Virtuous Vodka's organic credentials are more than marketing — this Swedish producer is committed to organic principles throughout the production chain, from the rye grain to the raspberries. The result, in the Raspberry expression, is a flavoured vodka that tastes genuinely of its fruit rather than of a chemist's approximation.
The nose offers fresh raspberries — ripe, sweet and immediately recognisable — with a hint of rye spice from the base spirit that adds an interesting savoury counterpoint. There is nothing artificial or confected here; this smells like real fruit because it is real fruit.
On the palate, the raspberry sweetness is balanced by the characteristic spiciness of the rye base, creating a more interesting and complex flavour profile than a neutral grain base would achieve. The organic production seems to yield a cleaner, more transparent fruit character — you can taste the berry in all its natural sweetness and tartness.
At forty per cent ABV — full strength rather than the reduced ABV common in many flavoured vodkas — this carries its flavours with conviction. It makes an excellent Raspberry Collins and is superb simply with soda and a sprig of fresh mint. A well-crafted organic spirit.
