Family-Made in the Netherlands
Ketel One is a vodka with more than three centuries of family history behind it, which is exactly the kind of story we love to pour at Camp West in West Seattle. Made by the Nolet family in Schiedam, the Netherlands, it pairs old-world distilling tradition with a remarkably clean, crisp profile. Bartenders reach for it constantly, and so do we, because it delivers a smooth martini and a clean mixed drink every time.
It sits on our shelf as a reliable step up from the well: still approachable, still mixable, but with a little more character and craft in the glass.
About the Distillery
The Nolet Distillery was founded in 1691 in Schiedam by the Nolet family, and it has stayed in the family ever since, more than 325 years of distilling in one place. Ketel One itself was created in 1983 by Carolus Nolet Sr., a tenth-generation master distiller, as a way to revive the family’s centuries-old business. The brand is named after the original copper pot still, “Distilleerketel #1” (“ketel” is Dutch for pot still).
Base & Production
Ketel One is distilled from 100% wheat. The Nolet distillery uses a combination of modern column stills and traditional copper pot stills, a blend the family believes produces a smoother spirit, and the vodka is then filtered over loose charcoal. It is an unflavored vodka bottled at 40% ABV, with no added flavoring, just clean wheat character.
Tasting Notes
The nose is crisp and fresh, with a faint citrus lift and a clean grain note. On the palate it is smooth and lightly creamy, with a hint of honeyed wheat and a touch of pepper. The finish is clean, dry, and bright, the kind of profile that makes for a textbook martini.
How to Enjoy It at Camp West
Ketel One is a bartender’s favorite for good reason. It makes a beautifully clean martini, up with a twist or a touch of olive brine, and it keeps a vodka soda crisp and dry. It is also a great upgrade in any vodka cocktail where you want a smooth, slightly characterful base. Our pour is $11.
FAQ
What is Ketel One made from? It is distilled from 100% wheat using a mix of column and copper pot stills, then charcoal filtered.
Where does the name come from? It is named after the Nolet family’s original copper pot still, “Distilleerketel #1”; “ketel” is the Dutch word for pot still.
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