Triple? Triple What?
Written: Dec 21 '03 (Updated Jul 21 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: It's easy to drink; Very versatile
Cons: Not much taste; Looks and acts like water
The Bottom Line: This is a weak malt beverage that tastes like watered- down Sprite with a dab of alcohol
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| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: |
The Smirnoff Company has been known for decades for its production of distilled spirits. Smirnoff Vodka, a mainstay of most restaurants and taverns, is one the best selling vodkas in the world and is a popular choice for lovers of mixed drinks calling for vodka.
Not too long ago, Smirnoff decided to tap into the market for “malternatives”- that is, beverages that are not really beer but are made with a malt base. The first product to be produced and sold was Smirnoff Ice. The follow- up to this beverage is Smirnoff Triple Black, a thirst- quenching beverage that cools you down and warms you up.
Basic Characteristics of This Product:
Smirnoff Triple Black is completely clear with an aroma of lemon/lime and a carbonation level that starts out lively, like a glass of club soda, but then settles down quickly. There is no foam at all with this product. It loses its “head” of carbonation within seconds after pouring, just like a glass of Sprite or Seven- Up.
This product has a sweet, fruity taste, with the citrus flavors of lemon and lime dominating. The lime flavor is not as pronounced as Smirnoff Ice. Triple Black is more lemony in taste and it’s not as tangy.
Triple Black is brewed using a malted barley base. The alcohol content of this beverage is 5 percent by volume with a carbohydrate level of 31 grams per 12 oz. serving along with 55 grams of sodium. Calories are higher than most beer, with 216 per serving.
Food Compatibility:
Smirnoff Triple Black is very versatile. Because it’s not very distinctive and yet sweet, it can be consumed with just about anything. The general rule to follow: If soda pop goes with it, then Smirnoff Triple Black will also go with it. It can be consumed with appetizers, sandwiches, main dishes, desserts, and just about anything else.
Final Thoughts:
Smirnoff Triple Black is the second “malternative” beverage product produced by Smirnoff. The original product, Smirnoff Ice, is still the best selling of the two, although sales of both of these products have been slowly falling since their respective releases.
Triple Black could be best described as a weaker- tasting version of Smirnoff Ice. Basically, this product is like a glass of lemony carbonated water with a small amount of alcohol added. It has many of the same characteristics of a mixed drink and if I didn’t already know I was drinking Smirnoff Triple Black, I would think someone had handed me a glass of Seven- Up with a little water added and about a half- shot of vodka. The flavor profile is weaker than Smirnoff Ice, with less lime taste and more of a crisp, clean finish with no bitterness at all, making it very easy to consume in high volume.
I did a little bit of research on this product and I found that Smirnoff created Triple Black in an attempt to appeal more to men. The concern was that the original product, Smirnoff Ice, was too feminine because of its white color and red Smirnoff label. Triple Black, on the other hand, is clear and has a black Smirnoff label. These slight changes were meant to make the product more “business like” and more “manly”. However, they also weakened the flavor a little bit when they created Triple Black, so I don’t know how they expect this product to catch fire with men. Most men, I think, will likely stick with beer.
The name of this product, “Triple Black” turns out to be meaningless. When I heard the name, I assumed that Smirnoff had “tripled” the ingredients or “tripled” the alcohol, or something. It turns out that nothing was actually tripled at all. The name (like I discussed above with the other attributes) was chosen to make the product sound like it was three times better or stronger, once again, to make it more appealing to men.
Triple Black, like regular Smirnoff Ice, can be served straight up or on the rocks. It needs to be cold, to taste best. But Triple Black can be a little closer to room temperature and still taste ok, in contrast to regular Smirnoff Ice, which needs to be served ice cold.
Smirnoff sells this product in single, 24 oz. bottles or in six- packs and twelve- packs of 12 oz. bottles. The price for a 24 oz. bottle is about $2.20, a six- pack sells for about $6.99, and a twelve- pack sells for $11.99. At this price level, Smirnoff Triple Black has a price tag that is in roughly the same range as Samuel Adams beer.
Overall, Smirnoff Triple Black is a weak product and it isn’t likely to find it’s way into my refrigerator again. If I had to purchase one of the two Smirnoff malt beverage products, I would choose the regular Smirnoff Ice but I’m not really that fond of either one of them. Triple Black might have a more manly appearance with its black label and clear body. But this man will stick with beer for his drinking pleasure. Smirnoff Triple Black is like a watery glass of Sprite with a small amount of alcohol added. It’s Triple Nothing!
Be Sure to Read These Reviews of Other "Malternative" Beverages:
Bacardi Silver
Bacardi Silver O3
Bacardi Silver Raz
Bacardi Silver Limon
Bacardi Silver Peach
Smirnoff Ice
Smirnoff Twisted Mandarin Orange
Smirnoff Twisted Cranberry
Smirnoff Twisted Green Apple
Smirnoff Twisted Raspberry
Recommended:
No
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