Smirnoff Kissed Caramel 750ML

Smirnoff Kissed Caramel 750ML is a caramel-and-salt-infused flavored vodka bottled at 30% ABV (60 proof) in a 750ml format. It earned a Gold Medal and 91-point "Exceptional" rating from Tastings.com in 2019, confirming its standing as one of the stronger entries in the crowded caramel-vodka category.

Quick Facts: ABV: 30% (60 Proof)  |  Origin: New York, NY, USA  |  Flavored Vodka — Salted Caramel  |  Producer: The Smirnoff Co.

Production & Heritage

Smirnoff traces its roots to 1864, when P.A. Smirnov opened a vodka distillery in Moscow. Today the brand operates under Diageo and produces this expression through The Smirnoff Co. in New York. Kissed Caramel starts with Smirnoff No. 21 — a column-distilled, grain-based vodka that is triple distilled and filtered ten times through activated charcoal. The base spirit is then infused with natural caramel flavor and a deliberate touch of salt, giving it a sweet-and-savory dimension that separates it from one-note caramel vodkas.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Buttery caramel leads immediately, followed by soft vanilla and a faint whiff of milk chocolate. A subtle saline quality keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying on the nose.

Taste: The entry is velvety and distinctly caramel-forward, with a homemade-candy richness that builds through the mid-palate. Toffee and cream notes emerge as the vodka opens up, punctuated by a gentle hint of sea salt that adds welcome contrast and depth.

Finish: Smooth and mellow, with sweet caramel lingering well after the sip. The salted edge returns at the tail end, balancing the residual sweetness and leaving a clean, dessert-like impression.

How to Drink Kissed Caramel

Kissed Caramel drinks easily chilled and served neat as a dessert sipper, or over ice to temper the sweetness slightly. It also shines in cocktails:

• Salted Caramel Espresso Martini — the toffee and salt notes amplify fresh espresso without needing added sweetener.
• Caramel Apple Mule — pair it with ginger beer and fresh apple juice for a fall-friendly twist on a Moscow Mule.
• Caramel White Russian — swap standard vodka for Kissed Caramel to add a buttery, salted-caramel layer to the classic cream cocktail.

Best For

• Building a dessert cocktail menu at home
• After-dinner sipping with friends who prefer sweeter spirits
• Mixing approachable party drinks for guests who don't gravitate toward straight vodka
• Gifting a flavored-vodka enthusiast looking beyond basic vanilla or citrus

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kissed Caramel taste like? It delivers a rich, buttery caramel flavor balanced by a hint of sea salt, with supporting notes of toffee, vanilla, and cream that give it a dessert-like quality.

How does Kissed Caramel compare to Pinnacle Salted Caramel? Both lean into the sweet-and-salty caramel profile, but Pinnacle is a French wheat-based vodka bottled at 35% ABV while Kissed Caramel uses a grain-based, ten-times-filtered American base at 30% ABV. Kissed Caramel tends to be sweeter and more toffee-forward, whereas Pinnacle leans slightly drier with a sharper salt accent.

Is Kissed Caramel good for cocktails? Yes — its lower 30% ABV and pronounced caramel sweetness make it a natural fit for dessert-style cocktails like espresso martinis, White Russians, and cream-based shooters without needing much additional sugar.

Where is Kissed Caramel made? It is produced by The Smirnoff Co. in New York, NY, using Smirnoff No. 21 as its base spirit, which is triple distilled and filtered ten times before the caramel and salt infusion.

What foods pair well with Kissed Caramel? Dark chocolate truffles complement its toffee notes; salted pretzel bites echo the salt accent; warm apple pie or apple crisp mirrors the caramel sweetness; vanilla bean ice cream creates an affogato-style pairing when drizzled; and a mild cheese like brie balances the sugar with creamy fat.

What sizes does Kissed Caramel come in? The standard bottle is 750ml, and Smirnoff also commonly offers flavored vodkas in 50ml, 375ml, 1L, and 1.75L formats, though availability varies by market.

Is Kissed Caramel worth the price? Kissed Caramel positions as an affordable, entry-level flavored vodka that punches above its price tier — its 91-point Gold Medal from Tastings.com suggests quality that competes with more expensive caramel vodkas.

Why Kissed Caramel?

The combination of natural caramel infusion and intentional salted character gives Kissed Caramel a more complex profile than most single-note caramel vodkas at this price point. Its 91-point Gold Medal from Tastings.com in 2019 backs that up with independent critical validation. The ten-times-filtered Smirnoff No. 21 base provides a clean, neutral canvas that lets the caramel and salt come through without harsh grain edges. For anyone building a home bar that can handle both dessert sippers and creative cocktails, this bottle earns its shelf space on versatility alone.