Debunking Beer Can Chicken: A Waste Of Good Beer, And Dangerous
Famous Death Row Last Meals
Over the past few years, as premium vodkas have come into vogue, I've heard more and more about the taste of vodka. Suddenly, reviews have been overflowing with comments like "a nice, caramel finish," "a buttery nose," and "an insouciant grin underlying pearly orange tones." Okay, I made the last one up, but am I the only one who sometimes wonders if professional liquor tasters have been dropping acid?At any rate, the irony of this is that the ideal vodka shouldn't have any flavor at all. In fact, I'd argue that the ultimate mark of a good vodka is that you can pull it out of the freezer, pour yourself a shot, and taste absolutely nothing except for the quick death of a few thousand brain cells. This, by the way, is why a traditional vodka tasting often has savory items like caviar, blini, fresh dill, and preserved herring. Since it doesn't impart flavor, vodka makes a good, inoffensive base for other flavors.
While most of the top vodkas on the market cost upwards of $30, there are a few classic and lesser-known vodkas that offer premium quality and (lack of) flavor for very reasonable prices. For example, Svedka is a first-rate, mild-flavored vodka from Sweden. Like Absolut, it has an great ad campaign; unlike Absolut, however, it is a very tasty, very reasonably priced vodka.
Given that it is the most popular vodka in the world, Smirnoff hardly qualifies as a lesser-known tipple. Still, at $14 for a fifth, it is quite cheap, yet it has a clean, pleasant flavor and is a first-rate mixer. Best of all, it was James Bond's spirit of choice, a fact that the company has used for promotional purposes for over forty years.
While these plebian vodkas are great for most purposes, they come up a little short when a vodka snob comes to visit. For that reason, it's not a bad idea to have a bottle of Luksusowa lying around. A smooth, triple-distilled Polish potato vodka with a great flavor and a proud heritage, Luksusowa should be clean enough to silence even your most obnoxious premium vodka snob. Best of all, it costs about $10 a fifth and, while not as nice as Chopin, is a credible vodka that you should feel perfectly comfortable serving. If one of your guests asks for Absolut, throw him out!
Charlie Sheen Gets Back To His Roots
The List #0147: Escape a Car Underwater
WHOOPS! Obama Makes Big Gaffe
Visit the Maldive Islands Before It's Too Late
Reptiles Make Home in UK Man's Cable Box
Candid Portraits Of Strippers After Hours
Springtime Budget-Busters -- Savings Experiment
Is This Woman Too Pretty To Work?
That's An Interesting Look, Madge
Mariah Carey Suffers Wardrobe Malfunction on Good Morning America
Distraught Mom Becomes Face of Oklahoma Storm
Mariah Carey Curses And Busts Out Of Dress On Live TV
The Story Behind Hairspray
H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight
16 Pasta Dishes Worse Than Yours
Okla. Sheriff's Deputy Finds Dog Guarding Body Buried Under Destroyed Home
AMAZING PHOTO: UFO Spotted Over San Diego
What It's Like To Talk To A 2-Year-Old
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
Best Friends Reportedly Die Holding Each Other In Tornado
Danny Tanner Is Fighting With Topanga
Jury Foreman: '18 Days Of Testimony Hurt' Jodi Arias
Rapper Accused Of Faking His Own Death To Escape Payments
Luke Wilson Caught Staring At Fan's Chest
New Trayvon Martin Evidence Features Incriminating Photos, Texts From Teen
Teenager's 'Awww'-Inspiring Drawing Wins Big At Google
LISTEN: Terror Inside Elementary School As Tornado Hits
Surgeons Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
WATCH: Police Force Shows Up To Support 5-Year-Old Who Lost Her Dad
LOOK: Photoshop Mistake Is Seriously Cringeworthy
Jodi Arias Jury DEADLOCKED
Mum-Of-Two Faces Down Woolwich Attack Suspects
11-24-2008 @8:17PM mildly amusing said... i've been using Svedka as a base for vodka infusions (cran-orange-vanilla rocks) for years now....it's not expensive and tastes great....thanks for giving it the respect it deserves
Reply
11-24-2008 @9:22PM Aytunc said... I love Stoli, It has the best price to taste ratio and you can get one for around $13.
Reply
11-24-2008 @10:01PM Scott said... I had some unbelievable (and expensive to match) vodka at a Russian restaurant in the (formerly Soviet) city of Tallinn, Estonia. And it changed my thinking about vodka. It definitely had a taste: a bit of sweetness, a bit of a thick mouth-feel, a subtle buttery flavor, a touch of the ocean in it... and was insanely delicious. I've gone back on the "vodka should have no flavor" idea, because that expensive Russian vodka, being quaffed by Russians around me, was so delicious.
Reply
11-25-2008 @4:55AM Rio Yeti said... When I was in Russia, the vodka everyone was drinking was "Russki Standard" (or Russian Standard). It's very good and very affordable, and it just arrived in France ! I don't know if it's available in the USA, but if you see it, give it a try.
On the premium batch, I love the spiciness of Grey Goose... but I admit it is too expensive.
Reply
11-25-2008 @7:46AM LordJezo said... With all the fancy high priced stuff that people are pushing in crazy bottles that wont fit anywhere Smirnoff still wins in taste tests:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/dining/26wine.html
I wonder if it's just all mental on spending more money so making yourself think it tastes better.
Reply
11-25-2008 @9:33AM Astin said... Well, all things being a matter of personal taste, I can't stand Smirnoff. It's absolutely foul, especially on its own, and increasingly so in mixes. It was the vodka of my poor student days.
Give me a bottle of Ketel One any day. Cheaper than the premiums, and for my money, better than Chopin, Grey Goose, or Belvedere. Then again, I keep the Goose around as a fauxtini mixer.
I've heard good things about Monopolowa as well, but have never had a chance to try it.
Reply
11-25-2008 @9:49AM Kevin Kadow said... At any temp above freezing, take a sip of Grey Goose, then a sip of Smirnoff, and you'll feel better about spending more money for the French stuff.
Reply
11-25-2008 @9:59AM A-Pow said... I have to say that for my money I like the Costco Brand - Kirkland Signature vodka. It's $30 for a 1.75L which works out to $13 for a fifth. It's clean, very clean and smooth. Good on it's own served on the rocks or mixed with your favorite drink.
Only downside is the bottle is super tall, like 24" tall. My solution? Buy a decanter at Crate and Barrel for a few bucks and stash the bottle in a closet. That way when friend's come over I'm not flashing labels, I'm pouring from something sophisticated. Honestly, I was skeptical at first, but it really tasty and very very clean. I encourage you guys to try it.
Reply
11-25-2008 @11:38AM Karen said... I've done a number of blind taste tests (hic!) and still come up the same each time: Absolut regular is undrinkable; Absolut Citron is lovely. Svedka regular is lovely; Svedka Citron is undrinkable. Very curious.
Reply
11-25-2008 @1:36PM Robert said... Try Tito's, made in Texas. Great vodka at a good price point, around $16. Price no object... my money goes to Ciroc, a French ice vodka made from "frosted" grapes.
Reply
11-25-2008 @2:47PM shrique said... I've been drinking Shakers now for quite a while. Great stuff. Very clean WAY better that Stoli. It's got a 6 column continuous still. It's a bonus as it's made in MN where I live.
http://www.shakersvodka.com/
Reply
11-25-2008 @8:09PM kansanpoker said... i swear me and my bestfriend are the only two on the plant that must think grey goose is overrated , when an old friend was coming into town i bought alot of top self liquer one was grey goose , we took straight up shots and all i can say is , it was nasty for the price , it so over rated , my two favorite are Svedka and polar bear for the taste and price
Reply
12-11-2008 @11:47PM Anne MacIntyre said... Though I love a good vodka straight (Hangar One Mandarin is my current favorite), I agree with the Smirnoff comment found here - especially when mixing. My comments about Smirnoff vs. higher priced brands are on my blog
http://likeminkonlybetter.wordpress.com.
Reply
2-04-2009 @4:28AM Alvin said... Has anyone tried Ruskova?
Reply