Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka: Tasting Notes

Cathead Vodka

Note: This was written in 2012. Cathead has improved their Honeysuckle Vodka since.

I dig Cathead Vodka. I like the outsider art craftiness of the somewhat menacing looking cat on the bottle. I like the little-bitty blue cat heads on the backside of the back label that are visible through the clear spirit. I like that they “support live music!”(who wouldn’t?).  I like that they’re from Mississippi and are doing something good in that state that could use more good things (tamales are my favorite very good thing from Mississippi). And I also like that they are the first company to attempt a honeysuckle flavored vodka.

For sons and daughters of the South, there are few memories of youth as fine as that of discovering a good honeysuckle patch and having an older sibling or friend or parent show you the precious prize that rests within each little flower. You mean there’s more to that messy bush of tiny flowers than just an intoxicating aroma? Then you try one – plucking a honeysuckle flower off the vine, carefully clipping off the end and pulling the stamen on through the flower, hoping and praying that your bit of effort results in a big blob of honeysuckle nectar, then seeing that drop emerge on the end of the string and dipping it onto your tongue. Ahhh, a too tiny touch of heaven. You can see why I might be excited at the prospect of a good honeysuckle flavored spirit – the mystical honeysuckle is engrained in my memories.

And I had reason for hope, too, knowing that Cathead Vodka makes a good Southern product, having purchased a bottle of their regular vodka a few months ago at H&F Bottle Shop here in Atlanta. Well, the Cathead Honeysuckle is now hitting store shelves. The company was kind enough to share a bottle with me for tasting purposes.

The first thing I noticed was that the label sports a smaller cathead, now in gold, missing its eyes and nose and mouth. And I do miss those features, the angry air they lent its older brother cat. The Honeysuckle clocks in at 70 proof, a notch below the standard Cathead Vodka’s 80 proof, so you can say there’s more missing than just the eyes and nose and mouth. So how does it taste? Has Cathead been able to put the essence of springtime in the South into a bottle of vodka?

Let us see. On to the tasting notes:

Cathead Honeysuckle Flavored Vodka
70 Proof
Approx. $20 Retail

My hopes for magic in a bottle are dashed as soon as I sniff this.  At 70 proof, the nose is amazingly like rubbing alcohol, cheap vodka, something you might have turned down back in college. Yes, there is some honeysuckle in there, but it’s buried so deep under fumes and a bandaid plasticity you don’t want to look for it. On the palate, layers of sharp burn and cloying sweetness duke it out, with none of the delicate beauty that honeysuckle should display. There’s also a literal lip-tingly burn to it.

The fact that Cathead’s regular vodka is so nice makes this all the more confounding. And the Honeysuckle is just 70 proof? Cathead was on to something when they lowered the alcohol in the Honeysuckle, but they didn’t go far enough if they want anyone to enjoy this out of the bottle. And maybe that’s the point – this cries out for mixing, but it didn’t have to be so.

Sure enough, when a good bit of water is added, the alcohol heat is washed away, kind of like the cool that comes after a storm. The delicate floral notes start to emerge more seamlessly. It even turns into a decent sipper, smooth and clean, with a small amount of sharp sweetness that isn’t quite in the league of honeysuckle, but pleasant nonetheless. There’s plenty of room to use this in cocktails, with pineapple juice sounds nice, or even some dry vermouth in larger than normal proportion to the vodka. But does it capture the pleasure of honeysuckle like sweet tea vodka does for sweet tea? Not even close.

I hate to put out a bad review. Especially on a brand I like. (Thankfully) I doubt they’ll lose any sales because of this, but Cathead Honeysuckle just doesn’t cut it. Hopefully they can improve upon the formula – I’m still eager for a spirit that does honeysuckle right. Verdict? Avoid. If you’re looking for something with a lovely floral profile not unlike honeysuckle that will work great in cocktails, check out St. Germain elderflower liqueur. Or, better yet, head down to your local honeysuckle bush and have at it!

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* Thirsty South Rating Scale:

Wow – among the very best: knock-your-socks-off, profound, complex liquid gold!
Excellent – exceptional in quality and character, worth seeking out, highly recommended
Good Stuff – solid expression of its type/varietal, enjoyable and recommended
Fair – fairly standard or exhibiting obvious though minor flaws
Avoid – move away folks, nothing to see here, a trainwreck

Full Disclosure: Bottle provided as tasting sample for this review.

27 Replies to “Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka: Tasting Notes”

  1. I really wanted the Honeysuckle Vodka to be tasty. It is not. It doesn’t smell good and it taste like a mix of wrong ingredients. I haven’t made a mixed drink with it yet.Hope this fixes the taste.

  2. I am having an event and my caterer suggests this as our “Theme” beverage. Living in Florida presents a problem as it is not distributed here. Is there somewhere in Reston Virginia that sells Honeysuckle Vodka? Please can someone help me? Thanks.

    1. Mary Anne, sounds like a great idea. I know that the Cathead Rep. for Virginia lives in Virginia Beach. I believe his name is Brian Johnston. (sp) Hopefully you can get in touch with him. Good Luck

    2. Mary Anne, if you call whatever the largest liquor store is nearby, usually they can order it even if they don’t normally carry it (assuming there is a distributor there). Good luck.

  3. Mary Anne, You will love this! Great for celebrations such as Weddings, Luncheons, an Anniversary, etc. Just came across and am sending this on to friends

    The Honey Bubble

    1 0z Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka
    4 Oz Champagne ( Brut if possible)
    2 rasberries for garnish

    Serve in champagne flutes if possible………….

    1. Thank you Mimi for responding. I am in shock realizing that this vodka is not distributed in Florida, where the weather would be so conducive. Oh well, I am still searching and hope to get luck. I am have 50 people over in September and this was to be our signature drink. We shall see. Take care and again many thanks for taking the time to respond. Have a good week. Mary Anne

  4. I agree with the review, I was expecting a nice honeysuckle smell and it does smell like rubbing alcohol. I tried tasting it out of the bottle and I couldn’t find any honeysuckle taste in it. I had to add an ice cube to take the edge off.
    I am totally disappointed and don’t even want to bother trying it in a recipe now. I am going to call the store and see if they will take it back.

  5. Actually, the first vodka/tonic that I had with this was excellent unfortunately I have been unable to replicate how the drink was made. Last time I had it in tonic it was night/day difference.

  6. Had it recently in a cocktail at Domenica in New Orleans. It was mixed with caraway, rosemary and lavender bitters. The drink was tasty! Haven’t had it any other way since it doesn’t exist in California yet so I cannot possibly comment on whether its good in any other combo or straight up.

  7. Hi its mezos juke joint ocean springs mississippi, we love cathead vodka and have created some fabulous drinks with this yummy vodka . our newest favorite is cathead honeysuckle vodka , st. germaine liquor and pineapple juice . the kids are loving it ! we’re calling it the tupelo honey !!!
    we need more cathead merch , i’m not sure who my rep is down here if you could let me know so i can contact them . thanks lovin the honeysuckle

  8. I bought it in GA so it is sold in areas outside of MS. However, this review is right on target. This vodka is downright awful.

  9. I completely agree! I just bought this from the liquor store. I got home SUPER STOKED because I love floral anything. I cracked it open and I got nothing but rubbing alcohol smell. So sad 🙁

  10. Thirsty South, I 100% agree with you. The honeysuckle is deeply buried and that was such a disappointment. I traveled a lot this summer and all of my honeysuckle was gone once I returned home. Since I’m not one to waste, I made a flavored liqueur with it.

  11. I think y’all are being a little too hard on this. I have been looking for a honeysuckle liquer since I tried some honeysuckle flavored moonshine from south carolina a few years ago. I have been unable to find that here in TN so I was excited when I saw this today. I get a good whiff of honeysuckle on the nose. I don’t get the rubbing alcohol, though of course it does have a little vodka smell. I had in on the rocks and it was very tasty. I like that it is not super sweet, but I definitely taste some floral notes. I will definitely buy it again – the price is right too.

  12. I agree with TJ. I had this for the first time last week, albeit in a mixed drink and it was amazing! I’ve been harassing various bartenders about it ever since! Now I’m scared to buy it thinking it was the combination not the vodka. That honeysuckle flavor shined right thru for me tho. Delish!

      1. Glad to read that. Just picked up a bottle here in New Orleans since there’s no distribution back home in San Jose.

  13. This is by far the smoothest vodka in the USA. I’ve recently been introduced to the label, but it’s wonderful. Anyone wanting a gentle drink on ice should give this Premire vodka a try. The others may have name & backing, but cat head has the product. This is a 5+ star order. Thank y’all !!

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