Old Dominick Honeybell Vodka 750ML

Old Dominick Honeybell Vodka 750ML is a citrus-infused vodka made with rare Florida Honeybell oranges, bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in Memphis, Tennessee. It earned a Gold Medal and Flavored Vodka of the Year at the 2024 Bartender Spirits Awards with 93 points, underscoring its place among the top flavored vodkas currently in production.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Memphis, Tennessee  |  Flavored Vodka  |  Distillery: Old Dominick Distillery

Production & Heritage

Old Dominick Distillery operates out of Memphis, Tennessee, drawing its water from the Memphis Sand Aquifer — a naturally filtered source prized for its purity and softness. The base spirit undergoes multi-step distillation and charcoal filtration before being infused with Florida-grown Honeybell oranges. The Honeybell, also known as the Minneola Tangelo, is a hybrid cross between a Duncan Grapefruit and a Darcy Mandarin, producing a fruit with intense sweetness tempered by a natural bitter citrus edge. This rare citrus variety has a notoriously short harvest season, typically just a few weeks in January, which contributes to the vodka's distinctive character compared to standard orange-flavored spirits.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A full-bodied burst of sweet orange and ginger leads the nose, trailing into soft spice. The impression is bright and immediate, with genuine fruit character rather than synthetic sweetness.

Taste: Warm orange dominates the entry, layered and round. At mid-palate, subtle blended spice envelops the tongue before transitioning into bitter orange rind and earthy, herbal lavender. The mouthfeel is mild and approachable, with a slight warming sensation building toward the back palate.

Finish: The finish is fruit-forward, delivering a splash of grapefruit nectar that reflects the Honeybell's tangy grapefruit parentage. It fades to a sweet, herbal close with moderate length.

How to Drink Honeybell Vodka

Served chilled and neat, the Honeybell's natural citrus complexity stands on its own without needing embellishment. On the rocks, the cold temperature brings forward the sweeter orange notes while softening the spice. For cocktails, it excels in a Vodka Spritz, where its grapefruit and orange notes pair naturally with prosecco and soda; a Greyhound, where the Honeybell's tangelo character amplifies the grapefruit juice base rather than competing with it; and a Cosmopolitan, where its bitter orange rind and lavender undertones add depth beyond what a neutral vodka provides.

Best For

• Gifting a cocktail enthusiast who appreciates ingredient-driven spirits
• Building a citrus-forward home bar with distinctive American-made vodka
• Hosting a spring or summer gathering with refreshing vodka-based drinks
• Exploring flavored vodkas that use real, identifiable fruit varieties

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Honeybell Vodka taste like? It leads with warm, sweet orange and gentle spice, shifts into bitter orange rind and herbal lavender at mid-palate, and finishes with a grapefruit nectar sweetness that fades to an herbal close.

How does Honeybell Vodka compare to Absolut Mandrin? Absolut Mandrin uses a blend of mandarin and orange flavors in a Swedish-produced neutral spirit, while Honeybell Vodka relies on a single rare citrus hybrid — the Minneola Tangelo — infused into a Memphis-distilled, aquifer-water base. The result is a more complex citrus profile with bitter grapefruit and spice notes that Mandrin does not emphasize.

Is Honeybell Vodka good for cocktails? Its layered citrus character and moderate 40% ABV make it highly effective in cocktails, adding genuine fruit complexity rather than just sweetness to drinks like Spritzes, Greyhounds, and Cosmopolitans.

Where is Honeybell Vodka made? It is produced at Old Dominick Distillery in Memphis, Tennessee, using water sourced from the Memphis Sand Aquifer and infused with Honeybell oranges grown in Florida.

What foods pair well with Honeybell Vodka? Chilled raw oysters complement its citrus brightness; grilled shrimp with a citrus glaze echoes its orange and grapefruit notes; goat cheese salad balances the vodka's herbal lavender undertones; dark chocolate brings out the bitter orange rind character; and seared duck with an orange reduction creates a rich pairing that mirrors the spirit's tangy-sweet profile.

What sizes does Honeybell Vodka come in? The standard widely available size is 750ML.

Is Honeybell Vodka worth the price? Honeybell Vodka positions as a premium flavored vodka, justified by its use of a rare, seasonal citrus variety and aquifer-sourced water, plus a 93-point Gold Medal from the 2024 Bartender Spirits Awards — strong credentials within the flavored vodka category.

Why Honeybell Vodka?

What separates this expression from the crowded flavored vodka shelf is the Honeybell orange itself — a rare Minneola Tangelo with a harvest window of only a few weeks per year, producing a citrus profile that blends sweet tangerine brightness with bitter grapefruit depth. That dual character carries through every sip and earned the spirit a 93-point Gold Medal and Flavored Vodka of the Year at the 2024 Bartender Spirits Awards, along with a matching 93 points from Tastings.com. The Memphis Sand Aquifer water and charcoal filtration provide a clean, soft base that lets the fruit do the talking. In a category often dominated by artificial flavoring, Honeybell Vodka delivers a genuine, identifiable citrus source with real complexity.