I was excited for Square One Cucumber vodka. I’m always keen to try local products and Square one is a Novato-based distillery. Their cucumber vodka got rave reviews within the industry for its authentic capture of cucumber and a respect from outside the industry for its conscientious craft production. Even Oprah liked it, for what it's worth. The Tasting: Within seconds of uncapping the bottle I smelled cucumber water. The kind you might expect to find in the pitcher at a luxurious hotel lobby, filled with ice and fresh slices of the mild fruit. The flavor isn’t syrupy or saccharine like so many other flavor-infused liquors—I’m looking at you Pinnacle Swedish Fish vodka. Most impressively, the crispness of the cucumber takes off that acrid flair of vodka--you know that chemical burn of high proof booze that shoots through the sinuses. Sounds great, right? Not so much. Once the cucumber taste fades—and it fades fast—you’re left with the taste of bad vodka. It’s not Popov bad, but it ain’t much better. This cool-to-caustic vodka tastes of refreshing cucumber one second and rubbing alcohol for five minutes thereafter. In summary, Square One Cucumber isn’t the flavor-infused messiah vodka drinkers have been waiting for. And remember kids, beware products touting “organic” credentials, it’s a nebulous claim and certainly no guarantee of quality.
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