
One of the most famous vodkas in the world, Grey Goose is enjoyed by many. In this review, you will discover Grey Goose vodka as I cover the following topics:
- Review Formula
- Spirit Overview
- Robe & Appearance
- Nose & Aromas
- Palate & Mouthfeel
- How To Drink Grey Goose
- Cocktail Suggestions
- Recommended Pairings
- Overall Experience & Value For Money
Use the menu above to jump ahead or scroll down to read it all!
Watch The Video Review
Drink Overview
- Distillery: Grey Goose
- Expression: Original
- Variety: Vodka
- Region: Gensac-la-Pallue, France
- Age: NAS
- Casking: None
- Cask Strength: 40% ABV
- Pricing:
- Parent: Bacardi
Grey Goose was first released in 1997 and was created by Sidney Frank who worked with François Thibault, a well-known cognac producer. Thibault continued as the Maître de Chais when it was sold to Bacardi in 2004 for a whopping $2.2 billion.

Grey Goose Vodka’s Robe
- Hue: Clear
- Clarity: Crisp
- Viscosity: Thin
Needless to say, Grey Goose is a crystal clear vodka with no sediment. It doesn’t leave any residue if you were to rub it against your hands.
It is indeed a pure, nice vodka with just mineral water. It leaves somewhat surprisingly wide legs and a nice scallop against the side of the glass. They trickle down slower than you would expect. And in terms of depth, the clarity does give nice refraction of light.
Grey Goose Vodka’s Nose
- Notes: Cereal, Butter
- Nosefeel: Prickly
The nose feel is quite prickly, but not so much. It has a very mild bouquet. The notes that it delivers are reminiscent of butter and cereal. Intensity is quite mild. There is little diversity of notes. But there is a little bit of complexity between the simple buttery cereal accord.
Grey Goose Vodka’s Palate & Mouthfeel
- Primary Taste: Sweet
- Mouthfeel: Creamy
- Opening: Lemon Zest, Grape
- Heart: Anise, Cereal
- Finish: Short [Liquorice, Vanilla]
We’re looking at an overall umami primary flavour. The mouthfeel is quite warming. It opens with a hint of lemon zest and a vinous grape note. In the heart, you’ll experience anise and cereal. Finally, the finish delivers an accord of liquorice and vanilla.
It’s not overly complex, but you do have a very smooth mouthfeel. The harmony is balanced and the finish doesn’t seem to linger on the palate for very long, since it is quite mild in body.
How To Drink Grey Goose Vodka
As we often state in our reviews, the best way to drink a beverage is the way that you enjoy it the most. Therefore, don’t feel that we need to tell you how to drink Grey Goose vodka! Nevertheless, we’ll happily provide you with a few pointers.
Firstly, as it’s quite mild and smooth, it’s easier to drink neat, especially if you’re not used to vodka. Indeed, those who often struggle to sip vodka may enjoy Grey Goose. However, there are some who claim that it lacks character as a consequence.
Needless to say, Grey Goose is an excellent cocktail ingredient. As mentioned above, some may regard it too mild and easily overpowered by other ingredients. Nevertheless, it’s an excellent option if you want to create cocktails that are easy to drink.
Grey Goose Vodka Cocktail Suggestions
As mentioned above, Grey Goose is quite a mild vodka. Therefore, it’s best used a gentle base to delicate cocktails. Below, we have a couple of cocktail suggestions for Grey Goose vodka:
- Vodka Martini
- Espresso Martini
- Moscow Mule
- Black Russian
- Bloody Mary
Since Grey Goose is quite mild, it doesn’t offer the body and character that you would need in a stronger cocktail that heavily relies on vodka. However, it can make a strong cocktail quite smooth. For instance, it can bring out the vermouth in a Vodka Martini or help create a zesty Moscow Mule.
Best Pairings With Grey Goose Vodka
You could certainly consider enjoying Grey Goose neat with an ice cream dessert, specifically a fruit sorbet. Otherwise, consider seafood dishes such as langoustine or even caviar. I wouldn’t go for crab or lobster, though, as these are stronger in flavour. Langoustine is going to be a bit more refined and would pair better with a Grey Goose Vodka.
At Bespoke Unit we’re very fond of cigars. Therefore, we’ve considered a few as pairing suggestions. One of which is the Plasencia Reserva Original, which is made using organic tobaccos. It has some character, but a very smooth body, which would marry well with Grey Goose.
Alternatively, go for an Avo Classic, which is going to be much milder and somewhat affordable. But if you really want to try something a little bit more premium, that would be more in keeping with Grey Goose, why not a Davidoff Signature, but specifically the No. 2 Vitola?
Overall Experience & Value For Money
First of all, the distinctive smoked glass bottle is very well known. This is a newer bottle design featuring a close-up silhouette of a goose. The original bottle features a goose mid-flight. And, of course, there’s a French flag clearly displayed on the bottle. Indeed, the bottle plays on a reoccurring red, white, and blue theme.
What’s quite nice as well is that we have a synthetic cork rather than a screw cap, which is uncommon for vodka.
Grey Goose vodka is very versatile and can be used for a variety of occasions. In fact, it’s ideal for more lavish and special events. It may be seen as too excessive for budget-conscious occasions. Indeed, it’s around $35 for a single bottle. It’s similarly priced in Europe and even costs around the same as a 10-year old single malt whisky.
Closing Thoughts
Indeed, Grey Goose is a controversial vodka. It’s pricey and many claim that it’s so mild that its flavours border on bland. However, if you’re looking for a smooth and mild vodka that’s easy to drink, it’s a very good choice.
"A pleasantly mild vodka that's easy to sip neat."
Further Reading
Once you’ve finished reading our review, feel free to peruse our wide range of related content such as the following resources:
Grey Goose is so smooth because it is majorly watered down. They say it is 80 proof, but when I stuck the bottle in the freezer, it froze solid. I also put a jar of 80 proof moonshine in the freezer and that didn’t even form ice crystals That will prove what they are doing when charging so much money, even though prices have dropped because Tito’s and other brands are great, strong and cost less. It happens to anybody who rips off their customers by cheating them out of booze and raking in the cash.
Hey Marco,
Unfortunately, the freezer test is not the best determination given that some freezers can indeed get cold enough to freeze vodka. Moreover, moonshine has a lower freezing point than vodka, so it is indeed possible for a bottle of undiluted vodka to freeze and a bottle of moonshine to remain liquid in the same freezer environment. This being said, as with any spirit brand, vodka comes down to personal preference and it’s normal to find other brands to taste better and provide better value.
Regards,
Rafael