Who Knows about Vodka?

[mexican]

I have been enjoying vodka more and more but I am by no means an expert. I just enjoy the taste and there is clearly a difference with the better vodkas.

But still somewhat new. So I have a few questions like what is better potato vodka or wheat vodka; what foods go well with vodka? What are the best brands and maybe some of the more obscure ones. I was at Pravda downtown once and the bartender gave me a spicy vodka to try and it was delicious but I don't know the name of it.

You see lots of scotch tastings around but I have not seen a vodka one ever.

Any intell would be great!

 

[Aardvark154]

So I have a few questions like what is better potato vodka or wheat vodka; what foods go well with vodka?

All the better Russian vodkas are distilled from wheat.

In Russia and Ukraine vodka is always served in small chilled vodka glasses as is the vodka itself, the glass is always drunk at one go, then the meal goes on frequently for another 10+ minutes until the glasses are refilled for the next toast.

 

[spraggamuffin]

I have been enjoying vodka more and more but I am by no means an expert. I just enjoy the taste and there is clearly a difference with the better vodkas.

But still somewhat new. So I have a few questions like what is better potato vodka or wheat vodka; what foods go well with vodka? What are the best brands and maybe some of the more obscure ones. I was at Pravda downtown once and the bartender gave me a spicy vodka to try and it was delicious but I don't know the name of it.

You see lots of scotch tastings around but I have not seen a vodka one ever.

Any intell would be great!

Derived from the fermentation of Potatoes I've heard a good "clean" vodka should have neither taste nor smell.

I used to drink vodka but don't anymore. I've heard all kinds of stories like it raises your blood pressure too much etc.

An East European product in origin, Grey Goose from France is all the rave at triple the price of Swedish Absolute which usually tops many charts for quality to value.

While Scotch and other types of drinks are often drunk straight, Vodka is usually the alcoholic base of many cocktails.

People have their preferred brands, but if a good vodka truly has no taste or smell, I'm not sure by what, most judge a vodka on.

Maybe it's purity or simply marketing.

 

[afterhours]

name one good vodka based on potatoes

 

[spraggamuffin]

So I learnt something new today. That vodka is also made of wheat and not just potatoes.

 

[Aardvark154]

An East European product in origin, Grey Goose from France is all the rave at triple the price of Swedish Absolute which usually tops many charts for quality to value.

The best Russian vodkas aren't exported to the West the entire production is consumed domestically.

 

[afterhours]

The best Russian vodkas aren't exported to the West the entire production is consumed domestically.

I am not so sure about it being the "best". Russians who have money often don't trust their own vodkas and drink Absolut, Goose etc. Fake vodkas (and generally liquors) there is a huge issue.

 

[Art Mann]

Never underestimate the gullibility of the status-conscious public

. . .An East European product in origin, Grey Goose from France is all the rave at triple the price of Swedish Absolute which usually tops many charts for quality to value. . .

People have their preferred brands, but if a good vodka truly has no taste or smell, I'm not sure by what, most judge a vodka on.

Maybe it's purity or simply marketing.

It's a marketing triumph, another example of the public getting suckered by designer labels:

For Grey Goose, the brand was about unrivaled quality. Grey Goose’s Great Story hinged on the following key points: It comes from France, where all the best luxury products come from. It’s not another rough-hewn Russian vodka—it’s a masterpiece crafted by French vodka artisans.

It uses water from pristine French springs, filtered through Champagne limestone.

It’s got a distinctive, carefully designed bottle, with smoked glass and a silhouette of flying geese. It looks fantastic up behind the bar, the way it catches the light (and Frank made sure to give the bars big, 1.75-liter bottles, to grab attention). It sure looks expensive.

It was shipped in wood crates, like a fine wine, not in cardboard boxes like Joe Schmo’s vodka. This catches the bartender’s eye and reinforces the aura of quality. Never forget the influence of the bartender.

It was named the best-tasting vodka in the world by the Beverage Testing Institute in 1998. (Granted, this pronouncement can and will be doubted. But it was nonetheless touted relentlessly in a series of Wall Street Journal ads.)

And now the most important piece of the story—the twist that brings it all together: Grey Goose costs way more than other vodkas. Waaaaaaay more. So it must be the best.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

 

[IRIS]

I think this russian miner drank a little vodka right?

 

[afterhours]

I think this guy drank a little vodka right

that guy actually is mentally challenged, so this video is not fair neither to him nor to Russians nor to vodka.

 

[Aardvark154]

I am not so sure about it being the "best". Russians who have money often don't trust their own vodkas and drink Absolut, Goose etc. Fake vodkas (and generally liquors) there is a huge issue.

Yes, there are fakes, but I doubt the stores I was dragged into in Saint-Petersburg and Moscow were selling fakes.

 

[Aardvark154]

I think this russian miner drank a little vodka right?

OK you are joking. But since a lot of people believe the joke is the truth.

A) we have drunks in Canada, the U.K. and the U.S.A. - which doesn't mean all of us are drunks B) I never saw my in-laws or any of our friends drunk. C) Coal mining is very hard work. D) yes Russia has an alcohol problem.

 

[IRIS]

that guy actually is mentally challenged, so this video is not fair neither to him nor to Russians nor to vodka.

No it's a real miner and this report made a few years back on their workplace.
Look like a mentally ill guy (no surprise after a liter of vodka) but he just drank and the robotpilot(alcohol) took the control of his brain. If my post hurt you, just take a few szto gramm of vodka and you'll see the funny side of this clip.

 

[Tangwhich]

I have found the Polish vodkas to be the best. They are more expensive than the "normal" vodkas but I think the premium is worth it.

 

[blackrock13]

Yes, there are fakes, but I doubt the stores I was dragged into in Saint-Petersburg and Moscow were selling fakes.

The only vodka I got to taste in the Far east of Russia had no label and the cap kept getting broken or lost, hmmmm.

I'm sure it wasn't premier cru. The latest one that come over touted as the best, like Russian Standard, still don't excite me. Iceberg, Finlandia, Polar Ice and a great little inexpensive find Sobieski are my favorites.

 

[afterhours]

No it's a real miner and this report made a few years back on their workplace.
Look like a mentally ill guy (no surprise after a liter of vodka) but he just drank and the robotpilot(alcohol) took the control of his brain. If my post hurt you, just take a few szto gramm of vodka and you'll see the funny side of this clip.

I've seen a subsequent interview with him where it was very clear that he is mentally ill.

 

[Aardvark154]

The only vodka I got to taste in the Far east of Russia had no label and the cap kept getting broken or lost, hmmmm.

That indeed has the ring of truth Blackrock!

 

[IRIS]

OK you are joking. But since a lot of people believe the joke is the truth.

A) Coal mining is very hard work. B) we have drunks in Canada, the U.K. and the U.S.A. - which doesn't mean all of us are drunks C) I never saw my in-laws or any of our friends drunk.

As you read I wrote "this russian miner" not the "all russian miner" and I never said all miner are alcoholic. I wrote that comment about one person only, not the all miner community.
I just send a funny clip and I never thought there are many sensitive miner on this board and took this funny clip so seriously. Otherwise I know how hard is this job. One of my best friend was a uranium miner, but he never lost his sense of humor, just because he worked under the ground.:hand:

 

[Ref]

Tag vodka...You will be pleasantly surprised

http://www.tagvodka.com/

 

[alexmst]

I've heard this vodka is good:

http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/lcbo/pr...OLICHNAYA+ELIT+VODKA&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

If I want a cold one I prefer Beefeater gin in my gin & tonic, or Hendrick's gin in a martini.

If I don't want a cold one, I like scotch.