica coffee, Jamaican rum, and Madagascan vanilla.
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Potato vodka
This traditional variant, using a mash of potato as the ingredient to distill, instead of the traditional mash of grains, is said to carry a generally sweeter flavour than ordinary vodka. The nose is like a standard vodka, with a very muted scent. It still hits the sinuses in the same way, but not with the exceptional burn of cheaper vodkas and their high evaporation.
The palate is equally muted, still delivering a typical vodka singe to the lips, and around the mouth, though still pleasantly enough. There’s a few catches of sweetness, ahead of a warm vodka finish.
But is it really sweeter than ordinary vodka? I’m not so sure!
What makes this one so different from most other vodka, is simply that it’s smoother, in both taste and texture.
And at least some of you may be surprised to learn, it doesn’t taste like potatoes!
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Vanilla Russian Vodka
Now I can place the blame for this choice squarely upon Sainsbury’s, or perhaps their supply deal with J.J. Whitley. When I went to the branch of Sainsbury’s in Morden, I had intended to purchase a bottle of their Artisinal Vodka - quite simply, their regular unflavoured vodka, as this would have made a much more obvious one to compare with their Potato vodka. However, I found at this store that a bottle of the size I was really looking for, was going for a more suitable price. The only difference being, it was Vanilla flavoured, instead of an unflavoured vodka. So I thought I’d throw caution to the wind, and buy it anyway!
This spirit has an exceedingly unique vanilla flavour. Syrupy, but not sickly. A sense of dessert taste, but not seeming too plain or common. It’s a vanilla flavour that’s had a lot of thought put into it. It supplements the singe of the vodka, rather than drowning it out.
The whole flavour sits for a long time on the palette, and then delivers a sweeter finish at the end. In fact, I would liken the finish to crème brûlée more than anything! Throw this in a crème brûlée mixture, maybe it will produce something really special?
For a bottle that seemed so cheap and cheerful, this has turned out to be far more full of flavour than I had expected!
And my housemate enjoyed it, too! I let him keep what I didn’t use 
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Black Russian with Potato Vodka
Delivers the coffee hit very nicely. Manages to be smooth and intense, at the same time. Really balanced palate. Creamy finish, like a really special liqueur coffee.
Just as most of us tend to view spuds and joe in our kitchens, this cocktail is humble, but with the potential to taste truly delightful! 9/10
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Black Russian with Vanilla Russian Vodka
Pleasant, but too much of a vanilla taste. It’s very much like having a vanilla latte from any chain coffee house, but they’ve added WAY too much vanilla syrup! Although it’s not too “yuck!”, you can’t really appreciate the coffee taste.
Might go nicely blended into a flat white, mind! 7/10
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