Vodka has a reputation for being "the spirit where you just pick a brand and move on." It's meant to be neutral. Flavorless. A blank canvas.
Here's the distinction: Most vodkas achieve neutrality by stripping away everything.
The Basmati Rice Choice
Why Basmati rice? Because vodka can be made from grain, potato, or sugar cane, but rice-based vodkas have a subtly different character. Rice-based vodka tends to have a slightly sweeter profile than grain-based vodka—not sweet like sugar, but sweet like vanilla notes and a creamy mouthfeel.
Indian Basmati rice is premium. It's aromatic. It's what you'd use for quality biryani. Using it in vodka isn't cost-cutting; it's a quality decision.
The Russian Moonstone Technology
"Moonstone filtration" sounds made up, but it's not. It's a mineral-based filtration process using a specific stone composition (historically used in Russia). The point: it creates exceptionally clean, pure spirits.
What does "exceptionally clean" mean practically? When you drink this vodka:
- No burn in the back of your throat
- No harsh alcohol nose when you smell it
- Smooth mouthfeel even at 40% ABV
- No lingering harshness
The Honest Take
Vodka at ₹800 is usually suspect. You're either getting mass-market quality or cutting corners somewhere. Xclamat!on Vodka walks a line: it's genuinely good vodka at an accessible price by using smart sourcing (basmati rice) and technology (moonstone filtration) rather than cutting corners.
It's not the smoothest vodka in the world. (Belvedere and other ultra-premium options edge it out.) But it's smooth enough that you're not paying premium prices for marginal improvements.
The Packaging
The glow-in-the-dark label works as well for vodka as it does for whisky. In a cocktail bar with mood lighting, these bottles are showstoppers. The aluminum snap lid signals premium without pretension.
Where You Can Get It
Launch markets (2025): Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Rajasthan, Daman.
Availability challenges: Same as the whisky—Delhi, Karnataka, and Maharashtra aren't included in the initial rollout.
The Last Sip
Xclamat!on Vodka is a solid "yes" if:
- You want premium vodka at an accessible price
- You prefer clean, refined spirits to bold flavor profiles
- You drink vodka in cocktails more than neat
- You appreciate that the premium doesn't require imported labels
- You're shopping for a bottle that looks great and performs well
Xclamat!on Vodka is probably not for you if:
- You're comparing it directly to ultra-premium imports (Belvedere, Ketel One)
- You're looking for "character" in your vodka (vodka isn't supposed to have that, but if you want it, choose gin)
- You need availability outside launch markets
- You've convinced yourself that only Russian or Swedish vodka is legitimate
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