Serious question. And I dont want you to throw out the brand name you think is best because it has the most ads and costs a lot.

I want real opinions based on comparing it to other vodkas.

And what I'm looking for is a vodka with a good (no?) flavor for drinking straight (rarely) or mixing in a dry martini (often) and occasionally in a vodka tonic (in between).

I currently have a big bottle of Luksusowa (polish potato) vodka in the freezer and i just can't get into it. it's harsh and reminds me of going to russia in the ghetto and some guy hands you a bottle of "strong flavor".

I also have a bottle of Ciroc. It's very drinkable straight up or on the rocks but it's got a little bit more "spice" than traditional vodkas.

So that leaves the smooth, flavorless bargains. Forget the goose and belvedere and ****. I'm talking sub $20/750mL. What's out there?

One I'm curious about is Cirrus. It's from Virginia and made from potatoes. It's supposed to be nice and smooth with just a hint of sweetness.



Hook a bruddah up.

 

Hanger One is what I was going to recommend but then you said sub $20 a fifth. I like it for drinking straight, martinis and whatever else you want that doesn't include mixers.
Handles of Stoli are like $30 and I like it better than Absolut, though not Grey.
I'm not a Vodka man though.
Kind of a Sailor Jerry's fan myself.

 

try:

Zubrowka

Polish bison grass vodka

It's different. Great with apple juice, not sure how it'd go in a martini...

 

Sobieski is a good cheap vodka. Just make sure the 1.75l size comes in a glass bottle, not the shitty plastic that they first tried to market in the US.

 

Gordon's. In the plastic bottle. It's like $8. Best rubbing alcohol flavored vodka ever .

 

I've always enjoyed Stolichnaya, either straight up or mixed w/ whatever

 

My opinions might not be the most valued on Vodka. Generally if I am drinking Vodka, its to tie one on. If I want to sip something that tastes good, I'll go to something brown (bourbon or scotch).

With that said, best value I've found is Svedka.

Comes in a 1L bottle, sub $20 here at least.

I normally only drink Vodka in a Vodka Tonic or shots, and I have no complaints on the stuff. My Vodka Tonics don't have much tonic, so if it takes like **** I'd know it.

Here's a review, they don't seem to like it as much as I - Liquor Review: Svedka - BoozeBasher.com

 

Everclear 190 proof, seems resonably priced. I've never tried it as its illegal to sell in NY(and several other states). Also wasnt there a thread about 6 months ago with bacon flavored vadka?

 

I like 3 olives. Reasonably priced and is good quality

 

that's not vodka and you're a moron if you drink it straight.


I think I like the svedka option. it was rated very highly and wasn't pricey.

I may try the cirrus just on a whim if I can find it.

I *do* also like the brown liquor, but **** me if I gotta shell out $140 for 18 yr bottle of the macallan.

 

I feel your pain man. I have a bottle of Talisker 18 year that I have been nursing. It was a gift from the girlfriend. Damn good, and I'd go buy another bottle, but that's car part money!

 

If you can find Ketel One for around $20, it makes for a decent drink. Decent drinkablility without the fruitiness of stuff like Ciroc.

Also, if you like Macallan, try their fine oak aged stuff. Good stuff.

 

in college in a marketing class we conducted a blind test with vodka using the usuals...grey goose, belvedere, sky, absolute....and some bottom shelf like vladimir, bankers club...

there were just as many votes for best vodka on the cheap **** as there were on the "good" stuff, if not more. and we tested regular vodka drinkers with the same results

 

Even the cheapest of Vodkas when filtered through a strainer will get a better taste for the monies. The more you filter, the better the grade. Saw a guru who could tell the difference between 10 different "blind" brands. He took a low shelf Vodka, filtered with coffee filters, and gave to unsuspecting patrons. They all thought it was top shelf stuff.
I can't drink it anymore....but that's just what I've learned about it.
And it is a great cleaner for stainless and creates a beautiful color when burning in headers!

 

You are the Martha Stewart of the Miata racing community.


good tip on the filtering, never tried it, and have drank lotsa cheap vodka.

 

3AM Vodka is good stuff. I have a couple of friends that swear by it.

 

Walked into that one.....

 

I can't rebut this as I have zero evidence, but doesn't it seem that if it was that easy, the manufacturers would do it? If I could run something through a coffee filter and jack the price even $1.00 a bottle at the retail level, it would contribute a huge amount to the bottom line.

Methinks we need a MT.net experiment. Where's Joe with the video camera when we need it?

 

I saw something on TV about the blind taste test of vodkas and more of the poeple couldn't tell the difference in Stoli, Grey and Absolute. Most of the people could spot the cheaper vodka when straight but most of the group marked the cheaper grade as mid grade when mixed.

As for the filter. I have heard the same thing. I been told that running cheap vodka through a coffee filter will help to soften the taste. But someone once told me that he would buy cheap bottles like Mr.Boston grade. Then would put in the water filtering systems that you use to fitler tap water. He said it came out grade and he was able to drink it start without having that nasty aftertaste and also didn't get that nasty filling the next morning when you drink cheap vodka. He did mention that you will go throu the fittler much faster.

 

because tests show that marketing and brand positioning matter more than actual quality and taste