Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links. We do receive a small commission when you click on our links and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you). We always give our honest opinions, and these opinions are fully our own. See our Disclaimers →
Meili Vodka
About Meili Vodka
Meili Vodka is produced by Meili Spirits, a celebrity vodka brand owned by Jason Mamoa and Blaine Valvorson. Based in Bozeman, Montana, Meili is created with locally sourced grains and pure, unprocessed spring water from an alpine aquifer. They own the family-run farms that produce their grains, which are strategically located close to the distillery for a lower carbon footprint.
Although not much is disclosed about their production process, they do mention that their vodka is rested at the end of the distillation process, before being bottled in hand-blown, post-consumer recycled glass bottles. They take pride in the fact that no two bottles are alike.
Bottle Specs
❖ ABV: 40%
❖ Distillery: Meili Distillery
❖ Aging: N/A
❖ Price Point: lower moderate
My Tasting notes
The aroma of this vodka was sweet on the nose, with a subtle hint of alcohol scent coming through after several whiffs. Overall, it was a mild aroma with no distinct notes.
My first sip of Meili vodka had a harsh flavor with notes of wheat on the finish. As I continued, the harshness remained consistent, though sweet honey notes also began to emerge in both the nose and the palate. Overall, it was not very pleasant to sip without mixers.
Cocktail
Summer Sweetheart
recipe by Emmeline Gonzalez-Beban
Ingredients
- 1 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
- 2 oz grapefruit juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
Instructions
- add the ingredients to a shaker with ice, and shake until chilled
- strain the mixture into a glass
- garnish with an edible flower if desired
Inside of a cocktail, this vodka was pretty underwhelming. I found it to be a bit bitter and difficult to balance, with no recognizable flavor notes of its own. I came up with this original cocktail back in 2020, so, at this point, I’ve made it several times with different vodkas. However, this Meili Vodka really had a hard time balancing out the natural bitterness of the grapefruit. It just didn’t cut it.
Bottom Line
At the end of the day, I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending this bottle of Meili Vodka. For me, the flavor was lackluster, and it lacked a certain smoothness that I would expect based on the marketing materials. The entire time I was tasting this vodka straight, my mouth just wanted it to be over. It did alright as a mixing vodka, though you could probably achieve similar results with a cheaper option.
What’s more, I found the process of reading their website to be quite frustrating. Through the flowery and poetic language, the information sometimes said very little, and sometimes twisted things to the point of trickery. It felt like an attempt to gaslight us all into thinking this vodka is more “sustainable” and eco-friendly than it actually is.
As far as I can tell, they are pretty much doing the bare minimum by using recycled glass for their bottles. They also mention that their farm is “located centrally” to the distillery and the water source, as evidence of a low carbon footprint. I found this wording to be very odd, and was left wondering about the distance between the water source and the distillery. Not to mention, there are many efforts they could take to have a low carbon footprint at the distillery itself, yet they don’t mention any. I must say, it left a sour taste in my mouth as a consumer.
I don’t think I will be purchasing Meili Vodka again.
As always, drink responsibly.
Not Quite what you're looking for?
SEE OUR OTHER VODKA REVIEWS: