Vodka Thread (from the archives) (1 Viewer)

[Ron Swanson]

My wife and I were at a party and the host decided to have a blind taste test of vodka.  He only had three types.  Ketel One, Skyy,and Costco's Kirkland brand.

Kirkland (got my vote) won overwhelmingly and Ketel One came in second.  This was just over a year ago so I made the switch to Kirkland vodka.  It is distilled six times and it costs only $13.99 for a 1.75 bottle.

Yes, but how do you know it is really distilled 6 times?  Could be a big scam.  

 

[Jaysus]

I am looking for a cheap handle (preferably plastic) to use solely as a mixer.  Acceptable quality is the highest this needs to be - you know, a step or two above rotgut.  What brands should I be considering?

ETA: my state has a monopoly on liquor sales, and my options may be limited

 

[snore]

I am looking for a cheap handle (preferably plastic) to use solely as a mixer.  Acceptable quality is the highest this needs to be - you know, a step or two above rotgut.  What brands should I be considering?

ETA: my state has a monopoly on liquor sales, and my options may be limited

I would personally roll with either svedka or smirnoff.

 

[Ron Swanson]

I am looking for a cheap handle (preferably plastic) to use solely as a mixer.  Acceptable quality is the highest this needs to be - you know, a step or two above rotgut.  What brands should I be considering?

ETA: my state has a monopoly on liquor sales, and my options may be limited

I would go with the Platinum (Buffalo Trace product, corn mash, and distilled 7 times) or perhaps the Sobieski (Polish Rye Vodka). Both 80 proof.

Pure bang for your buck, buy the 100 proof cheapo Nikolai for 14.99...at least its a Sazerac product. 

 

[Jaysus]

I would go with the Platinum (Buffalo Trace product, corn mash, and distilled 7 times) or perhaps the Sobieski (Polish Rye Vodka). Both 80 proof.

Pure bang for your buck, buy the 100 proof cheapo Nikolai for 14.99...at least its a Sazerac product. 

that's my kind of insight, thanks!

 

[matuski]

The names held up because there are no official TTB meanings assigned to the words. It’s not like “straight” or “bourbon”. More like small batch (which literally means nothing). Jack Daniels could put “small batch craft whiskey handmade in Tennessee” if they wanted. But they don’t, because they have SOME integrity 

Regarding quakify.... Not really... MGP is notorious for releasing some fantastic bourbon and rye stock from time to time. They’re not bad at what they do... it’s just not craft.

To my knowledge I’m unaware Tito’s does any more than a single pass through their pot stills. I could be wrong but I’ve yet to see evidence to the contrary. It seems that IF they WERE putting actual work into the product they would have been more clear about their process, given how many folks are calling them on their bull####. 

But no, they don’t talk about their process because they know it would crush the illusion they’ve built up via marketing. 

To my knowledge I'm unaware Tito's pass it through their pot stills even once.  I could be wrong, but I've yet to see evidence to the contrary.  If they did they would be more clear about the process.  But they don't because it would crush the illusion created by marketing.

 

[Jaysus]

I would go with the Platinum (Buffalo Trace product, corn mash, and distilled 7 times) or perhaps the Sobieski (Polish Rye Vodka). Both 80 proof.

Pure bang for your buck, buy the 100 proof cheapo Nikolai for 14.99...at least its a Sazerac product. 

UPDATE: Sobieski handles were on sale for $18, so I grabbed one of them.  So far so good... thanks for the recommendations

 

[Rodrigo Duterte]

Smirnoff is underrated.  I guess it's too well-known to be underrated?

 

[Jules Winnfield]

My wife and I were at a party and the host decided to have a blind taste test of vodka.  He only had three types.  Ketel One, Skyy,and Costco's Kirkland brand.

Kirkland (got my vote) won overwhelmingly and Ketel One came in second.  This was just over a year ago so I made the switch to Kirkland vodka.  It is distilled six times and it costs only $13.99 for a 1.75 bottle.

Distillation numbers are mostly a selling point for the uninformed and nothing more 

 

[coyote5]

UPDATE: Sobieski handles were on sale for $18, so I grabbed one of them.  So far so good... thanks for the recommendations

Switched from Titos to Sobieski a few weeks ago for my martini vodka because of this thread and am extremely happy with the results! 

 

[Rhythmdoctor]

Now everyone is gonna start buying Sobieski and it will jo longer be the greatest vodka bargain on the planet. I should’ve never said anything!!

 

[Ron Swanson]

Now everyone is gonna start buying Sobieski and it will jo longer be the greatest vodka bargain on the planet. I should’ve never said anything!!

[icon] goes through more of it at every MIM than any of us could ever drink in a year.

 

[Rodrigo Duterte]

Just got back from Rite Aid.  Couldn't find Sobrietski, damm it.  Went Stoli instead.  It's usually either that or Smirnoff for me.

 

[Joe Mammy]

Smirnoff is underrated.  I guess it's too well-known to be underrated?

I was a Smirnoff #21 for many, many years. Now I've found that Wolfshmidt is an unbelievable deal at $12 per 1.75, a Seagrams product that is comparatively as smooth as #21 and if you are mixing it like I do with fresh grapefruit, Ice sparkling grapefruit or OJ it is just dandy. Also, shaken up with a lemon peel straight up is also damn true. Why pay more?

 

[Ron Swanson]

I was a Smirnoff #21 for many, many years. Now I've found that Wolfshmidt is an unbelievable deal at $12 per 1.75, a Seagrams product that is comparatively as smooth as #21 and if you are mixing it like I do with fresh grapefruit, Ice sparkling grapefruit or OJ it is just dandy. Also, shaken up with a lemon peel straight up is also damn true. Why pay more?

That is the most unfortunately named beverage I've ever heard of.

 

[cosjobs]

Vodka 1.75L prices at Total Wine 

Goose $45

Ketel $32

Titos $26

Absolut $26

3 Olives $24

Stoli $24

Luksosowa $22

Skyy $17

Sobieski $17

Smirinoff $15

Svedka $15 

I like using handles as the standard measurement.

 

[prosopis]

My wife and I were at a party and the host decided to have a blind taste test of vodka.  He only had three types.  Ketel One, Skyy,and Costco's Kirkland brand.

Kirkland (got my vote) won overwhelmingly and Ketel One came in second.  This was just over a year ago so I made the switch to Kirkland vodka.  It is distilled six times and it costs only $13.99 for a 1.75 bottle.

Kirkland is my go to Vodka at home.