Across India's flavoured vodka market, fruit-inspired profiles offer a variety of tasting experiences. Green apple brings a crisp fruit character with gentle tartness, while jamun is known for its distinctive sweet-and-tangy profile.
In this guide, Sarao Distillery explores the fundamentals of vodka, the role of filtration, and the tasting characteristics of two flavoured vodka expressions: Old Speech Green Apple Vodka and Russian Night Jamun Vodka. Both have a stated alcohol strength of 37.5% ABV, but each has a distinct flavour identity.
What Is Vodka?
Vodka is a distilled spirit made from fermented agricultural ingredients, such as grain. The ingredients and production methods can vary between producers.
During production, fermentation converts suitable raw materials into alcohol, which is then distilled to achieve the intended spirit character and strength. Filtration may also be used after distillation to refine the spirit.
The Role of Filtration
Filtration is a process used in spirit production to help refine the spirit and remove certain unwanted particles or impurities, depending on the filtration method. Its effect depends on the materials and process used; the number of filtration stages alone does not establish a spirit's overall quality.
Russian Night Jamun Vodka is filtered seven times, making filtration a defining feature of this expression.
Flavoured vodka builds on the underlying spirit by introducing a distinctive flavour profile. Depending on the product, this can include fruit-forward notes such as green apple or jamun.
1. Old Speech Green Apple Vodka
Crisp Apple Flavour. Exceptionally Smooth.
Old Speech Green Apple Vodka combines a vodka base with the lively character of green apple. Its profile centres on fresh apple aromas, fruity sweetness and gentle tartness.
The green apple character gives this expression its identity, while subtle citrus notes add another dimension to the aroma. Its balanced fruit profile is designed to deliver recognisable apple character without allowing sweetness to dominate.
Explore the product: Old Speech Green Apple Vodka
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Clear and colourless.
Aroma: Fresh green apple with subtle citrus notes and a clean, fruity character.
Palate: Juicy apple flavour with balanced fruity sweetness and gentle tartness.
Finish: Clean and crisp, with lingering apple freshness.
What Defines Old Speech Green Apple Vodka?
- Category: Flavoured Vodka
- Character: Bright apple, gentle tartness and a clean finish
- Defining notes: Fresh apple, fruity sweetness and subtle citrus
- Alcohol strength: 37.5% ABV
- Signature profile: Green apple with a balanced sweet-and-tart character
The defining feature is the balance between apple sweetness and gentle tartness. This gives the expression a recognisable fruit profile rather than a taste based on sweetness alone.
Serving Suggestions
Old Speech Green Apple Vodka can be served chilled or over ice. Soda water offers a straightforward option for a longer drink, while tonic water and lemonade provide alternatives for different taste preferences.
For a simple green apple and lime soda serve, pour the vodka over ice, top with soda water and add a squeeze of fresh lime. The citrus provides a complementary note to the apple profile.
2. Russian Night Jamun Vodka
Seven Times Filtered. Distinctively Tangy.
Russian Night Jamun Vodka brings the distinctive flavour of jamun to a vodka base. Its profile combines fruity sweetness and tanginess with a hint of mint, creating a different experience from the crisp apple character of the Old Speech expression.
Seven-times filtration is a defining feature of Russian Night Jamun Vodka. The expression combines this production characteristic with a fruit-forward profile inspired by Indian jamun.
Explore the product: Russian Night Jamun Vodka
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Deep purple.
Aroma: Juicy jamun with subtle minty freshness and soft fruity undertones.
Palate: Tangy jamun flavour balanced by fruity sweetness and a crisp hint of mint.
Finish: Crisp and fruity, with lingering jamun notes and a cooling impression.
What Defines Russian Night Jamun Vodka?
- Category: Flavoured Vodka
- Character: Tangy fruit with a cooling hint of mint
- Defining notes: Jamun, fruity sweetness, tartness and mint
- Alcohol strength: 37.5% ABV
- Filtration: Filtered seven times
- Appearance: Deep purple
- Signature profile: Sweet-and-tangy jamun complemented by mint
The defining combination is jamun's distinctive fruit character and the fresh contrast provided by mint. The seven-times-filtered production process is another notable feature of this expression.
Serving Suggestions
Russian Night Jamun Vodka can be served chilled or over ice. Soda water provides a simple mixer, while tonic water or lemonade offers a different balance of flavours.
For a simple jamun and lime soda serve, pour the vodka over ice, top with soda water and add a squeeze of fresh lime. The citrus provides contrast to the jamun flavour, while soda water keeps the serve straightforward.
Green Apple Vodka vs Jamun Vodka
Both expressions have a stated alcohol strength of 37.5% ABV, but their defining aromas, flavours and finishes differ.
| Feature | Old Speech Green Apple Vodka | Russian Night Jamun Vodka |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Flavoured Vodka | Flavoured Vodka |
| Main flavour | Green apple | Jamun |
| Supporting notes | Subtle citrus | Mint |
| Taste profile | Fruity sweetness with gentle tartness | Sweet-and-tangy fruit character |
| Aroma | Fresh apple and citrus | Juicy jamun and subtle mint |
| Finish | Crisp apple freshness | Lingering jamun character |
| Appearance | Clear and colourless | Deep purple |
| Alcohol strength | 37.5% ABV | 37.5% ABV |
| Distinguishing feature | Green apple flavour profile | Seven-times filtration and jamun flavour profile |
The main difference is the flavour experience. Green apple offers a familiar fruit character with a crisp finish, while jamun brings a distinctive sweet-and-tangy profile complemented by mint.
Choosing a Serving Style
The way flavoured vodka is served can influence how its flavour is experienced.
- Chilled: A simple serving option for enjoying the expression on its own.
- Over ice: Provides gradual dilution as the ice melts.
- With soda water: Creates a longer drink without adding substantial sweetness.
- With tonic water: Introduces a bitter note alongside the fruit profile.
- With lemonade: Adds sweetness for a fruit-forward serve.
- In cocktails: Allows the flavour profile to be combined with citrus, herbs and other ingredients.
For green apple vodka, soda water and lime provide a straightforward citrus contrast. For jamun vodka, soda water and lime complement the fruit-forward character.
Conclusion
Flavoured vodka combines the character of a spirit base with a distinctive flavour profile. Understanding its aroma, palate, finish and production characteristics helps explain how different expressions stand apart.
Old Speech Green Apple Vodka focuses on fresh apple character, fruity sweetness and gentle tartness. Russian Night Jamun Vodka offers a different profile, combining jamun's sweet-and-tangy character with mint and seven-times filtration.
Explore the two expressions: Old Speech Green Apple Vodka and Russian Night Jamun Vodka .
Responsible drinking: Alcohol is intended only for adults of legal drinking age. Consume responsibly and never drink and drive.
