Brennen & Brown operate from Cheltenham in the heart of the Cotswolds, and their flavoured vodka range reflects a distinctly English sensibility — local ingredients, thoughtful combinations, and a restrained hand with the sweetness. The Cardamom & Plum expression is perhaps their most distinctive bottling.
Cold distillation is the key technique here, preserving the freshness and vibrancy of the local plums in a way that conventional heat distillation cannot match. On the nose, the cardamom announces itself first — warm, aromatic, and genuinely fragrant — before the plum sweetness emerges underneath. It is an unusual combination that works surprisingly well.
The palate delivers juicy plum fruit balanced by the warming spice of the cardamom, with neither element dominating the other. At 38% ABV, this is a shade below full strength, but it carries its flavours with sufficient conviction. The finish is pleasantly spiced, with a clean fruity fade.
This works especially well in a long drink with ginger ale and a squeeze of lime, where the cardamom spice plays off the ginger beautifully. An imaginative and well-executed flavoured vodka from an increasingly interesting producer.
