Heritage & Distillery
Portobello Road Distillery, located in London's Notting Hill, is better known for its gin — but its potato vodka range demonstrates that the distilling team's skills extend comfortably across spirit categories. This vanilla expression takes the British potato vodka base — already creamy and characterful — and infuses it with Madagascan vanilla pods, a combination that amplifies the natural richness of the potato spirit with the world's finest vanilla.
Tasting Notes
The nose is rich and inviting — genuine Madagascan vanilla, warm custard, butterscotch, and the creamy earthiness of the potato base. On the palate, the vodka is luxuriously creamy with vanilla pod character that tastes authentically natural, butterscotch, toffee, and the rich mouthfeel of the potato base. The combination of potato creaminess and Madagascan vanilla is inspired — each ingredient amplifies the other's richness without creating excess. The finish is medium-long with lingering vanilla cream, gentle warmth, and a clean, slightly sweet close.
Verdict
At seven out of ten, Portobello Road Madagascan Vanilla is a flavoured vodka of genuine quality and character. The potato base provides a textural richness that elevates the vanilla infusion beyond what a grain base could achieve, and the use of real Madagascan pods ensures an authentic, natural flavour. At under thirty pounds, it represents good value for a spirit of this quality. Particularly recommended for Espresso Martinis.
