Not Your Average Supermarket Vodka
Cîroc gets a bit of stick for being a celebrity-endorsed brand, which is fair enough. But strip that away and you've got something a bit different from your standard grain vodkas. It's made from French grapes, distilled five times, and that actually does come through. There's a softness to it, less of that harsh alcohol bite you get from cheaper bottles. Neat over ice, it holds up. Mixed into a vodka tonic with a good quality tonic, it's spot on.
I remember grabbing a bottle before a mate's birthday last year, half-expecting it to disappoint, and honestly it didn't. Smooth enough to sip, versatile enough to mix. Not a complex spirit by any means, but it's not pretending to be whisky.
Who This Is For (and Who Should Skip It)
If you want something to stock the home bar that looks decent and drinks well without spending proper money, this is a reasonable shout at this price. Under £20 for a 70cl is noticeably cheaper than most supermarkets right now, and the Subscribe & Save price brings it down further if you know you'll go through it.
That said, if you're a vodka purist chasing complexity or you already have a favourite bottle you swear by, Cîroc probably won't convert you. It's smooth rather than characterful. And if you mainly use vodka in something strongly flavoured, honestly just grab a cheaper bottle.
For a party, a gift, or just rotating through something better than the basics, though? Not half bad at this price.
