Grey Goose La Vanille Premium Flavoured Vodka, 70cl

Product Information

We listed Smirnoff Vodkas as plural (vodkas) as opposed to the singular. Why? Because Smirnoff is the flavor leader of all vodkas. They have multiple vodka flavors, all of which can be used for vanilla bean extraction. The grade of these vodkas is D+ not because of taste. (The taste of a regular Smirnoff vodka vanilla extract is definitely an A) It's a D+ because there are specific flavor applications available through Smirnoff that might temp a first-time extract maker.

In the same way that all bourbons are whiskeys but not all whiskey is bourbon, all cognacs are brandies but not all brandies are cognac. Where whiskeys are derived from ryes, corn, barley, etc., cognacs and brandies are derived from grapes and fruits, so they are naturally much sweeter than bourbons and whiskeys. Cognacs are made only from grapes grown in the Cognac region of France, whereas brandies are made from grapes and even other fruits (like apples) from anywhere around the world. Another cognac that produces a wonderful vanilla extract. We see this brand of cognac and an alternative to the more expensive Hennessy, if you are determined to make a cognac vanilla extract but don't want to spend the Hennessy price. Like cooking and baking new treats for the first time, vanilla extract making should also be fun! We couldn't help ourselves when we made our first ever vanilla extract using coconut rum. While we don’t recommend using spirits that contain artificial flavors, this extract was a fun blend. Something about the coconut and the vanilla that made the experiment and the outcome surprisingly delightful. So why the B- grade? Because, outside of using it for coconut cream pies or pineapple up-side-down cakes, its applications are very limited. If you really love coconut and you really love vanilla, then you may want to give this a try. We like white rum for two reasons: 1) It is sugar-based which means you will get a sweeter extract, and 2) It is mostly tasteless, which means that after a year of extraction, you will primarily just taste the vanilla beans. This makes white rum a great kind of alcohol to use when experimenting with different beans. Try a white rum with a Tongan vanilla bean vs. a white rum with a Madagascar vanilla bean and you will smell and taste the dramatic difference between those beans almost immediately. As such, white rum's applications are almost universal. A Mexican vanilla extract made in a white rum can be used in almost any dessert, making this our favorite choice. Captain Morgan white rum specifically is a little less strong and more subtle, which results in a creamy and smooth extract.It can be distilled from any type of grains, potatoes, or even grapes worldwide. Due to its simplicity, this unaged spirit's main flavor factor is the quality of water and the ingredients used in the distillation process. We reviewed brandy and cognac for extract making in one of our live extract making parties. Here is the clip:

We have tried making vanilla extracts with vodkas that have artificial flavors. At first glance, using a vanilla-flavored vodka to make vanilla extract sounds like a great idea. Or perhaps a strawberry vodka for a strawberry/vanilla extract. In each of these cases, our extracts tasted metallic and unnatural. With the exception of coconut rum and spiced rum, we do not recommend using artificially-flavored spirts for at home extract making. Here's why you may want to consider cognac instead of brandy for vanilla extract: If you are conducting experiments on the impact of vanilla beans in different spirits, then you want to hold the spirit constant. A Hennessy cognac from grapes only grown in the Cognac region of France and approved by Hennessy's rigorous tasting standards will provide you a consistent, standard spirit base. Try one with Tahiti beans and one with Mexican beans and you will clearly note the difference in the final extract based solely on the beans. Taste of wild strawberries meet lemongrass with just a touch of citrus for an aromatic spirit like no other. Made with all-natural ingredients, carefully crafted with GREY GOOSE® Vodka. Explore Strawberry & LemongrassWe hear that vodka is vodka and, since it is largely tasteless, who cares what vodka you use? Well, that is mostly correct. We have tasted many different extracts with many different types of vodka and they truly are quite similar. This makes vodka the perfect kind of spirit to begin with because it's hard to mess up your extract based on the kind of vodka you use. However, we did notice a clear difference in vodkas that have been distilled 5 times and those that have not. We also noticed a difference over time in the top-shelf vodkas vs. the bottom shelf. Made in Texas, very affordable and surprisingly great! While not as smooth and velvety as a Grey Goose, this vodka proved to be a great medium for vanilla extraction. We used Mexican vanilla beans with our Titos vodka to see if you could still taste the mocha and caramel that are inherent in Mexican vanilla beans. An alcohol that is too strong will sometimes overpower the subtle notes of a vanilla bean. In this case, Titos was gentle enough to allow the softer elements of the bean to shine through. This is a great vodka for the price.

We can't wait to hear about what you have created and we hope you share the good and the bad with us! We love being part of your vanilla extract journey! In short, if you are new to extract making, then your first job is to create an extract tasting experience up to a year after you begin. The more you taste at once, the more you will be able to determine what you like and for what application. Here's a recent review of vodka's for extract making that includes the vodka's listed here and a few more: What spirit is best with what kind of vanilla bean? This clip from our extract making party might help: See our lineup of videos below where we test bourbons, rums, vodkas, tequilas, brandies, cognacs and more!

Very gentle on the nose, Grey Goose shows an almost ephemeral note of medicinality, the only hint that it’s actually a high-proof vodka and not something more innocuous, like coconut water. Slight notes of sesame oil, almond, and a hint of vanilla give it a light sweetness, again evoking something you might drink at the spa instead of the bar. The body is creamy and gentle, again showing on the palate a modest vanilla note and some spun sugar, making for an iconic New World experience that is often copied today. The gentle sweetness, marshmallow-like at times, really rounds out on the tongue, eliminating any sense of boozy sharpness or heat. The finish is equally clean and simple, lightly sweet with no bit whatsoever. Grey Goose is a top shelf vodka, and it proved to create a top-shelf vanilla extract. After a year, the vanilla bean taste became much more pronounced making it one of the most fully rounded vanilla extracts that we have ever made. If you're going for a bold vanilla taste and an aged vanilla extract that you allow to rest for more than a year, this is the vodka you should use. Made in France with a winter wheat blend that is truly unique.

Over the past couple of decades, Grey Goose has established itself as the UK’s top premium vodka brand. It’s been a long time since they’ve deviated from their classic formula, but they recently announced a new flavour — vanilla. Or Grey Goose La Vanille, as it’s been branded, as a nod to its origins in Cognac, France. We talk about this generally in another article about using different spirits for extract makin g, but we want to get even more specific here. We are going to talk about specific brands of alcohol that we have tried and the different outcomes we have experienced. Vanilla Extract making is all about trial and error, and we have tried and failed a LOT in our experience and we're starting to get pretty good at getting it right. There are three broad types of tequila: 1) a "Silver" which is distilled and immediately bottled, 2) a "Reposado" (rested) which is stored in a cask for 2-12 months and 3) an "Anejo" (old) which is stored in a cask for 1-4 years. We didn't believe that the taste of tequila would blend well with vanilla, and we were absolutely wrong. A vanilla extract made with a great tequila is a wonderful treat. For more information on Alcohol Responsibility visit: ResponsibleDrinking.org ResponsibleDrinking.eu and Drinkaware. Share content with those of legal drinking age and over only.

Grey Goose's lineup of flavored expressions is crafted with their winter wheat vodka serving as the base. Grey Goose La Vanille was one of the first flavored vodkas to be released by the company. Now it has returned after 15 years of absence due to popular demand. It's a complex and refined vodka that is infused with natural vanilla essence from Madagascar vanilla beans. Creamy with caramel, vanilla, white chocolate, and floral notes, the expression is bottled at 80 proof. A legendary spirit from a legendary distillery. This bourbon was recommended to us by one of our Facebook Group members, and it did not disappoint. This bourbon proved to blend well with Indonesian vanilla beans, especially Sumatra Indonesian beans. It is incredibly rich with a delicate blend of honey and caramel, and can you think of two flavors more complimentary in your homemade vanilla extract than honey and caramel? It has regular bourbon characteristics, just as a smokey undertone and a subtle bite, but it's a great bourbon base for first-time extract makers that are looking for something bold, but not overpowering.