Vodka..... confused

[disneysteve]

I think some of the lower ends (think house brand at a bar) can be tasted in a mixed drink.

I agree but it really depends on the drink. If making a simple screwdriver, for example, I find that the quality of the orange juice makes a much bigger difference than the quality of the vodka. In fact, I won't even order a screwdriver out anywhere unless I can see what brand of OJ they are using. Great vodka and crappy OJ makes a lousy drink. Great OJ and mediocre vodka still makes a perfectly acceptable drink.

 

[timmac]

Whether or not you'll be able to taste the difference in vodkas largely depends upon how much you like to drink, and what vodkas, in my opinion. I would say there is definitely a difference, though when actually put to the test blindly, I can't always identify them properly.

Of course, people usually utilize vodka in mixed drinks, rarely by itself. So, the type of drink makes some difference too. The sweeter and/or weaker the drink, the less the vodka brand matters.

More expensive vodkas generally have a "cleaner" taste. Some even have an almost citrusy kind of flavor to them (without actually being citrus flavored). My advice would be to go for a middle of the road vodka, as that's usually fine. I usually go for Skyy, but that's just me.

I'm also not a huge fan of the flavored vodkas. One or two that have a flavor you really like is nice, but beyond that, just a plain vodka that you can mix with other things is far more versatile.

 

[marmalade]

I don't really drink Vodka and when I do someone else is usually buying it and making my drinks so I don't even know what it is.

But your bar is amazing! I love all the attention to detail, and I especially love the headboard turned into the background for the bar. The story of the leprechaun area is pretty cool too. Great job!

 

[HamTown]

Alton Brown had a show on drinks and he said that one thing that differentiates vodkas is the amount of filtering they go through. The more impurities out, the higher the price.

He said that a cheap vodka run through a water filtration pitcher a few times would taste the same as a more expensive brand.

I'm not a big "straight up" drinker but I think this could be fun "research" for someone else.

 

[Gigi22]

There has been a change in vodka marketing and pricing over the years. Smirnoff and Stoli both used to be considered perfectly fine vodkas, but over the years more premium brands have been marketed and as a result both Smirnoff and Stoli are now viewed as budget brands. If you intend to make cocktails that depend on the vodka itself for flavour, go with a higher end brand, if you intend on mixing most of your vodka with flavoured alcohols/mixes, you can go with something more budget, according to your preference.

 

[disneysteve]

He said that a cheap vodka run through a water filtration pitcher a few times would taste the same as a more expensive brand.

This is true. Using something like a Brita does improve cheap vodka's taste but I don't think it is cost-effective. Cheaper to just buy the better stuff.

 

[disneyfreakk]

Vodka tonic is my drink of choice. I like Absolute, and I HATE Smirnoff. I can totally tell the difference when the bartender messes my drink up by putting the wrong (usually smirnoff) stuff in.

Grey Goose is really good too! But it is more expensive.

 

[Zhoen]

I'm sorry if this sounds rude, but for the life of me I'm trying to figure out why this is posted on the Budget Board? This is where I come to find money saving tips for my trip to disney and I'm not sure helping someone pick a brand of vodka has anything to do with budgeting or Disney? Am I missing something?

I think some of the lower ends (think house brand at a bar) can be tasted in a mixed drink.

This is true. Using something like a Brita does improve cheap vodka's taste but I don't think it is cost-effective. Cheaper to just buy the better stuff.

Darn it, someone beat me to it. YES! Brita filters make an AMAZING difference. I drink vodka straight, and have had about every brand out there. For straight drinking, I like Absolut Citron the best... it finishes with a burst of orange, much better than that usual "fumes" feeling you get after a shot. My husband travels to Russia frequently, and makes a game of bringing me all sorts of "variety" vodkas... usually, the prettier the bottle, the greater the likelyhood of it taking the enamel off your teeth!

So whenever it's time to change the brita filter, I run through one of the bottles of vodka he brought me. Usually that cleans it right up and makes it fine... if not, I mix it.

And for the record, I can almost always taste the alcohol in a mixed drink, no matter what the brand. The only exceptions are the very very syrupy sweet drinks...

So, what makes this budget? Re-using old brita filters to save money on booze, of course! (Remember the saying--use it up, make it do, or do without!) We're cutting down on waste here! Also, a person who's been imbibing has to stay home, therefore can't go out and spend money. (Yes, I'm aware that some do go out, and do stupid things, and end up very very out-of-money after the lawyers are done with them, but this is a Disney board, and I'm living in my fantasy world!)

Oh, and if they drink their budget booze at the hotel on their trip, that's less money they spend at Epcot!

ETA: oh, and if you find a "straight" vodka that's really terrible, use it to extract vanilla! Seriously, buy a couple vanilla beans at the store, split the with a knife, and let it set for a few weeks. It's fantastic, and pure, unlike the stuff labelled "pure" at the grocery store-- and even including the cost of the beans, it's still a great deal for such good stuff. So there, another budget tip involving vodka!

 

[disneysteve]

ETA: oh, and if you find a "straight" vodka that's really terrible, use it to extract vanilla! Seriously, buy a couple vanilla beans at the store, split the with a knife, and let it set for a few weeks. It's fantastic, and pure

Does cheap vodka still make good vanilla extract or does the taste of the vodka mess up the taste of the vanilla?

 

[kathie859]

One of my girlfriend's makes her own vanilla using cheap vodka and vanilla bean pods

I'm a bourbon girl myself, but have tasted several vodkas and Ketel One sticks out in my mind as smooth and good.

Note to self: research Weight Watchers points in booze

 

[HoosierDaddy71]

If you can find it, I recommend Beluga Vodka, which is considered a top shelf vodka in Russia.

As far as filtering low end Vodkas to make them taste like top shelf, Mythbusters did a test of that and filtering helps but won't make it taste like the expensive vodkas.

 

[tasha99]

Not sure if its available nationally, but Permafrost, a local potato vodka, has excellent ratings.

 

[stephbillalec]

Grey Goose is my favorite if I have the extra cash. Otherwise I go for Absolut or Skyy, depending on which one is on sale

OP, you did an AMAZING job on your bar. It is gorgeous. Where are you? I want to come over for a drink, lol!

 

[angwill]

20/20 or a show like that did an piece on this issue a few years ago. They took several people that considered themselves "vodka snobs". They all had their brands that they drank exclusively. They all swore they could tell the difference. After a round of blind taste tests, almost no one picked their favorite. The mid and low price ones generally scored as good or better than the high priced ones.

I saw that show too. It was funny how confident people were that they would know their brand because they could tell the difference in tastes of vodka. Most were Grey Goose lovers too. I laughed when they were picking the cheap stuff and were so shocked. lol

Personally, we have absolute in the house. I also like cherry flavored vodka with orange juice blended with ice.

 

[HayGan]

We found that the best plain vodka is Tito's http://titosvodka.com/ It beats most of the "top shelf" brands on a regular basis in competitions/taste tests. Absolutely wonderful vodka!

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I've heard that Grey Goose is the vodka to have. Myself, I was always too cheap to buy it.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

20/20 or a show like that did an piece on this issue a few years ago. They took several people that considered themselves "vodka snobs". They all had their brands that they drank exclusively. They all swore they could tell the difference. After a round of blind taste tests, almost no one picked their favorite. The mid and low price ones generally scored as good or better than the high priced ones.

I saw that.

In mixed drinks I would agree. But drinking straight up there is a difference between a Grey Goose, etc. and the cheapest vodka you can buy.

Like with coffee, I don't think anything should be *flavored.*

I would stock two kinds of vodka, one for cooking and mixed drinks and another for drinking straight.

 

[disneysteve]

I've heard that Grey Goose is the vodka to have. Myself, I was always too cheap to buy it.

As I said earlier, it is personal preference. I've been a vodka drinker for over 25 years and I've tried a lot of them and I don't care for Grey Goose. If it was the only choice, I'd drink it, but I'd never go out and buy the stuff. There are several brands I think are smoother and better tasting.

 

[DeltaDiamond001]

I like Grey Goose, especially for martinis.

Absolut is pretty good too.

Whatever you do, do NOT buy cheap vodka. You'll thank me later.

Your bar looks beautiful by the way! Congratulations!

 

[KellyNY]

I suggest Absolut. I do not like flavored vodka, kind of weird. Also if you or your guests will like to mix it, plain is better. Do not drink wine, beer and vodka, at the same party, huge headache.