I could see your point if you said whiskey but not vodka. Good espresso should have tons and tons of complex flavour notes and volatile aromatics. Straight vodka just tastes like hand sanitizer.

Keep in mind this is coming from someone who loves espresso and whiskey but doesn’t understand the allure vodka at all, outside of getting drunk or adding alcohol taste to a cocktail without adding other flavours.

Nah, there's gotta be flavor. Like straight, unaged Jamaican rum or tequila, or boozy cocktails. That said, I enjoy my espresso sweetened and with added milk (espresso macchiato or just espresso with milk), and I also enjoy very sweet liqueurs ...

Its not my fault Tito's is so smooth.