Scotch? No thanks. Whats the best Vodka.?


Many years a go I used to drink a vodka from Turkey named Izmira that was distilled from white beets. Wonderful!!!!!!!! Sadly no longer available in the U.S. I'm a big Belvedere fan. Slightly sweet and nuanced, but has a great vodka kick. Lately though I've discovered 360 Vodka. American made and so smooth. Almost too easy to drink. So, what's your vodka pleasure? And please, no testimonials to Popov. I know I know, something has to go in the brown paper bag, but if you have to get Kamchatka.
mjwpicman

By a long shot it’s french grape-based Ciroc. And only unflavored, please. For a poor-man’s version, dilute 50% with Stoli.

Beluga Reserve with the metal medallion is the best I ever tasted. Have to go to Russia to get because it is not for export.

My wife’s Polish 21-year-old niece was visiting, and we went to get some burgers at a restaurant. I asked her what she wanted to drink, and she said VODKA!

I know that her hometown in Poland has some great vodkas (especially straight from the freezer). I told her to try Kettle One, my fav Vodka in the USA. She had a couple of sips and almost spit it out. Too smooth she said, but she did finish it off after the initial disappointment.

Russian Standard was my go-to vodka until I found Stoli Elite.  Stoli Elite is super smooth, hard to find and a little pricey for Vodka

Read the reviews! don't ever make an important and potentially expensive decision based on your own ears!

Now this vodka / scotch thing where in my system does it fit? ???????????? LOL

Audioquest of course…so sweet, smooth, liquid and with clarity beyond approach. 

I normally do not drink but when I do I only drink Vodkas from Dripping Springs, TX. 

Dripping Springs Vodka, Deep Eddy. 

I’m sure that our Ukrainian members and visitors are just ecstatic about that 🙄

Russian vodka reigns supreme. Haven't had Russian Standard, but having been there I have had more premium Russian vodka than I can name, with probably half a dozen unopened bottles on the shelf, every one of which I am sure clobbers any non-Russian vodka and probably any Russian vodka of any type sold here in the USA. 

In fact, near as I can tell, it seems they don't hardly let any of their really good vodka out of the country. I've had supposedly Russian vodka bought here in the US that was nowhere near what I have at home, all brought from Russia.

Some of the bottles they come in by the way are a work of art. 

When we are out for dinner I ask for a vodka tonic with lemon, with Grey Goose.  I have discovered Costco's French Vodka, which is about a third of the price and tastes a lot like Grey Goose.  Some websites say it's not Grey Goose, but the water they use is from the same wells, not sure, but it sure has the same smooth taste.

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Tito’s is what I keep in my freezer, although I’m primarily a beer drinker.

Wyborowa Polish Vodka is very good

Stolichnaya Cristall Vodka

Your Price: $ ?…

Buy Stolichnaya Cristall Vodka USSR

 

I first had this in Leningrad ( now St Petersburg ) back in 1989 when it was still Soviet times. Back then, the major hotels had a “special” bar for the Western tourist and businessman where the guests were herded into . It was an orchestrated Commie task to get hard Western currency for overpriced fare.

I took a purposeful detour and sojourned into the “discouraged” locals bar. Immediately identifying and branding me as just another North American ( insert adjective) , the room eyeballed me as either being hopelessly lost stepping off the elevator, or just a must-to-avoid capitalist pig worthy of scorn.

After asking for my passport that identified me as a Canadian, the mood immediately softened quickly with a new jovial lively debate about the common Holy Grail … hockey . There was enough interchange of broken Russian and limited English to make it work.. The 1972 Super Series was well remembered by all gathered at the bar

I respectfully asked for what vodka shots THEY preferred to drink as a visitor’s polite sampler effort … and that’s when the STOLY CHRISTALL came out from a back cabinet.

After my room number was verified as billable , I was offered it straight up Russki style …. Interlocking arms shots ….. It was the full nirvana / ambrosia quality they predicted….. it was as smooth as ice over glass ,.,the best I’ve EVER had. It was a big difference from what I knew as premium vodka …. A clear proxy for a sipping special item.

The bartender in limited English characterized most of the so-called premium brand vodkas we know and now served in the Western bar upstairs as bottled from “a moose with bad kidneys” (aka moose piss) ….mockingly served to the unknowing Westerners….but considered as daily plonk to locals to guzzle down their snorkel .

It was an event that I fondly and wistfully remember. I’ve not been able to get any back here in Toronto. My loss ….

Funny, how do these old threads reappear?  Anyway, I hate scotch but love a great shot of Irish whiskey or Bourbon.  From a Vodka perspective, I feel good about the Stoli elite.  It is not easy to find and is rather expensive for the vodka but oh so smooth!

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Titos! Gluten free, made in the USA (Austin ,Texas) and as smooth or smoother than  most costing multiples in fancy bottles that you throw away. Why spend more? 
A must vodka you have to try is GoldLok Vodka! I was once a ketel one vodka drinker and once introduced to GoldLok, I feel in love with it. Most vodkas have that harsh burn when you drink it and many other companies cover up the poor quality vodkas with artificial flavors to cover it up. I drink Goldlok alone on ice with no chasers. The pros about this vodka is because it's organic, all natural, it's only in the 30 - low 40 range in range for a liter, the bottle is gorgeous because it all gold, and it's a conversation piece. 

Stolichnaya Cristall from the Cristall Distillery in Moscow, comes the rarest and finest Russian Vodka Stolichnaya Cristall for the ultimate in smoothness. 100% grain neutral spirits, distilled and bottled in Russia.


Among the milder tasting vodkas, Grey Goose but Hammermill is remarkably close and unbeatably priced 60% less.  Titos is smooth but tasteless.  Come to think of it, it's almost cocktail hour.
"ebmIs this boozegon!!"

No it is boozehere, or we would not be talking about it. ;-)
So glad you posted goldeneraguy. I worrried I might've killed a thread! I may be a teetotaler but I sure ain't anti alcohol. Bottoms up 'philes!
dbtom2
Ain't that the truth.
But while I'm not on the wagon I've moved from Grey Goose and Belvedare to Stoli Elit. Best Vodka I've ever tasted
@24phun @jond I agree with Boyd & Blair but I am also a homer and support the local stuff. Another one that I will soon try is McLaughlin Distillery’s 7X Vodka...made around the corner from me..
I must not have been sober back in 2009 when I last posted in this thread.  At that time, I was enjoying Reyka Vodka from Iceland.  I did my best to support their economy when it was struggling.  Reyka had a commercial that mocked other vodkas: "the only flavored vodka we make is vodka flavored vodka, if you want a banana then eat a banana."  Reyka tasted like water.  I eventually switched to Ketel One and still enjoy it, though not in copious quantities anymore.  Cheers!
btw, a vodka is nothing ,ore then neutral spirits watered down to meet requirements, it should be tasteless 
Wodka from poland and it is remarkably cheap. as a former bartender and drunk i can tell you the best vodka is one run through a carbon filter a few times, the more the better. numerous systems are marketed to do this. it is called 'fining' in the industry and it removes all traces of odor and taste resulting in an incredibly smooth but tasteless liquor. i have run popov thru filters 6 times and it is better than the finest vodka you can buy. some vodkas are carbon filtered and others are not but this process turns a poor vodka into a world class tastless non burning liquor. the drawback is it takes time to drip thru a serious carbon filter but it is worth it for a consumer.
Have no idea what's best, but been drinking Tito's and Ugly Dog as of late.
If you think vodka tastes like nothing, and most do, try Boyd & Blair Potato vodka from western PA. It has amazing texture and a hint of butterscotch on the nose, really great and atypical vodka.
Tito's! Hand made from the everything is [bigger] state. Smooth and great price. Giant Killer. Although seems to become a smaller giant. Austin, music capitol of the USA, great combo. From NJ, where nothing memorable is made. 
Zubrowka bison grass from poland. Has the refinement of a great single malt. My last name should lend some weight to my recommendation.  

...and it streaks me as odd that audiophiles would drink something that is pretty much distilled to taste like NOTHING!
Tobaritch!  

This is a Russian vodka that I found at "Total Wines."  It's not real expensive. Has a nice flavor and kick. I like it on the rocks with a slice of lime. The manager at Total Wines tuned me on to it. Her favorite. Its won all kinds of awards too. 
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