Best Vodka

One of the few things I like to be French !

quote:

Originally posted by Steve O:
Hi,
I quite enjoy a vodka from time to time and my current brand is Stolichnaya (Red).
I was pointed in the direction of Stolichnaya many years ago when reading a Keith Richards interview. The interviewer stated that Keith Richards' 'rider' at a gig was 2 bottles of Stolichnaya. I tried a bottle and was suitably impressed.
Vodka seems to have had a renaissance of late with many more brands on offer.
Which do you think is the best vodka?
Regards,
Steve.

I've been drinking Stolichnaya for two decades. Twenty million screaming russians can't be wrong :-)

Something our own Frederic (sic) would no doubt approve of, Poland's finest...



CC (hic)

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:
Twenty million screaming russians can't be wrong :-)

Re Stoli: Funny, my partner is 1/2 Russian and won't go near the stuff....!

Ha Ha Ha !

I'll tell her that - get you off on the right foot when you meet !

Best VFM?

Pan Tadeusz, but only available in Poland, as they keep the best for themselves!

I ask these questions as a non vodka drinker who is curious
Does vodka taste of anything?
Is it true that it can be drunk to moderate excess without suffering a hangover?

quote:

Originally posted by stephenjohn:
I ask these questions as a non vodka drinker who is curious
Does vodka taste of anything?
Is it true that it can be drunk to moderate excess without suffering a hangover?

Vodka tastes of vodka, and gives a gentle hangover if any at all.

quote:

Originally posted by stephenjohn:
I ask these questions as a non vodka drinker who is curious
Does vodka taste of anything?
Is it true that it can be drunk to moderate excess without suffering a hangover?

If you take plenty of fruit juice [and if the Vodka is good this best taken as a long drink in a separate glass with the Vodka in a shot glass] and eat as you go, then the chances of getting very much hung over are minimal. Good Polish sausages, ghuerkins, canapes and so on, if you are not eating a full supper, should be enough.

BUT, just because you don't get a hangover does not meam it will not do just as much damage to your liver as anything else. The point is to have a fun - even fun to excess - but not too often! Unless you are so fed up with the world that short term oblivion is preferred to moderate enjoyment and a longer life.

Sometimes I could sympathise with this view, but essentially Vodka is most fun drunk as a shot drink [with juicce chaser] in good company, IMO. If the Vodka is good then put it in th freezer. It is very nice at minus 18!

ATB from George

Thanks for the replies guys.

Re: stephenjohns query - as mike has already written, vodka tastes of vodka.
I always find it hard to believe the tales of spiking drinks with vodka because it is tasteless. IMO if you're drinks are spiked with vodka and you end up legless, either you have no sense of taste whatsoever, or you're mightily drunk because you want to be.

And for SC - does your wife avoid just Stoli or vodka in general?

And something I should have put in my initial post - I like Stolichnaya because I can drink it neat. I always find that a good indicator with a spirit.

Regards,
Steve.

If you cannot drink it neat [and it takes a brave man to drink Smirnoff neat], then it is a fair indicator that it is not the one to choose! Poor Vodka can taste as if it has added razor blades.

Some good suggestions for ones good enough to drink neat so far.

Another one that is fine is Finlandia.

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by Steve O:
And for SC - does your wife avoid just Stoli or vodka in general?

No, just the Stoli - that was my point! She LOVES vodka and drinks the stuff neat, v.cold and fairly often in the evenings....Personally, whilst I'll never turn any alcohol down (!) I'm more a vino man by choice...But she did put me onto the Grey Goose, I must admit. Very smooth...

Steve.

Polish Flags by the two!



In Warsaw with Frank in September!

ATB from George

There's a bar called Revolution (formerly Vodka Revolution) practically on my doorstep that I think you might like, Georgio. I think there's loads of them now.

Here's a link to their website that includes a handy summary of just about all the ones mentioned in this thread. Click on 'vodka cellar' and see each one come into focus.

http://www.revolution-bars.co.uk/lovevodka/index.php

Surprised no one's joined me in mentioning Chopin - it's widely held to be one of the very best. It tastes a bit apple-ish, by the way.

Using a ladle in a fairly unconventional approach to enjoying the Wedding Party [second day] festivities to be dosed with Wodka!



This was two summers ago ...

ATB from George

Dear Chief,

I have not mentioned Chopin, because I have not had it.

You may note exactly how cold the bottle was from the ice on it!

I can think that there are worse activities in the world than enjoying a bottle of Wodka or two!

At that lovely Wedding Party near Zakopane in the mountains of south Poland near Slovakia, I was treated very kindly possibly except that the groom's family definate tried to see me under the table at about four in the morning. At seven thirty [am] the groom, about six of his cousins, and I called it a night! A party never to be forgotten, and the feeling was that I was not really English at all! Kzrys explained that I am half Norwegian! That caused a lot of knowing exchanges of glances!

ATB from George

Great picture George !

At first I thought this was the other older thread with a similar name

Another vote for Wyborowa. Smooth. Yes it does have some character, which is probably because it is made from rye as opposed to the neutral grain spirit that Smirnoff Red will be made from.

You should be able to pick up a bottle for £16 or less is on special offer. A better more expensive version is another Polish vodka, Potocki. Sells for around £33. I prefer it to other premium vodkas such as the more expensive Uluvka at £40 (also Polish) and Stoli elite (surely a truimph of packaging. I've heard Poles in London say Chopin (mentioned by George)is very good.

I can also vouch for Finlandia being good. Well worth the extra couple of quid over Smirnoff red, which makes me understand why people would add cola to vodka. I wouldn't add cola to any of the good vodkas discussed in this thread.

Luxury vodka surely doesn't have expensive ingredient like grapes that Cognac does so surely the main point of differentiation between vodkas is marketing. There aren't really any terroir factors. Hence why luxury vodka is promoted in style bars instead of in wine merchants (which also sell whisky, cognac and fortified wines).

If in London the best place to buy such vodkas is Gerry's in Old Compton St Soho. They do have a website but it's best to visit this beltnbraces shop in person as I'm sure they will have rare finds not listed on the website.

quote:

Another vote for Wyborowa. Smooth. Yes it does have some character, which is probably because it is made from rye as opposed to the neutral grain spirit that Smirnoff Red will be made from.

You should be able to pick up a bottle for £16 or less is on special offer.

Come to Worcester and buy it for 12.50 GBP!

I know we are backward in this part of the world, but beer at littke more than Polish prices and Wodka for about only twice does have a certain compaensation to it!

At the other end, and you won't get this in UK is Bimber which is derived only only from suger and yeast, and distilled.

This I equate to those very strong Cider drinks that contain 0.002 pro cent Apples!

ATB from George