Type Vodka | Producer Nolet Distillery | Region Netherlands > Schiedam | ABV 40% | Volume 700 ml | Price (AUD) ~$65
House notes
Ketel One is a tick above Absolut in both price and presence. Made from European wheat, pot-distilled in a small copper still called Distilleerketel No. 1 (hence the name), and it has a grain-sweet softness that Absolut doesn’t. In an Espresso Martini it gives you a slightly rounder mouthfeel. In a Martini it earns a neat pour better than most vodkas. You can tell it is there, which is either a feature or a bug depending on what you want out of a vodka drink.
What it pairs with
Same cocktail roles as Absolut but with a little more weight. Espresso Martinis, Vodka Martinis, Vespers (if you must), and Moscow Mules. Slightly better as a feature bottle in a clean Martini with olive brine or a twist. Food again plays the supporting role: smoked trout, caviar, a tin of good sardines on dark rye, or late-night cold roast chicken eaten standing at the fridge. Keeps in the freezer.
About the producer
Ketel One has been made by the Nolet family in Schiedam, the Netherlands, since 1691. Yes, the same family, same town, since 1691. That is not marketing; that is just the Dutch.