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Vodka Review: Belvedere by

Rating
3 out of 5 shots
Bang For The Buck
2 out of 5 shots
User Rating
3.6250 out of 5 shots
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Average Price
$32.00 per 750 mL / See By State / You add a price you've seen if you join VodkaBuzz.
Percent Alcohol
40
Distilled From
Rye
Times Distilled
4
Charcoal Filtered
Yes
Imported By
Millennium Imports LLC
Website
Belvedere
Cap Type
Cork

Identifying Features

Frosted bottle with window framed by trees, revealing an image of a palace printed on the back of the bottle.

Written on the Bottle

Warsaw, Poland. Poland's expert distillers are recognized for crafting the world's finest vodka. Belvedere, meaning "beautiful to see," is the name of the historic Presidential Palace in Poland, and is a fitting title for perhaps the worlds most delicious vodka. Handcrafted from 100% Polish rye and distilled four times, following traditions handed down for over 500 years.

Review

I've been leery of Belvedere because I linked it to Grey Goose. I decided to give it a go.

The Shot

I was really surprised at Belvedere. I was expecting more from a top shelf vodka. It's a little bitter. It stays a little bitter, then remains bitter after the swallow. It only burns a little, but I expect completely smooth from a vodka that claims to be of this quality (by price, that is).

The Mixed Drink

Belvedere is a great mixer. It mixes perfectly with Passion Fruit juice. I can't taste the vodka at all. Belvedere, it seems, is made for mixing.

Opinions

Erin said it was a good mixer but, "it just tastes like a mixed drink." I guess she meant it wasn't exceptional.

I like Belvedere as a mixer, but it isn't very impressive as a shooter. For the price, it's really overrated. There are better vodkas for the same price, and similar quality for less.

Comments On Belvedere

  1. Rich said on Apr 25, 2009 at 3:41 am...

    I personally think Belvedere is better than Goose, matter of face most of the times I've tried it I've found it pretty good. Admittedly most of the times I've tried it I've not exactly been sober to start with...

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  2. Robert said on Apr 25, 2009 at 7:14 pm...

    @Rich, I'd take Belvedere over Grey Goose. There's no shame in that. Belvedere is a bit better than Goose. I think there are better vodkas out there, of course, and definitely better for the price.

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  3. BJ said on Aug 16, 2009 at 6:55 pm...

    Can't agree with you on this rating, my friend. On your Vox review, I concur completely. However, Belvedere still remains one of my personal favorites. I'm looking forward to trying some of your other recommendations, but I'm a little wary after the low score you gave Belvedere. Looks like the users rating is higher than yours, which says something. Well, after all, it's a subjective thing, rating vodka. :-)

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  4. Robert said on Aug 24, 2009 at 10:42 am...

    Sorry for the delay in approving your comment. I thought I had done it already!

    Belvedere wasn't bad, but it wasn't impressive when I expected to be impressed. With middle shelf vodkas like Sobieski (also from Poland) doing a great job of representing the country at a very reasonable price, I'd expect "Luxury Reborn" to show me quality I can't get from an every-man's vodka. Belvedere let me down.

    That said, I'd still buy it over Grey Goose.

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  5. Ben said on Nov 16, 2009 at 2:48 am...

    Well, my friend and I did the big vodka showdown. Sobieski, Svedka, Belvedere, Grey Goose and Chopin. All were room temp or slightly cooled. I found Belvedere to be less sweet and more mellow compared to Sobieski head to head. Overall, I preferred Belvedere, but I was rooting for Sobieski admittedly. Chopin was a bit smoother and mellow, but had some funkiness to its flavor (like garlic, onions, or something) and I had to give Belvedere the nod. Grey Goose was very similar to Belvedere, but was a bit harsher and had more heat and lingering bitterness after the swallow. The nod went to Belvedere. It also mixed well with my Mountain Dew. My friend had similar conclusions. I didn't do side by side shot comparisons with Svedka, though.

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  6. Robert said on Nov 16, 2009 at 7:59 am...

    Interesting thoughts. I got some Chopin the other day when Daniel (helps me review sometimes) wanted to celebrate a poker win. I really like Chopin, but I didn't pick up on the flavors you mention. Maybe I like garlic and onion? It's been awhile since I've had Belvedere, but I think I agree with your assessments vs Goose. Ultimately, though, I'll take Svedka or Sobieski (if I could find it anywhere) for the bang for the buck.

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  7. taffyg2003 said on Jan 17, 2010 at 3:30 pm...

    I finally had a chance to try a Belvedere martini last night, and must say that it reminded me very much of Grey Goose. The flavor was a little softer than the Goose, but the bitterness and the burn on swallowing was similar. Of the seven vodkas that I have rated so far, I would rate it sixth, just ahead of Grey Goose. It's not bad, but with the far superior Tito's at home or the very nice Ketel One readily available at most bar and restaurants, I would have little reason to select it again.

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  8. slcmetalhead said on Apr 26, 2010 at 8:57 pm...

    This stuff has a mild smell - faintly citrusy. Not the most odorless vodka I've encountered, but the scent is pretty minimal.

    The taste also smacks of citrus, something like a dry gin. However, it's got quite a burn to it, though not enough to elicit a cough. It's not nearly as smooth an experience as I had hoped for. The aftertaste is a bit sweet... also a little bitter. It certainly lingers, in any case.

    Overall, it's not a bad vodka, but it's pretty ordinary, and grossly overpriced at $30 a fifth. I'd give this three stars for flavor alone, but in light of the price, I'm giving it 2 stars.

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  9. Austin said on Jul 03, 2010 at 11:40 pm...

    Alright I decided to do this test with a fellow spirit critique to get things right.

    We did a blind taste test between Belvedere, 360 Vodka and Sobieski. With lime in between tests, and a swig or two of water to cleanse the pallet.

    We rate the vodkas and smoothness and taste...

    Both me and my fellow taster rated Belvedere as the smoothest, without much of a burn. We rated 360 with the most taste, with a very crisp front like taking a breath of air after a new fallen snow. The Sobieski was a great in between. However, what gave it away was the ethanol smell that the Belvedere and 360 lacked.

    Over all I loved the Belvedere, thought it was smooth and had a very neutral taste. However I got it on sale for 23 bucks at a local grocery store. I would never pay for a 37 dollar bottle of vodka (which is the normal price around here). Factoring in the taste with the vodka, its "okay". I would expect a vodka to go down way smoother, and with less bite for almost 40 bucks for a 750ml.

    When you could easily pay 20 dollars for the same bottle of 360 vodka, or even less for Sobieski, seems impractical even if someone can afford the high price tag.

    Again, loved the vodka, thought it was smooth and right on. But it was nothing I couldn't get in a cheaper priced vodka.

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  10. Robert said on Jul 03, 2010 at 11:53 pm...

    @Austin it seems like, in my experience, all three you sampled were great vodkas. Depending on what you're after, each one could be the best. I know I pick based on a ton of variables. I'm not a fan of Belv in general, but I wouldn't turn it down with a friend. 360 and Sobieski are personal favs of mine, though.

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  11. Austin said on Jul 05, 2010 at 4:07 am...

    We did the blind taste test again with my wife this time. She however is not a fan of vodka, having said that she also picked belvedere as the smoothest with the least burn. Just another data point...

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  12. AZWolverine said on Dec 21, 2010 at 9:22 pm...

    Very good Polish rye vodka, smooth and sweet. In my tasting I chose it as slightly better than Chopin, a Polish potato vodka, and usually I prefer the potato.

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  13. neefoon said on Feb 06, 2011 at 3:45 am...

    Shooter:
    I only Shoot it with a wedge of fresh Orange straight afterwords.
    u should give it a try.. it makes this vodka worth keeping in the bar ;)
    Cheers :)

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  14. rbdeli said on Aug 02, 2011 at 8:34 am...

    Goodness, this really is an over-rated vodka. I discovered one called Russian Shot for less than half the price of the Belvedere and it was a better vodka! Smoother, creamier and well done. My own review on Belvedere very much reflects the opinions here.

    http://productreviewratings.com/2011/07/belvedere-vodka/

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