If you don’t like vodka, there’s a good chance you’ve never given it any thought as to what it’s made of. In its most basic form, vodka is a crystal-clear distilled alcohol comprised primarily of water and ethanol. We understand if that doesn’t sound delicious. There’s a reason why many vodka consumers say the majority of vodka is flavorless and forgettable.
While vodka may be manufactured from a variety of grains and fruits (including wheat, rye, corn, and even grapes), the potato has become a popular vodka foundation. Hundreds of years of vodka distillation have inevitably resulted in some gimmicky, over-the-top types, such as flavored vodkas and, most recently, Arby’s French Fry vodkas.
This Week, Frito-Lay dropped a vodka. You know, the makers of crispy, salty, iconic, wipe-your-greasy-hands-on-your-pants potato chips. While this might seem like just as much of a gimmick as the slew of flavored vodkas, it isn’t. The idea makes logical sense and even keeps with tradition.
Let’s get into what’s in the bottle.
Lay’s Potato Vodka
Christopher Osburn
ABV: 40%
Average Price: $40 (currently sold out)
The Vodka:
Lay’s partnered with Portland, Oregon’s Eastside Distilling to craft this limited-edition vodka produced with Lay’s proprietary potatoes — the same ones they use to make their own chips. To be clear, no, Lay’s and Eastside Distilling aren’t making vodka by emptying yellow bags of Lay’s chips into their fermenters. They’re simply using the company’s potatoes (and branding).
Tasting Notes:
The nose was a lot sweeter than I expected. It reminded me of corn-based moonshine even though the ingredients are only potatoes, yeast, and water. There were notes of vanilla, caramel, and slight fruitiness that made me excited to take a sip (it should be noted that I don’t often get excited to sip vodka). While fairly muted, there were notes of vanilla beans, slight citrus, and just a hint of cracked black pepper. The finish was surprisingly mellow, sweet, and featured just a hint of warmth to remind you that you are actually drinking vodka.
Conclusion:
As someone who doesn’t usually drink vodka straight, I’d prefer to try it on the rocks or with a splash of soda water and a touch of lime. Overall, despite its ridiculous name and description, this vodka is quite good.
Ranking:
85/100 — While not the best vodka I’ve ever had, the robust flavor profile and smooth finish with little to no harshness pleasantly pleased me.