Not a vodka fan. Don’t eat oysters either. Pineapple on pizza is good. Tolerate IPAs. To each their own. Enjoy.

Chopin vodka is very good.

Tito’s

Got a 750 at the house

Kickin my self for not bringing to the beach

Lot's of new vodkas out there these days. But if anyone has produced any that's better than Ketel One, I haven't found it.

Ketel and Tito’s....Absolute for mixing.

😎

Camping "kit" !

What makes a good vodka?

Wouldn't Everclear cut with some distilled water be just as good?

I dunno if you can get it but this is the best vodka I’ve ever had. Made right here in Ontario about 100 miles from me.

https://www.beattiesdistillers.com/

Potato vodka, as it was traditionally made. This is smooooth and almost buttery on your tongue.

I don’t know if you can find it, but if you do give it a try.

Last year I tried vodka made from milk. Google Black Cow Vodka. It was OK but had a sweetness I didn’t like.

They're going to burn you for that. You know that, right?

**moves aside so not to incur any splash damage**

Titos, goose, or kirkland. Can't tell much difference between em, mix with cranberry.

I drink Stoli when I feel the need. Good enough for me.

The manbuns in San Francisco are vacuuming up fog and making vodka out of it.
But Pelosi is worried about air quality and against vacuuming up oil.....

Sorry for the rant.

Tito's is good stuff

Stoli too

The best I've had (but I'm not usually a vodka fan) is Peace Vodka from Catskill Distillery. It's a pot distilled vodka from wheat. It's a nice sipping vodka and has a nice creamy taste and nice viscosity. Craft distilleries can make some wonderful vodka.

I don't think I have ever tried vodka with coffee.
Coffee liquor (Kailua) yes, but coffee no.
Is that your after dinner coffee bar?

State shut down all the state run liquor stores last week here in PA. Bars are shut down, so can't get any here.

Tito and Desert Door tequilla are making up hand sanitizer batches.

That's right outside the camper door.

Kahlúa for black coffee sweetener !

Vodka for mixed drinks, Woodford for sipping & the spiced whisky for chuggin !

I suppose the best I've had is Chopin potato. Titos & Stoli fit my budget much better.

So far, most Rye based vodkas don't seem to suit my pallet.

I mentioned the other night that I have to try the Kirkland imported, that might get Grey Goose or it's likeness into my price range.

Grey Goose has a gin whang to it.

Tito's is the only way I roll.

Lapua,

You look a little pink in the middle.

But autocorrect tries to turn your name into Alpha, so I guess you are OK.

Ketel One is my go to. I like Tito's as well.

Thanks

Chopin is my go to. Ketel is my back up and I dont think you can beat Titos for the money.
I drink Vodka on the rocks........
A friend just gave me a bottle of Oliphant that I'm looking forward to trying.
I'm told Kirkland is Grey Goose. Not sure its true or not.
I used to be a Belvidere guy, but it's almost too smooth for me these days.

I think Stoli is still a really good vodka, even with newer brands. Neat, up, or with a twist.

Lately, I just buy Bridge City which is local to me. Also good neat, up, or with a twist.

I don't think Ketel, Tito's, or Goose are as good as Stoli or Bridge City. Never tried Chopin but plan to try it soon.

Think that's what Karkov is?

A bottle of Stoli in the freezer is good for an occasional glass neat . Tito’s is smooth, but has no flavor, in my opinion. I like Absolut or Ketel over Tito’s, but prefer Stoli.

Wheatley’s is also decent, from the Buffalo Trace distillery.

Luksusowa potato vodka with Tito's as a second choice.

This generally does the trick .... 192 Proof .... from the people who invented Vodka:



About as close to pure ethyl alcohol as your going to get. (We made a Christmas punch with it .... so smooth ... so schit-faced.)

^^^ This ^^^

Not a real vodka guy. But Ciroc is another good one.

I've had a lot of different Vodka's, including the bulk of those listed here. I like Smirnoff. I haven't found Grey Goose, Tito's, Kettle One et. al., as good as Smirnoff. The only "expensive" Vodka I like is Ciraq.

Recently I stumbled across this article... good reading, and confirmed what my palette already told me:

https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/dining/a-humble-old-label-ices-its-rivals.html

i like that titos when its on sale. smirnoff when it ain't. kettle one and belvedere if i am splurging, which i don't. but i mix it with Squirt soda so it doesn't have to be great. i like a good gin and tonic with my chronic though. that aviator gin is good and goes on sale sometimes. thats my summer drank.

Death wish coffee vodka straight or absolutely any of them for mixing

“Good Vodka” is a contradiction in terms.
Potato vodka was created by poor Slavic serfs who used potatoes starting to rot and they distilled at high proof to get rid of bad smell/taste.
Do a blind taste test of vodka and you might be surprised.

Since I work for Buffalo Trace as a tour guide I push Wheatley and Rain Vodkas.

See my penultimate sentence.

I well have to agree but can deal with the Costco as well,

Interesting as hell.

Rain came on strong as something to try but disappeared here, just N. of Lex. ????? I tried it straight & kinda liked it, but where is it? How much for a half gallon?

Grain base ?

I want to tag this article interesting. I've read so many test, this is as good as most.


One night we planned a tasting. Gathered all the vodka we had. We wound up with 12.
We started with Smirnoff 80 & it was nasty. After trying the other 11 we tried the Smirnoff again, it was as good as the rest
We tried, a sip of water in between. Sadly we couldn't come to a conclusion..

If ya really want to know? Maybe a private test or........???

I bought a bottle of Tito’s to compare with my favourite, above.

We sipped them side-by-side. Tito’s doesn’t even come close. Bitter and sharp.

I might look for Chopin next time but I don’t think I’ll waste my money.

Starr Blu here.

I like Stoli better than most. Smirnoff is fine.

Tito’s tastes awful to me.

all vodka is basically the same...Potato moonshine (alcahol) the difference is what they add to kill the nasty taste , none of it is good....it is only to get you drunk. and give you a headache...

We're from NW Ontario, but I don't think I've ever seen this Vodka.

Betting the local LCBO could bring me some in, or order on-line.

The only thing Vodka is good for is to add alcohol content to other drinks.

Yes Ive had all the "Best" at somepoint in the last 30+ years Ive been drinking.

Most if not all major brands of vodka will be distilled in a column still to a very neutral (as is no) taste other than ethanol and water. If you try a vodka made in a pot still by a craft distiller you will be surprised at just how good a vodka can be. I've had the before mentioned Peace Vodka made by Catskill Distillery and Indigenous Vodka by Tuthilltown Distillery. The former is a winter wheat vodka made in a copper still and the latter is an apple vodka (not apple flavored but made from apples) and both are absolutely delicious with lots of subtle flavor and are best drank neat. For a mixer, buy a whatever mass produced vodka, but for a nice sipper try some of the craft distilleries. If neither of the ones I've mentioned are available near you, I bet there's craft distiller local to you that makes something similar.

They will let you order it on line. Heathens stopped stocking it in my local LCBO for a couple months but then brought it back after I was getting 4 bottles delivered at a time (I don't drink that much but the deliver cost worked out).

I tell everyone I see in the vodka aisle about it. As long as people are buying it they'll keep stocking it.

Absolut is the minimum here.
Tried some higher priced ones, weird taste.

Proly have about 3 or 4 screwdrivers tonight.

A report from Kroger. The tonic is sold out. Only diet is left. I got the last bottle of high price Schweppes. This is getting serious.

Yep, hearing you there !

I do the same with both, bourbon & rye, for mixed drinks.

I found that as my taste has matured, I drink less mixed & more neat !

Or mixed pre dinner & neat relaxin !

Stoli is what's in the freezer right now. Usually Stoli or Reyka.

What I've learned,..quinine bitters with orange juice is a good drink.

I bought that stuff not knowing whether I'd be able to choke it down. But it's not bad at all.

Ice cold is the only way to drink vodka.

Having some Beattie’s right now along with Salo (cured pork belly), fresh garlic and bread. One of them ought to kill the Covid.

Anything worth doing, is worth doing right.

Zyr is the smoothest vodka you’ll ever drink.

Five O'Clock vodka mixed with blue gatorade

Here, we got to disagree !

Chilling dulls the flavour, Ice cold, you might as well drink the cheap $hit, as there will be no subtle nuances available to your palate.

Just 'cause the Ruskies do it, doesn't make it right.

Case in point, 96% of people drink beer & white wine to cold & red wine to warm.

clear is queer. bourbon 100%

I was on to Titos for a while but a friend turned me on to Dripping Springs. It's another Texas vodka. Same price as Titos but we seem to like it better.

I like Boru. Relatively cheap.

"Handmade...." and the founders name is "Beveridge", forgive me, but it sounds too good to be true.

I enjoy drinking for the flavor, not the buzz. So I stick to good whiskeys, gins, brandies, and tequilas. To me, tasteless is pointless. If the reason you drink is to get blitzed, enjoy all the vodka you can chug.

Jewel Of Russia Vodka................

if you can afford it.

Absolut

Screwdrivers will kick your ass in the pool in Cozumel

People don't drink hard liquor for the taste. They drink Peanut Butter malted milk shakes for the taste.

Not a drinker (bad liver) - but a friend imports Precious Vodka. Everyone that I know that has tried it is an instant convert.

It will be hitting your area soon, as distribution is being set up throughout the US.
https://preciousvodka.com/

Does it come in 55gal size? Asking for a friend.

I like whatever is on the bottom shelf at the liquor store.

Ketel is my favourite, followed by Russian Standard and good old Stoli.

Costco American

If the American & imported were the same money would you still buy the American?

Not accusing you of being cheap, just curious as to what differences you experience.

Polish Bison Grass...

Big fan of Everclear myself. Mix it with Tang instant breakfast drink...Mmm-Mmm. It's not just a cocktail, it's a full throated cry for help. Plus, it kills the covfefe virus if it's used as hand sanitizer.

The 100 proof Smirnoff is surprisingly smooth and really has a nice flavor. It is a nice sipper.

Back in his college days, my brother would alternate between Popov & Dark Eyes. Either would remove the outer layers of your tongue.

It was far below the bottom shelf stuff. It must have been basement vodka.

Stoli was about the best I could appreciate. On the rare occasions I have vodka anymore, it’s still what I ask for.

FC

I'm a Goose or Ketel guy for most.

Absolute in a blind russian.

Raspberry flavored Stoli with lemonade for a summer drink/bbq parties etc where you need to satisfy large groups of tastes.

I tried quite a few different ones looking for one that was inexpensive, but didn’t taste inexpensive. New Amsterdam is what I landed on....excellent vodka for the price. About $14/bottle. The big bottle is a better deal.

Wrong again Bristoe. A lot of us really like the taste of bourbon, scotch, gin, rum etc. I really enjoy the taste of a good bourbon or scotch and even a nice pot stilled vodka that hasn't been distilled until completely neutral in taste. I even buy maple syrup that has been stored in ex-bourbon casks. If people didn't like the taste of whiskey, or Gin or Rum etc, they would all just drink cheap vodka and mix it with whatever.

Been on a Luksusowa kick as of late. Decent Polish potato vodka for the money.

Used to get "Russian" brand vodla by the handle years ago. Had a sky blue label saying it was imported Russian vodka and that was it. We drank gallons of it until we couldn't find it anymore. Read this whole thread to see if it would be mentioned.

I like the taste of the alcohol I drink. I like Listerine, too. I was a regular drinker until I had kids and couldn't justify the cost of the good stuff. It was cheap stuff or nothing. So I quit drinking. Quit smoking too cause good cigars were out of budget.

Course now I can afford all the Bunnahaibin and Exquisitos I can stand, but this Southerner has learned he prefers Alabama whiskey and a chew. Different strokes.

Don’t know much about vodka except it’s necessary for tonic and lime. I usually buy Sobieski cuz it’s cheap.

I tend to think vodka is vodka, willing to be wrong about that. I guess we have Tito's and a local distillery brand on hand at our house. If I have to go buy it, I buy Stoli.

My brother likes Russian Standard Vodka for martinis. When I was drinking them Costco French or American worked.

Vodka that hasn't been distilled in a column still to a high alcohol % and then cut with water, won't have much flavor other than ethanol and whatever "flavor" the water has in it. But - - - vodka distilled in a copper pot still just a couple times will have some subtle flavor to it, imparted by the starch/fruit used and the strain of yeast. If you've ever had a good moonshine or white dog or new make, you've had a vodka that has some flavor. This is how many craft distillers make vodka and it's the type of vodka that I like for sipping. For mixing, you most likely want a very neutral (meaning tasteless) vodka.

I'm sipping on an apple vodka (Tuthilltown Distillery Indigenous Apple Vodka) that is distilled from apples and not flavored to taste like apples and - - - it's got a nice fruity nose and has a nice creamy, apple taste.

That's right. (Apple wine makes a great "vodka" like that).

But a good "highly rectified" vodka mixes well and won't burn you or cause hangover.

Wheat is probably the most common grain used to make vodka. White Dog is a combination of corn, barley and wheat. It's just un aged bourbon.

Old school moonshine was made from corn. If you've ever tasted any moonshine that's been made the way it was in colonial America, you would know that it's made from corn. The corn flavor is very prominent. It's nothing like vodka.

i am using everclear for that.

I'm not much of a vodka drinker, usually sticking to scotch and an occasional bourbon. I always figured vodka was all pretty much the same until I went to a grocery store in Kazakhstan and half the store was vodka, the vodka section took up two complete walls of the grocery store. I think there was more vodka in the store than food. I guess someone can tell the difference between brands if there are that many of them. It was impressive, I guess there is some truth to the legends of how much vodka the Soviets consumed.

True, but that's because moonshine, corn whisky, bourbon, etc. was double ran through a pot still and cut down some with a bit of water.

Fermented corn mash can be rectified (series or column still) into a tasteless "neutral" spirit.

Any grain can be. But in the old days processed sugar was very rare. Corn was used because it naturally has a high sugar content. Once processed sugar became widely available moonshine became "sugar whiskey".

You won't find any moonshine made the old way. It's way too much work for the volume it produces.

I once worked with a guy that made a small batch of old school pure corn moonshine just for himself and some friends. It's *very* different from sugar whiskey.

,....definitely not vodka,...or even White Dog.

So what base fermentable makes the best flavored vodka?

Wheat

I've been reading about Popcorn Sutton and other old moonshiners and even pulled out my copy of Fox Fire.

Compared to modern recipes, I can't believe that those old timers got much more than maybe 5% alcohol in their wash.

In one of Popcorn's recipes, I swear the only thing the malted corn does is provide wild yeast. All the alcohol is from sugar and the cracked corn was just there for some flavor.

It's also a nutrient for the yeast. Plain sugar water doesn't ferment well without something extra thrown in.

Its happy hour! Time to get happy.

Judging by the bottles, I think you inverted the ratio.

Like I said, time to get happy! LOL

Definition: vodka (meaning “little water” in Russian) is made primarily with water and ethanol alcohol of agricultural origin, such as wheat, rye, potato, corn, or barley. ... In the US, domestic vodkas are defined as "neutral spirits without distinctive character, aroma, taste or color."

If distilled many times, to a high enough proof in a column (Coffey) still, a neutral spirit can be achieved from any grain, starchy vegetable, or fruit. At that point the source of the starch/sugar will have no impact on the taste of the spirit, as it is supposed to be flavorless. Vodka can also be made in copper stills and typically run thru the still only a couple times. When distilled as such, the actual flavor of the grain, vegetable or fruit can, and likely will, come through.

There is no such thing as "un-aged bourbon". Bourbon by definition has to be distilled from a mash of at least 51% corn and aged in virgin oak barrels. An "un-aged bourbon" is a vodka.

Traditionally, spirits/whiskey was made from left-over grain. Rather than let excess grain rot, farmers utilized their grain to have it made into whiskey as a way of using this grain and making some extra $. The grain that was used was determined by what grain were primarily grown in a particular region. This is why rye whiskey was popular in the NE and Canada as it is a hearty, cold tolerant grain that was grown in those areas. Corn was the dominant grain in Kentucky/Tennessee which is why it was primarily used to make bourbon. The same goes for barley in Scotland/Ireland. Malted Barley is typically used in most spirits mash as it contains the enzymes necessary to convert starch to sugar. Strains of yeast are added to convert sugar to ethanol.

,...and everybody made sure that they had some left over grain.

I was inspired by some of the suggestions, and did a little sipping. For reference, I like Bridge City but realize that it's probably not widely available. I also like the Stoli, neat. Not a fan of Tito's but it's been awhile since I've had it.

I tasted each, at room temp., neat. My preference, from bottom to top:

Smirnoff was as bad as I remember. Sorry Brad

Pinnacle wasn't bad, and lowest cost.

Svedka is fine.

New Amsterdam, also fine+.

Luksosowa - I think this my new favorite, for cheap vodka.

I'm glad that I saw this thread, otherwise I'd probably never try the Luksosowa.

Having had a bit of Smirkinoff, tried & read about Svedka, tested Pinnacle, i should recommend Seagrams. It tested second to Svedka in their price range & the test said both should be in the next level, or superior to anything in their price range.

Svedka leaves me with an unfavorable aftertaste, but Seagrams is my go to for a liquor taste shielding mixer. If the alcohol is to be the main flavor I go way above in price over the Seagrams. Several friends agree.

I used to have a 3rd cousin twice removed that was famous for his shine.

He didn't start his mash with left over grain. He raised a crop of corn just for the purpose. Stories about him are numerous.

Im telling you guys, Zyr... its the smoothest of smooth, no freezer needed.

#vodkasucks
Drink bourbon

I'll add it to the list. Sounds good, thanks.

J

Русский Стандарт

yep good stuff for the price

Or Stolichnaya elite for special times

The 2foot high bottle of tater vodka from ... Poland...close the thread

New Amsterdam vodka for the mid-shelf decent priced win.

Wow, some people knowledgeable about distilling here. So, why the emphasis on *copper" stills and one-time-through? Just tradition to use copper?

Also, are some vodkas still neutral spirits or have they all gone to leaving some flavor in?

Yes this. That Polish potato vodka is the bomb. There's another from Iceland but can't place cause I've drank it.

Oh shidt, I don't know about that one. That said I polished off more than half of the Dripping Springs Gin at the bar of the Contessa in San Antonio over a couple of nights before the campfire hog hunt. Actually brought one home with me. Well another trip to Texas not a bummer.

Covington. Made in North Carolina.

http://www.covingtonvodka.com/our-spirits/

Or for an "heirloom" corn vodka try Troy & Sons Platinum.

https://ashevilledistilling.com/

Interesting read, not much of a vodka fan at all. Simply no flavor IMO.

I have found gin to be a great substitute for almost any vodka recipe and actually have some flavor. I drink bourbon during the winter season, and rarely mix it with anything.
An occasional beer/wine and that is the extent of my alcohol enjoyment. I can enjoy good tequilla, but do not actively seek it out. I have had some moonshine that was fantastic, and some that was best used in an alcohol burner.

I long ago gave up drinking to get buzzed or drunk. Sign of serious issues if that is your main goal.

That's insulting to call that vodka.

More than good, it's outstanding & is the #1 rated vodka in Poland (the potato version).

Especially when chilled.

MM

You're right. Troy&Sons deserves more respect than that. And both those I mentioned are actually flavor distinguishable.

Why the emphasis on copper stills? What other kinds are there and why aren't they as good?

Copper bonds with and removes some sulfur compounds found in the mash. Supposedly yields a better flavor distillate. Stills can be made out of stainless steel too and even glass for very small ones (mostly in labs).

I agree MontanaMan, it is my favorite vodka and that's exactly the way I drink it, chilled straight out of the freezer.

After reading this thread, I will have to try Zyr and Chopin. I have had Luksosowa and found it pretty good. I drink dry vodka martinis, so cheap vodka doesn't work for me. I don't care for Tito's. Absolute is pretty good, and cheaper than Belvedere or Grey Goose.

A pot still (typically copper) is a batch process. The pot still is filled with the distiller's beer (fermented mash) and distilled by heating and then condensing the alcohols that come off. The first alcohol to come off, cause it has a lower evaporation pt, is methanol (which is poisonous). This foreshot or heads is discarded. After the methanol comes the ethanol which is the heart of the run. Also discarded is the end of the distillation run; the tails. The tails contain unwanted flavors. The first run thru a pot still will yield up to 60% alcohol and the rest will be water and chemical congeners, like esters, which have flavor. The distillate can be run thru the still repeatedly which will remove more of the congeners. Vodka is typically desired to be a neutral or flavorless spirit, which can be achieved in a pot still by running the distilate many times thru the still. If it is desired to create a sipping vodka with some flavor, a distiller will only run it thru the still once or twice. Most craft sipping vodka will be made from grain or fruit, and, the type of mash and yeast used will determine the flavor characteristics of the vodka.

To create a flavorless vodka with a pot still is expensive and time consuming. Most large distilleries of vodka, bourbon, rye, some rum etc. (especially in the US and Canada) use a column or Coffey still which is a continuous (not batch) still capable of creating a 95% ethanol distillate. Many of these column stills will also include copper to remove sulfur compounds. There is a huge economic advantage to using a Coffey still. Scotch and Irish Malt whiskey as well as Cognac are required to be distilled using pot stills by law and tradition and the belief that they add a desirable flavor profile. Craft distillers due to their scale and desire to create something different than the big distillers will use pot stills or some hybrid still.

I don't know what it tastes like ...its in my killer Bloody Mary's...yum

Just opened a bottle and I am impressed......

Kettle one for me.

Belvedere for me.
https://www.belvederevodka.com/en-i...bX08WEv1p4aAnCVEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I like a low to middle shelf vodka for my spicy BM's. If the Vodka is too smooth it seems to take away from the kick a spicy BM should have IMO. Seagrams, Smirnoff here is fine. That damn Tavarski or Popov is for the drunks that are one step from drinking robbing alcohol IMO.

Martinis, or a light mixer with vodka, I've decided I'll take Stoli over Tito's. But this came after Tito's gave me a mild hangover one morning, & I've rarely had hangovers after drinking vodka. So much for the multiple times distilled.

Above these^, Ketel or Grey Goose is good, but just a couple bucks more & I can have the best I've ever had & that's Chopin potato.

If there's better out there, I probably wouldn't pay the price.

Martinis are made with Gin.

If they are taking too wide a heart cut and getting some methanol in there, it doesn't matter how many times they distill it. It's the methanol that gives you the headache (that and dehydration, but you should be drinking water when you drink). Methanol is a product of fermentation which is why beer and wine are more likely to give you a headache.

Maybe I mistook many times distilled for many times filtered. A fad with vodka drinkers has been buying cheap vodka & running it though water purifying filters, That, according to the articles, turns the cheap stuff into very drinkable vodka without the day after regrets. ???? Read about this trick many times.

I prefer mine shaken, not stirred, & the Bond or Vespa martini includes Vodka. Or, remove the Mar if you will & call it a vodkatini. or, Ralph or George if ya want.

I will admit, I've never heard of a rumtini, or takillyatini, but bet its been done.

How can that be? Tito's says their vodka is Handmade.

Funny that ya'll talk sheit about Vodka, but you don't even drink a decent Whisky. Rye or Scotch if you don't wanna be a prat about it.




Hail All Father!


While Vodka isn't my favorite Spirit, it is necessary for a decent parlour. I've tried most, but can only recommend a few. I had Tito's back in Austin many years ago while visiting Tejas friends and I was underwhelmed, especially now that they are 'popular' and increased the price. Belve/Goose are Great, but you'll be out twice as much than others for the same volume. I am personally loving Reyka and Blue Ice currently, and both are less than $20 for a fifth.

Good info.

It's sort of weird. I would think that the cheapest vodkas you could buy off the shelf would be distilled until they have no flavor and, therefore, should be the least likely to give you a headache.

Well, as a man that enjoys white russians, probably more than any other mixed drink. I looked around today while I was at the store and out of the recommended vodkas in the thread they had Titos and Ketel One. I chose the Ketel one, a bottle of kahlua as I was out, and some half and half (cream might be better, but its a preference). This Ketel One is way better than the stuff I drink, which is apparently distilled just for peasants.

Then I get buzzed up and listen to a blend of country and blues. Have a wonderful night gentleman and enjoy... the campfire has been way to serious lately. Lighten up f*ckers, lighten up.



When you get done here you can start in on the cody jinks.