The Great Vodka debate

I am a grey goose fan, myself...

Damn - I need to check 'The SandBox' a little more often. I am a Vodka Connoisseur, and can only recommend Russian Standard. Grey Goose is my second, and there is no third (Stoli or Kettle are in my top-10).

TRY THIS VODKA - IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, I WILL BUY IT FROM YOU <ha>.

http://www.russianstandardvodka.com/#/en/

You can purchase at most liquor stores, and it is $20-bucks per Liter.

I guess no one has tried Reyka?

....

I sure do like it, though! You ought to give it a whirl, TinMan! If you don't like it I can always take it off your hands for ya
Originally Posted by UTR ATF

Honey, I'm more than happy to give it a try. Perhaps we should get together for a taste test: Tito's vs. Reyka

Ok first off I'm a scotch guy and I currently have a 30 yo bottle of Glenfiddich that I'm still sipping on. Secret to good scotch is NEVER use ice or water (thats for crappy mixed blends) but to chill it use cold rocks...hence the phrase scotch on the rocks. We americans destroyed the true meaning of go to the sreek and get some cool rocks. I personally have fish tank rocks in my freezer to chill my scotch.

Now when I was in Moscow a couple years back and was introducted to Black Vodka. The best I've found in the US is Eristoff Black and its very smooth and sipped like a good tequila should be, not slammed like cheap stuff.

Russian vodka! Stolichnaya!!

The word vodka come from the Russian word voda which means water... Makes me think vodka is necessary...

Kauffman is a vintage Russian vodka. It is only made in years in which the Russian wheat crop meets the high standards of the makers. It is $200+ a bottle, so it had better be good.

Ultimat is a very interesting vodka - a blend of three vodkas (potato vodka for richness, wheat vodka for smoothness and rye vodka for flavor). It is very smooth and has a little vanilla taste.

As for Texas liquors... Tito's is a great vodka and Dripping Springs is about as clean and crisp as any vodka a person can find... Consider that many brands boast that they are "Triple Distilled"... Tito's is distilled 6 time and Dripping Springs is distilled at least 20 times... While the process is very important, Tito's and Dripping Springs are both very pure...

If you are a whisky drinker (or not), I would highly suggest trying Baby Blue Whisky from Balcones Distillery in Waco, TX. This whisky is is the first made in texas and the only whisky made from Hopi blue corn. The maker's website (www.balconesdistilling.com) says Tasting Notes: butter, masa corn meal, marzipan/toasted almonds, smoked chilis, dark chocolate, fresh baked bread aroma.



Did You Know.... Vodka is the best-selling distilled liquor in America, comprising almost 20% of the total market. Russians usually wash vodka down with beer. Vodka is the fastest growing category of major spirit drink in UK. Oily hair? Vodka has oil-removing properties that make it a great choice to help control oily hair as well as remove product buildup. Vodka is a neutral spirit of at least 96% alcohol by volume (ABV). Although, the spirit is normally redistilled and diluted with mineralized water before being filtered. Caviar is, historically, the perfect snack to go with vodka. Vodka should be stored in the freezer. It will not freeze, because of the alcohol level, and will be at the right temperature for all your favorite mixers. The Russian remedy for a hangover is pickle juice. Try it! Vodka accounts for more than one out of every four bottles of distilled spirits consumed in the U.S. Infused vodka has the same properties and qualities as mouthwash. So the next time you've got bad breath -- infuse it! The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms didn't even recognize vodka as a separate category until 1951. The word "vodka" comes from the Slavic word "voda" which means water. Vodkas are made from many different agricultural materials. This includes grain, molasses, potatoes and rice. Most vodkas today use grain, primarily corn, wheat or rye. The eventual quality of the vodka is often determined by the finishing process -- the varieties of charcoal used, the method of distillation used, the equipment used, the water used and other factors. Because the end product is supposed to be without a distinctive taste, vodka can be made from a fermented mash of just about any carbohydrate-containing material. Russia and Poland both lay claim to the title of "originator of vodka." Vodka was used for medicinal purposes in the middle ages. It was also used as an ingredient in the production of gunpowder because of its purity. The first documented vodka distillery was reported in the Vyatka Chronicle in 1174, in the Russian town of Khylnovsk. Toasts: here's how to say "cheers" in other cultures: Chinese - Wen Lie! French - A votre sante! German - Prosit! Greek - Yasas! Hebrew - L'Chayim! Hungarian - Ege'sze'ge're! Irish - Slainte! Italian - Alla Salute! Japanese - Kanpai! Polish - Na Zdrowie! Russian - Za vashe zdorovye! Spanish - Salud! Swedish - Skal! Famous Quote: "One martini is alright, two is too many, three is not enough." - James Thurber The current best-selling mixed drink in the US is the Vodka Martini. Vodka Regions Eastern Europe is the homeland of Vodka production. Every country produces Vodka, and most also have local flavored specialties. Russia, Ukraine and Belarus produce the full range of Vodka types, and are generally acknowledged to be the leaders in Vodka production. Only the better brands, all of which are distilled from rye and wheat, are exported to the West. Poland produces and exports both grain- and potato-based Vodkas. Most of the high-quality brands are produced in pot stills. Finland, along with the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, produce primarily grain-based Vodkas, mostly from wheat. Sweden has, in recent decades, developed a substantial export market for its straight and flavored wheat-based Vodkas. Western Europe has local brands of Vodka wherever there are distilleries. The base for these Vodkas can vary from grains in northern countries such as the United Kingdom, Holland, and Germany, to grapes and other fruits in the winemaking regions of France and Italy. The United States and Canada produce nonflavored Vodkas, both from various grains (including corn) and from molasses. American Vodkas are, by law, neutral spirits, so the distinction between brands is more a matter of price and perception than taste. The Caribbean produces a surprising amount of Vodka, all of it from molasses. Most of it is exported for blending and bottling in other countries. Australia produces molasses-based Vodkas, but few are exported. Asia has a smattering of local Vodkas, with the best coming from Japan.

Fascinating, Maverick. Other than Scotch, I'm not a big whiskey drinker, but you've convinced me to give Baby Blue a try. There is just something very fitting about drinking spirits distilled in Waco? of all places! Any idea of where I can get it locally?

Fascinating, Maverick. Other than Scotch, I'm not a big whiskey drinker, but you've convinced me to give Baby Blue a try. There is just something very fitting about drinking spirits distilled in Waco? of all places! Any idea of where I can get it locally? Originally Posted by TinMan

TinMan,

I am with you... I enjoy Scotch as well. To me, Baby Blue is somewhere between a Scotch and bourbon. It is best neat or over ice - nothing to take away from the taste.

While it may be in some other liquor stores, I found it at Perry's Liquor Store (9669 North Central Expressway Dallas, TX 75231-5056 - (214) 373-7646) - basically 75, just north of Walnut Hill in Dallas. If it is not convenient, grab two bottles because I think you will like this stuff.

I noticed yesterday in a weekly business magazine I get ("BusinessWeek", April 19, 2010, pg 17) that Smirnoff was listed as the #1 selling liquor in the U.S. It's not one of my favorite brands, but I found mention of that to be interesting, since I would've probably picked another type of liquor/brand as being the top seller in the U.S.

I noticed yesterday in a weekly business magazine I get ("BusinessWeek", April 19, 2010, pg 17) that Smirnoff was listed as the #1 selling liquor in the U.S. It's not one of my favorite brands, but I found mention of that to be interesting, since I would've probably picked another type of liquor/brand as being the top seller in the U.S. Originally Posted by Bushaholic

That's not too surprising to me. Smirnoff is cheap enough to appeal to college party budgets, but recognizable enough to give the impression of "Good Stuff" to the uninitiated. I'd say a large portion of that sales figure is bulk sizes that end up in Punch, Jello, or Watermelons. And actually, their Blue Lable Triple filtered stuff isn't that bad in a pinch.

That's not too surprising to me. Smirnoff is cheap enough to appeal to college party budgets, but recognizable enough to give the impression of "Good Stuff" to the uninitiated. I'd say a large portion of that sales figure is bulk sizes that end up in Punch, Jello, or Watermelons. And actually, their Blue Lable Triple filtered stuff isn't that bad in a pinch. Originally Posted by Sudzny

+1

....and that triple-distilled Smirnoff is not that bad.... Just agreeing with ya' - I had some last night by accident, and was pleasantly surprised.

I agree with the Monopolowa for the price.

Best bottle is "Red Army". Its shaped like an artillery shell. Very cool.

I don't think Tito's is the only Texas Vodka. There is also Dripping Springs. Harder to find than Tito's, but I like it better. Also like Hanger One. Although Hanger One specializes in fruit "infused" vodka, I think there plain vodka is about the best going. Originally Posted by bigtimewaster

IMO, Tito's is best when you are making a drink without a mixer, say a vodka soda. One of the best tasting vodkas around. Dripping Springs is perfect for drinks with mixers. Both are fantastic.