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Cherokee8215
Joined: 16 Dec 2008
Posts: 397
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 Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject: Vodka, anyone? |
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There have been recent threads about types of wine, whiskey, scotch, etc. preferred by folks on this board. Is anyone a vodka drinker, and particularly a drinker of the flavored vodkas that seem to be flooding the market now? What's your favorite? Do you drink it straight or do cocktails (white russian, screwdriver, etc.)? I usually do mine on the rocks.
For non-flavored Vodka for at-home drinking, I'm fine with the value-priced Sobieski. If I'm out at a restaurant and someone else is paying, I like Grey Goose. As for flavored, Stoli Vanilla is a staple, as is Three Olives Pomegranate, which I'm sipping this evening.
Flavored vodkas are being producted in some really oddball flavors now. Absolut makes pepper vodka (does it make you sneeze?) and Three Olives makes "bubble gum" vodka. Some of the others might taste decent though.
In my state of residence, the state owns/operates all the liquor stores, and the selection is somewhat limited. So I'd like to hear about some of the lesser-known brands I could pick up when in a neighboring state. |
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Gekko
Joined: 11 May 2007
Posts: 2903
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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ketel one extra dirty martini. up and icy. blue cheese olives if available.
espresso martinis are pretty good too in moderation.
of course the bartender has to know what he/she is doing. |
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sage1166
Joined: 06 Mar 2009
Posts: 27
Location: Lexington, Kentucky via Houston, TX
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Second Ketel One...never had bleu cheese olives, but man that sounds good. |
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tomd37
Joined: 01 Mar 2007
Posts: 488
Location: Brentwood, TN
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:40 pm Post subject: I'm the bartender for my wife |
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My wife likes her vodka martini to specific measurements; one and a half ounce of Grey Goose vodka (blue label), just a smidge less than three-quarter ounce of Martini & Rossi extra dry vermouth, three-quarter of a teaspoon of Collins brand dirty martini mix, and two pitted spanish olives. Even to the point that as the martini mix ages I cut back to just under the three-quarter teaspoon of mix.
Coming up on forty-three years of marriage next week, so I must be doing something right  .... I stick with my two ounces of Johnnie Walker Black. 
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FarmGirl
Joined: 24 Sep 2008
Posts: 73
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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Try Kirkland Signature (aka Costco-PriceClub) you will be amazed by the quality and price
Of course, it's not possible to order it when out on the town. I can't buy it in my state, but every trip to California includes a trip to Costco. |
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Cherokee8215
Joined: 16 Dec 2008
Posts: 397
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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| FarmGirl wrote: | Try Kirkland Signature (aka Costco-PriceClub) you will be amazed by the quality and price
Of course, it's not possible to order it when out on the town. I can't buy it in my state, but every trip to California includes a trip to Costco. |
I'm not a member, but what's the price for a 750ml or 1.5l bottle? Might tag along with a friend to give it a try, even if it stinks i can use it for mixed drinks. |
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Adrian Nenu
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 3760
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.bartonbrands.com/fleischmannvodka.html
| Quote: | Tasting Notes
When you open a bottle of Fleischmann’s, the predominant notes in the nose are those of rubbing alcohol and gasoline, the scent is both strong and offensive. The viscosity is that of water, and the clarity of the spirit is that of very hard water, there’s a bit of dinginess to it. As for packaging, this is of course no frills, something to hide under the sink or in the back of the pantry,
Distilled from grain, as opposed to potato, the start of the vodka in the mouth can be described as pins and needles, a strong but vague burning in the mouth and on the tongue. There are no real flavor notes, just the burn of the vodka and the inherent taste of pure alcohol, something along the lines of an Everclear. The finish is brutal, tearing open your lungs with the overpowering strength of battery acid, followed by a horrid mineral aftertaste. Just a nightmare really…
Serving Notes: How to Minimize the Nausea
For those foolish enough to buy a bottle of Fleischmann’s, you will soon be looking for nonhazardous ways to use the vodka. The key word here is mask, your goal should be to overpower the poor taste of the product with strong mixers. Here is my best suggestion:
Caconti’s Bloody Madonna
Tomato juice and spice kills the vodka in this recipe.
Ingredients:
6 oz Clamato juice
1 ½ oz Fleischmann’s Royal Vodka
2 dashes Tabasco Sauce
1 drop Worcestershire sauce
To prepare:
Shake all ingredients well and then serve over ice. Garnish with celery for a classic look.
Price & Availability—Information and a digression
As a low cost offering in the vodka category, Fleischmann’s is usually easy to find at any level package store, one the bottom shelf as a general rule. How cheap is it exactly? At around $8 a bottle it’s the cheapest thing you’re going to find besides “generic” vodkas. But, please try to remember that alcohol follows a basic and intuitive rule: You get what you pay for. If you skimp on the bill to save a buck or two, you’ll pay for it while your drinking or the morning after, so be forewarned…
The Final Verdict
Simply put, the bargain basement pricetag does not compensate for the horrific taste and body of this vodka. It’s a bad choice at any price, so just stay away…
*This is not a judgement against bag people. I am sure that the majority of them would know better than to buy Fleischmann’s if their economic conditions improved.
Recommended:
No
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http://www99.epinions.com/revi....FDDC-prod1
Adrian
anenu@tampabay.rr.com |
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TJAJ9
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Posts: 374
Location: Philadelphia, PA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:19 am Post subject: |
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| I've never had anything better than Grey Goose. That's some good stuff. Absolut is good, also. I've never tried any of the flavored vodkas. |
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Sammy_M
Joined: 25 Nov 2007
Posts: 721
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:14 am Post subject: |
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| Grey Goose and Kettle One are my favs, but I find Three Olives to be a decent value. I don't care for the flavored stuff. |
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gasman
Joined: 30 Jul 2007
Posts: 124
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:16 am Post subject: |
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| TJAJ9 wrote: | | I've never had anything better than Grey Goose. That's some good stuff. Absolut is good, also. I've never tried any of the flavored vodkas. |
try VOX |
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zeusrock1
Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 82
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:50 am Post subject: |
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Tito's! It's made in Austin and it's really good. I also like Kettle One.
Stoli makes good flavored vodkas, but I usually get Smirnoff because they are a lot cheaper. Grey Goose Orange is a great one too. |
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Lake Living
Joined: 13 Feb 2009
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:11 am Post subject: |
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At the high end, I never tasted anything better than Belvedere which is a Polish vodka.
For "guests" I always have some Skyy (US) vodka in the house. Skyy markets some very good flavored vodkas as well. |
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Bounca
Joined: 26 Feb 2007
Posts: 645
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danwalk
Joined: 14 Apr 2008
Posts: 328
Location: The Midwest
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:09 am Post subject: |
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In 2005 this fascinating article about a blind tasting of 21 vodkas appeared in the New York Times. Although it was going to just include 20 super premium brands, the tasting coordinator put in a bottle of Smirnoff to see what would happen. It beat out all 20 much more expensive vodkas, causing the critic to conclude, among other things, that:
| Quote: | Shocking? Perhaps. Delving into the world of vodka reveals a spirit unlike almost any other, with standards that make judging it substantially different from evaluating wine, beer, whiskey or even root beer. A malt whiskey should be distinctive, singular. The same goes for a Burgundy or a Belgian ale. But vodka? Vodka is measured by its purity, by an almost Platonic neutrality that makes tasting it more akin to tasting bottled waters, or snowflakes....
That being said, at the end of our tasting it was Smirnoff at the top of our list, ahead of many other names that are no doubt of higher status in stylish bars and lounges. Some of those names did not even make our Top 10. Grey Goose from France, one of the most popular vodkas, was felt to lack balance and seemed to have more than a touch of sweetness. Ketel One from the Netherlands, another top name, was felt to be routine and sharp, although Mr. Klemm did describe it as "a good mixer."...
The prices of these vodkas ranged from a low of $13 for the Smirnoff to a high of $34 for Potocki, a Polish vodka that did not make our cut. The Belvedere also cost $34, but that was for a liter rather than the usual 750 milliliter bottle. Imported vodkas tend to cost more, partly because of taxes levied by various governments, currency exchange rates and, not least, marketing concerns: as has been proved in many industries, wine not least of all, raising the price of a product increases its status among consumers. |
So, according to this tasting, at least, if you think you should be impressed by a super premium vodka, you probably will be.
Disclaimer: I am not a vodka drinker--do not shoot the messenger.
Dan
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"Time is your friend; impulse is your enemy."—Jack Bogle |
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stockpickerted
Joined: 11 Dec 2008
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:19 am Post subject: Russian Standard |
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| A#1 on the rocks, simply the best at a great price. The best value is the 1.75 liter size, ENJOY!! |
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norookie
Joined: 07 Jul 2009
Posts: 241
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:59 am Post subject: |
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Staying OT I agree w/danwalk-dans assessment. I know for a fact some generic domestic bottom shelf vodkas in my state are produced and bottled at 1 location. They have diffrent labels put on the same 40% grain Vodka that attract diffrent buyers. (Poland springs, McGills, Rubinoff, etc. sell their licenced name i.e marketing) The flavored varieties are a step up but have less of a concentration of alchol, usually 30%. A old school friends family owns the regional Budwieser distributership, and a few liquor stores. Thats where I heard this information. Remember prohibition? Alchol is heavily TAXED. Its also still made in still's(sp) in some regions of this country the taxes are so high. AFAIK and JMO.~
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"I hope to put my last dime when I die, in the parking meter in front of the state house, then die in my car awaiting many parking tickets" |
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SquawkIdent
Joined: 23 Dec 2008
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:36 am Post subject: |
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I am far from a liquor expert, but I recently tried Tito's and I agree it's very good.
| zeusrock1 wrote: | Tito's! It's made in Austin and it's really good. I also like Kettle One.
Stoli makes good flavored vodkas, but I usually get Smirnoff because they are a lot cheaper. Grey Goose Orange is a great one too. |
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kenschmidt
Joined: 01 Mar 2007
Posts: 780
Location: Cincinnati, OH
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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| I like Skyy for mixing with tonic and UV Blue for making shots. |
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Jake46
Joined: 20 Feb 2007
Posts: 171
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
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Cherokee8215
Joined: 16 Dec 2008
Posts: 397
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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I have been hearing a lot of good things about Tito's recently. I think last year when I first saw it in the store, I dismissed it due to the name and label, but I may give it a try soon.
A little OT comment...Am I the only one who thinks that the bottle pricing for liquor is silly? Example: 750ml bottle of Stoli Vanilla in my local shop is $20. 1.75L bottle is $34. So for only 70% more in price over the 750ml bottle, you get 130%+ more booze. I don't know why anyone would buy the smaller bottle, unless it's a gift, or it's something new and you're not sure if you'll like it or not. The worst deal is those tiny bottles they sell behind the counter. For like 25% less price you get 75% less product. |
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polaar
Joined: 05 Jan 2008
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:11 pm Post subject: Re: Vodka, anyone? |
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| Cherokee8215 wrote: | | Absolut makes pepper vodka (does it make you sneeze?) |
Absolut Peppar (Swedish spelling?) is for bloodys. |
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cinghiale
Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 217
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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Lots of good input here...
But so far, Adrian's post takes the cake.
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-- Cinghiale |
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citywayne
Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| I forget when, but they had a vodka taste test and Smirnoffs came out on top. Every since then I started drinking Smirnoffs on the rocks. Love the stuff ... very smooth and fragrant drink. |
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TranceLordSnyder
Joined: 18 Jan 2009
Posts: 240
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| Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:03 am Post subject: |
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Vladimir's is absolute JUNK. They keep it underneath the shelf with all the dirt. This was also my first vodka. And it got me hooked as bad as it was.
Absolut is ok, but I much prefer Skyy. Perfect for mixing, great for shots. Absolut lemon was pretty good though.
I feel grey goose tastes worst than Skyy, and is much more expensive. Belvedeere was ok, but still more expensive than Skyy and just not as good. I need to try some of the flavored vodkas.
I've been a trader to my vodka lately though, I've been making Bacardi Mixers with Bacardi Rum. Strawberry daiquiri is my current favorite. That and long island iced teas. |
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Brad H
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 15
Location: TN
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| Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| Check out STON vodka. It is made in Estonia. The taste is smooth and the bottle is appealing. |
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G12
Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 985
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| Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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| I like Fris for mixed drinks. If I am going to spend some cash on liquor it will be Quarter Cask Laphroaig scotch. |
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HearDoc
Joined: 31 May 2007
Posts: 412
Location: New England
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| Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Or you can run Smirnoff Silver through a Brita filter which makes it indistinguishable from the $40/ bottle brands. You can always put it in an empty ( fill in the name here of any $40 brand) bottle to impress your friends and fool yourself... Prosit |
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jeh
Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Posts: 27
Location: Coastal NC
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| Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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I'm personally a fan of the Ketel One. I like a Vodka Martini quite dirty. I do find 3 Olives acceptable but find Grey Goose rupugnant. I guess to each his own. Generally, when it comes to liquor I stick to bourbon but do indulge in a real Martini (Gin) or a Vodkatini on occasion. I would like to try VOX, Cirouc and Level but haven't yet. I'm not in an area where I can count on a lot of specialty brands anymore.
Flavored Vodka's? so far what I've had - yucko - but I'm a purist for the most part. |
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Adrian Nenu
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 3760
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| Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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When I worked in the booze business for ABC Liquors back in 1986-1987, Absolut, Stolichnaya and Wyborowa were considered the top quality vodkas. Smirnoff Sliver was a close second place, considered nearly as good. Denaka and Finlandia were supposed to be equal to Smirnoff Silver but more expensive. Our biggest vodka sellers were Fleischman's and our own ABC Liquors Vodka generic brand (especially pints - $2.99 and half pints - $1.99 purchased by street people) followed by Popov (usually the 1.75 liter bottles on sale for $7.99).
Adrian
anenu@tampabay.rr.com |
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rigby
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Grey Goose all the way for me. I usually drink it on the rocks but I also enjoy the occasional screwdriver with freshly squeezed orange juice. |
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Eureka
Joined: 05 Apr 2007
Posts: 584
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:58 am Post subject: |
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I find it hard to believe vodkas really vary that much. I suspect a placebo effect.
When it comes to clear liquor, I'm a gin man. Ah, the evocative aroma of juniper berries. I can tell you there definitely is a difference in brands of gin. I enjoy some of the British brands, but good old American Seagram's is an honest gin -- and the basis for the best summer drinks.
Why anyone would drink a vodka martini is beyond me. It's like a hamburger made with cottage cheese instead of ground beef. |
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TJAJ9
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Posts: 374
Location: Philadelphia, PA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:08 am Post subject: |
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| Eureka wrote: | I find it hard to believe vodkas really vary that much. I suspect a placebo effect.
When it comes to clear liquor, I'm a gin man. Ah, the evocative aroma of juniper berries. I can tell you there definitely is a difference in brands of gin. I enjoy some of the British brands, but good old American Seagram's is an honest gin -- and the basis for the best summer drinks. |
Gin is one of my favorite drinks. I love Tanqueray and tonic with a slice of lime. |
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Eureka
Joined: 05 Apr 2007
Posts: 584
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:17 am Post subject: |
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| TJAJ9 wrote: | | Gin is one of my favorite drinks. I love Tanqueray and tonic with a slice of lime. |
Yum. |
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Taz
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 93
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:05 am Post subject: |
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A little late to the thread, but ...
If you want to do an inexpensive taste test of the non-super premium varieties, buy several of the mini-bottles & have a non-interested party setup a tasting for you. The mini's are not a good value but if you just want a taste. Also, if you tell the store owner what you are doing (& you are a regular customer), you might get a couple gratis.
Na zdorovia!
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