Jump to:
Ketel One has been in the liquor market for about 300 years, and what makes it even more remarkable is that it was present during some significant historical events such as World War II and the Prohibition Period.
Nonetheless, the brand survived and continues to provide the same crisp, refined flavors for which it has always been recognized.
In this blog, you’ll find all about the Ketel One Vodka’s history, pricing range, and some delicious recipes.
What kind of Spirit is Ketel One?
Ketel One is a high-quality vodka that combines both contemporary and ancient methods of manufacturing liquor.
How did Ketel One come to be?
Since 1691, the “Nolet Distillery” in Schiedam, Netherlands, has been manufacturing spirits. The Dutch distillery was created by Johannes Nolet, a French migrant.
Johannes worked hard to build a name for himself in the country. His efforts were quickly rewarded when the city was dubbed “the capital of spirits,” and his unique concoctions followed suit.
In 1794, Jacobus, the sixth successor in the family, constructed “The Whale,” a windmill that processed wheat for the entire city and they chose to expand its operations to the United States.
Only 18 years later, due to the Prohibition Period, eighth-generation Johannes was compelled to close the distillery they constructed in the United States and return home.
When he returned to the Netherlands, he began working on his idea of a higher quality vodka drink, and so Ketel One Vodka was formed in 1983. Carolus dubbed it Distilleerketel # 1 after their earliest copper pot still.
Carolus Nolet took over the family company in 1979. Nolet proceeded to the United States to extend the distillery’s inventory, where he encountered a blossoming cocktail culture.
Nolet was sure that a high-quality vodka would flourish in the developing market, so he went to the Netherlands to develop his premium spirit and it was then Ketel One Vodka was introduced in 1983.
Fascinating Fact
Ketel One undergoes a special distillation technique. Column distillation is commonly utilized to create vodka, whereas pot stills are used to produce darker, richer spirits such as single-malt Scotch or navy rum.
Carolus Nolet Sr. believes that mixing column and pot stills results in a smoother flavor profile in Ketel One Vodka. Because pots are also used in the production of gin, Nolet’s inspiration for the technique came from his family’s distilling experience with jenever.
Family Tested
The Nolet family personally and rather explicitly endorse each bottle themselves.
Before the bottling process of Ketel One Vodka begins, it is individually tested and approved by a member of the Nolet family to ensure a high-quality taste and feel.
What does Ketel One taste like?
Ketel One is made from wheat grain, which is one of the best ingredients for creating a smooth and neutral spirit with a lovely broad-mouth feel.
Ketel One’s wheat grain is fermented and distilled in enormous column stills before being blended with the spirit that has been re-distilled in tiny coal-fired traditional copper stills, which is why it has such a unique flavor.
Ketel One Vodka has a crisp, clean aroma that is somewhat sweet with a lemon undertone. There are no fumes, and the citrus smells more like lemon than lemon Pledge, which is common in many of the vodkas in competition.
The initial feel of the vodka is smooth, sweet, and delicate, with hints of black pepper and citrus.
What Are Some Of The Most Popular Varieties For Ketel One Vodka?
Ketel One Botanical Vodka – In 2018, Ketel One introduced something unprecedented in the world: the Botanical Vodka range.
Diageo, Ketel One’s newest corporate partner, stated that a bottle of this vodka had fewer calories than standard vodkas. They referred to Ketel One Botanical Vodka as “diet vodka”.
Mint, Orange Blossom, and Cucumber are among the favorite flavors in the botanical series.
What is the price of Ketel One Vodka?
This crisp and transparent vodka, with a little sweetness from the wheat and a spicy aftertaste evocative of black pepper, has a 40% ABV, which is unusual for most brands and can compete with higher-priced vodkas on the market at a somewhat lower price.
Plain Ketel One Vodka
The ostensibly smooth finish of plain Ketel One vodka will cost at least $30 for a liter. This is similar to the cost of a 750 mL bottle of high-end vodkas such as Grey Goose or Cîroc.
Consumers frequently perceive the quality to be comparable to these expensive brands, and the vodka has the second-highest degree of loyalty among vodka labels.
Nonetheless, Ketel One is a long way from popular bargain brands that sell for less than $10.00 per liter. It’s even a long way from well-known mid-priced brands like New Amsterdam and Smirnoff.
Ketel One appears to be on its own level, and its popularity stems primarily from the fact that it consistently provided a high standard of flavor when compared to other competitor vodka companies, particularly most Western-European competitors.
Special Edition Ketel One Price, Variations, and Sizes
The company launched a limited-edition range to commemorate its 325th anniversary. Despite the fact that it is the same vodka recipe, the item arrives in a lovely copper bottle, a nod to their first copper pot still.
It is also significantly more expensive than their ordinary vodka but definitely a great item to have if you’re a collector.
| Type | Size | Proof | Average Price |
| Ketel One Vodka | 750ml | 80 | $19.99 – $21.99 |
| 1L | 80 | $29.99 – $34.99 | |
| 1.75L | 80 | $34.99 – $44.99 | |
| Ketel One 325th Nolet Anniversary | 750ml | 80 | $29.99 – $34.99 |
| Ketel One Oranje | 750ml | 80 | $19.99 – $21.99 |
| Ketel One Botanical Peach and Orange Blossom | 750ml | 80 | $19.99 – $21.99 |
| Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit and Rose | 750ml | 80 | $19.99 – $21.99 |
| Ketel One Botanical Cucumber Mint | 750ml | 80 | $19.99 – $21.99 |
| Ketel One Citroen | 750ml | 80 | $19.99 – $21.99 |
How should Ketel One botanical be served?
Ketel One Botanicals can be served and consumed neat, straight, on the rocks, or as a cocktail.
Popular Ketel One recipes
Spring Garden
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Ketel One
- ¼ oz. simple syrup
- ½ oz. lemon juice
- 2 oz. apple juice
- Mint leaves – for garnish
- Raspberries – for garnish
- Ice
Recipe
Shake all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker, then pour into a tall glass filled with ice. Serve with a raspberry and a mint leaf for garnish.
Smoky Martini
Ingredients
- 5 oz. Ketel One Vodka
- Rinse with Oban Scotch Whisky or Lagavulin
Recipe
Scotch the old-fashioned glass. Shake Ketel One Vodka with ice in a cocktail shaker and pour into a glass. Garnish your drink with a twist of lemon for that extra pizazz.
Vodka Appletini
Many popular vodka recipes include the use of citrus fruits or cranberry juice, which are quicker than most in masking the flavor of hard alcohol, especially vodka.
We have, however, prepared a recipe for all the apple flavor fans. Just mix the following ingredients in a shaker with ice and serve cold.
Ingredients
- vodka
- apple juice
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 tbsp. maple syrup
- Ice
Recipe
Shake all the ingredients together and garnish with a thinly sliced piece of apple.
