Launched in August 2013, Stoli Salted Caramel arrived at the peak of the salted caramel craze — that culinary trend that saw salt added to every sweet thing imaginable. Unlike many trend-chasing products, however, this one actually works rather well.
The key is balance. The caramel is rich and buttery, providing sweetness without becoming saccharine, while the salt adds a savoury counterpoint that keeps your palate engaged. Stoli's clean wheat-and-rye base spirit provides enough backbone to remind you this is a vodka rather than a liqueur, which is crucial.
On the nose, it smells genuinely like salted caramel — buttery, sweet, with that tell-tale salt edge. The palate delivers on the promise, with the sweet-savoury interplay working beautifully. At 37.5% ABV, it is lower strength than standard vodka, but the flavour intensity more than compensates.
The obvious serve is an Espresso Martini with this substituted for plain vodka — the salted caramel and coffee combination is a match made in heaven. It also works surprisingly well in a hot chocolate or poured over vanilla ice cream for an adults-only dessert. At £25.75, it is honestly priced for a well-made flavoured vodka from a reputable producer.
