Karneval Premium Flavored Vodka Raf Zukunft Edition

Karneval is a German vodka brand fronted by the rappers Bonez MC and RAF Camora, and this limited Zukunft Edition is tied to RAF Camora's album of the same name. The base is a clean, neutral vodka chosen as a blank canvas, then flavoured with intense dark berry to carry the fruit clearly without a heavy grain character getting in the way. Because the spirit underneath is kept neutral, the blackberry-led flavouring sits right at the front, supported by a faint spice, and the whole thing is dressed in an all-black bottle bearing the dragon from the album cover.

The nose is fruity and intense with dark berries, the palate is soft and harmonious with that black berry flavour and a hint of spice, and the finish is long, smooth and slightly sweet. To play the fruit, build a berry highball: pour the Karneval over plenty of ice, top with soda or lemonade and add a squeeze of fresh lime and a few muddled fresh blackberries, a long, dark, refreshing drink where the lime sharpens the berry and the spice peeks through at the end.