Hold a small pour of vodka up to the light or behind some white paper and have a look at the colour, clarity and luminescence of the spirit. Also make sure to check the “legs” of the vodkas – a good indication of viscosity and mouthfeel. Simply swirl the liquid around and see how it clings to the glass.

Smell

Aromatics play a massive role in taste – some say 90% of what we taste is what we smell. But particularly with a subtle spirit such as vodka it’s important to allow the volatile aromatics to rise gently to your nose. Just be sure not to get your nose too deeply into the glass like you would a wine, but rather swirl to agitate and inhale gently.

Our palates aren’t used to experiencing straight spirits at room temperature. So it’s always helpful to prime your palate by first taking in a tiny amount of the vodka, swirling it in your mouth and spitting it out. Then take another sip immediately afterwards. This will allow you to appreciate the liquid’s subtleties.