Vodka

[Shades]

My favourite at this time is Grey Goose...followed by Finlandia.
However, being an open minded chap...would be pleased to explore alternatives.
Do you have a favourite Vodka? Care to share?

 

[lazysausage]

Belvedere, ciroc, flavored smirnoff (some of them).

 

[SchlongConery]

The only thing that adds flavour to a (good) vodka is the bottle and branding.

Actual blind taste tests prove there is no repeatably discernable difference amongst any of the mainstream and premium brands. (Popov-type washer fluid excepted.

You DO taste a difference. It is just that it is due to the expectations associated with the branding and bottle.

 

[lazysausage]

Ciroc is distilled 5 times, the smoothness and the flavor in some premium brands I feel is worth the price. As to polar ice or silent sam.

 

[Flex]

We did this a couple of months ago... but, I'll toss my brand into the mix again.. It's called Ciroc... distilled from grapes so a slightly sweeter taste.. very smooth.. The challenge is it's not sold here... U.S. or Duty Free coming back.. For readily available Premium: Belvedere... Budget: Stohly ie with mix for a Ceasar

Flex..

 

[BIGPEACH]

Ketel One, handcrafted in small batches an awsum product of Holland. Yum!:thumb:

 

[Art Mann]

Grey Goose: "rack vodka with the price jacked up"

Stories abound about marketing magic applied to this mediocre product.

Here's a link to one such synopsis.

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

My favourite

 

[TeasePlease]

Premium choice would be Stoli Elit, hard to come by so stock up when I see it

day to day is a new one ive recently twigged to - Zubrowka. Bison grass vodka. Tastes great just out of the freezer as shots

 

[**Sophie**]

My serious vodka (wodka, if she was talking) drinking friend loves her Stolichnaya. Don't know if it's any good but she drinks only that.

 

[katcalla]

Of the relatively widely available ones my vodka of choice is Tito's followed by Khortytsa Platinum and Ketel One. My family distilled our own so I'm sure I can pass the blind test

 

[saxon]

Van Gogh , that's the vodka not the painter.

 

[blackrock13]

Start here;

Vodka in a crystal skull
Who Knows about Vodka?

 

[Azprint]

I am Russian and I only drink Absolute. I am a traitor to drink Swedish Vodka but others, including Russian imports just don't do it for me when it comes to smoothness. So yeah, Absolute is the way to go.

 

[versitile1]

Chopin potato vodka. Luksusowa potato vodka. For grain-based vodka, Belvedere and Ketel One.

 

[blackrock13]

I am Russian and I only drink Absolute. I am a traitor to drink Swedish Vodka but others, including Russian imports just don't do it for me when it comes to smoothness. So yeah, Absolute is the way to go.

That's like a Frenchman saying he'll only drink French wines, missing so much.

 

[Manji]

Best Vodkas (at least my favourite):
Belvedere (there's also Belvedere's intense which is quite good)
Chopin
Prairie Organic (not a bad vodka from the US midwest - pretty smooth)

Best Vodka for the Price (though not as good as the one's above):
Stolichnaya
Wyborowa
Luksusowa

Terrible Vodka :
Smirnoff
Absolute (Absolute shit)

Overated Vodka (not worth the price):
Grey Goose
Crystal Skull

 

[Azprint]

That's like a Frenchman saying he'll only drink French wines, missing so much.

Vodka isn`t same a wine. You can appreciate wine in different colours, degrees and flavors. Vodka has to be consistent, just pure alcohol taste the only difference is the smoothness and the hangover from it. And Absolute does it for me thus far.

 

[Dmac1701x]

Vodka isn`t same a wine. You can appreciate wine in different colours, degrees and flavors. Vodka has to be consistent, just pure alcohol taste the only difference is the smoothness and the hangover from it. And Absolute does it for me thus far.

The ideal vodka is odorless and flavorless. Although this is an ideal that is hard to match that is the goal. One of the reasons why goose is so overrated is that it has to "flowery a bouquet". In my experience (I am in the spirits business) ketel one best matches this ideal.

Absolut is jet fuel! If you are bringing it up as an example of great vodka you need to expand your horizons. I'd have Smirnoff (the best mediocre vodka in the world) before absolut. Someone also mentioned finlandia earlier....ewwwww! Bringing up those three in this discussion is akin to suggesting Canadian or Budweiser in a conversation of great beers. Goose, although passable I would equate with Stella. Decent product enhanced by a great marketing campaign and a nice glass or bottle.

As regards the blind taste test, those people are hardly connoisseurs. Anyone worth their salt who has worked to develop their palate can tell.

 

[Shades]

Thanks for the input...a summer of taste testing different brands! But why wait til summer...will start today!
And Manji.....damn you for the red head jumping...can't get the image out of my head...and truth be told, don't want to.