6 Vodka taste test at office

[BroSlinger]

Ukranian Heritage - $8/750ml VERY decent. nothing offensive. VERY smooth. will definitely buy again. Made in Ukraine.

Seagram's - $8/750ml. Disgusting. I don't know how this was rated highly in cheap vodka tests. This is just like rubbing alcohol. wretched. would not buy again. FWIW, their gin is ok.

Sobieski - $18/handle. made in Poland. pure rye. smooth enough. decent. sharper than the Ukranian, but not in a bad way. I would buy this again.

Deep Eddy - $13/750ml. Made in Texas. Hmmmm. Very good. Silky mouth feel. Best of the bunch in that regard. grain-like, bread notes. would definitely buy again.

Hotel Tango - $18/750ml. made in Indiana. small batch. not bad. Dank taste notes resemble the scents/tastes of a micro brewery. pretty good. not spectacular.

Chopin - $24/750ml. good sale price. normally $32+. 100% potato. made in Poland. compared to the others, this tastes disgusting. sharp, awful notes of metal and garlic. Tastes like brass/copper patina. I used to think I liked this. I HATE it. I wonder if this was a bad batch.

would rank them as such:
1. Deep Eddy - tastes very expensive. premium quality.
2. Ukranian Heritage - a best buy at this price. I knock this back like the half Slavic person I am.
3. Sobieski - great price. would make a great cocktail/high ball/etc.
4. Hotel Tango - not spectacular, but they're trying. Certainly drinkable.

6. Chopin and Seagrams tied for dead last. Both are undrinkable neat.

[Ostinato Rubato]

Thank you for the reviews!

[BroSlinger]

Thank you for the reviews!

You're welcome!

[nightflameauto]

I've found the big names tend to get great reviews as cheap vodkas, then are nearly undrinkable swill when you actually get some. Stoli is another that comes to mind.

If you get the chance, there's one sold every once in a while called "Row" with big rows of corn on the label. Cheap as dirt (I think a handle was $18), and surprisingly non-offensive. Of course it's corn based. Works great as a mixer though. Bloody Mary powered it's great at letting the other flavors shine.

[BroSlinger]

I've found the big names tend to get great reviews as cheap vodkas, then are nearly undrinkable swill when you actually get some. Stoli is another that comes to mind.

If you get the chance, there's one sold every once in a while called "Row" with big rows of corn on the label. Cheap as dirt (I think a handle was $18), and surprisingly non-offensive. Of course it's corn based. Works great as a mixer though. Bloody Mary powered it's great at letting the other flavors shine.

I'll have to look for that.

I would have liked to have had Luksusova and monopolowa in my review. I really liked them in the past, and would be curious to see how they measure up in this test.

[Ry Manchu]

I agree with you about Chopin and Seagram's. I don't like Smirnoff or Three Olives either. Grey Goose is ok, but way overpriced. I'm meh about Tito's. I do like Russian Standard and Skyy. I've heard that Deep Eddy and Sobieski are good, but never tried them.

[***1776***]

Deep Eddy is a good value vodka, very easy to mix or just pour over ice - they also come out with the flavored vodka (cranberry, sweat tea lemon, etc)

Titos is solid, Goose is really good, I think 3 olives is a bit creamier/richer (british vodka)

[VTM]

sharp, awful notes of metal and garlic.

[Marc G]

can't say I've ever had a good tasting vodka.... though.... my wife does have some fancy Russian vodka she picked up a few years ago on a trip.... should give that a try.... but.... vodka always tastes pretty flat to me....

[BroSlinger]

can't say I've ever had a good tasting vodka.... though.... my wife does have some fancy Russian vodka she picked up a few years ago on a trip.... should give that a try.... but.... vodka always tastes pretty flat to me....

I’ve hated vodka for a long time. I’m just getting into it now because there are good deals to be had, and I’m embracing my Slavic side. Bourbon needs to become out of favor again for my whiskey excitement to be renewed.

[nightflameauto]

I agree with you about Chopin and Seagram's. I don't like Smirnoff or Three Olives either. Grey Goose is ok, but way overpriced. I'm meh about Tito's. I do like Russian Standard and Skyy. I've heard that Deep Eddy and Sobieski are good, but never tried them.

Oh for the . . . Three Olives is a inducer. Seriously. One pour of that and I can guarantee serious toilet time the next morning.

Titos is alright for what it is.

Ketel One is 7/8ths the taste of Grey Goose with a way lower price tag. Never was sure why Grey Goose became the yuppie/hipster favorite when so many others taste as good or better at a lower price.

[BroSlinger]

I agree with you about Chopin and Seagram's. I don't like Smirnoff or Three Olives either. Grey Goose is ok, but way overpriced. I'm meh about Tito's. I do like Russian Standard and Skyy. I've heard that Deep Eddy and Sobieski are good, but never tried them.

Oh for the . . . Three Olives is a inducer. Seriously. One pour of that and I can guarantee serious toilet time the next morning.

Titos is alright for what it is.

Ketel One is 7/8ths the taste of Grey Goose with a way lower price tag. Never was sure why Grey Goose became the yuppie/hipster favorite when so many others taste as good or better at a lower price.

Grey Goose = pretty bottle. slick marketing. made in France. High price. Came out at exactly the right time.

My wife loves Ketel One, fwiw. I need to get that in my taste test as well.

[Marc G]

can't say I've ever had a good tasting vodka.... though.... my wife does have some fancy Russian vodka she picked up a few years ago on a trip.... should give that a try.... but.... vodka always tastes pretty flat to me....

I’ve hated vodka for a long time. I’m just getting into it now because there are good deals to be had, and I’m embracing my Slavic side. Bourbon needs to become out of favor again for my whiskey excitement to be renewed.

yeah... I'm a whisky person.... primarily Scotch but I do enjoy changing things up with Bourbons, Ryes and Irish... other than that good ole beer works too...

[nightflameauto]

can't say I've ever had a good tasting vodka.... though.... my wife does have some fancy Russian vodka she picked up a few years ago on a trip.... should give that a try.... but.... vodka always tastes pretty flat to me....

I’ve hated vodka for a long time. I’m just getting into it now because there are good deals to be had, and I’m embracing my Slavic side. Bourbon needs to become out of favor again for my whiskey excitement to be renewed.

yeah... I'm a whisky person.... primarily Scotch but I do enjoy changing things up with Bourbons, Ryes and Irish... other than that good ole beer works too...

Scotch-snob in da hizzy. Islay specifically:
Laphroaig is my shit. Quarter Cask is the regular rotational, but also several different cask strength batches, 10 year, 15 year, Triple Wood (Quarter Cask with an additional mellowing cask), Select, and Lore.

Adore Ardbeg. 10 is fine as a sipper, and they get tastier from there.

Talisker Storm is a terrific cheap option.

Bowmore is also nice on the low end.

Lagavulin is OK, though I feel it's overpriced for the flavor profile.

I also partake of several bourbons, Old Grandad 114 being a regular for "take a single glass and sip for the evening" type. Caramel, heat, pepper and a little oak.

[andvari7]

I am not a vodka guy, but I get why people are. It’s inherently cheap, and mixes with damn near anything, so it’s easy to disguise. Oh, wait: I’m 34; I’m not a middle schooler, who has to hide his drinking. Anymore.

No, I’m more impressed that you can drink on the job.

[BroSlinger]

I am not a vodka guy, but I get why people are. It’s inherently cheap, and mixes with damn near anything, so it’s easy to disguise. Oh, wait: I’m 34; I’m not a middle schooler, who has to hide his drinking. Anymore.

No, I’m more impressed that you can drink on the job.

What do you drink?

[Marc G]

can't say I've ever had a good tasting vodka.... though.... my wife does have some fancy Russian vodka she picked up a few years ago on a trip.... should give that a try.... but.... vodka always tastes pretty flat to me....

I’ve hated vodka for a long time. I’m just getting into it now because there are good deals to be had, and I’m embracing my Slavic side. Bourbon needs to become out of favor again for my whiskey excitement to be renewed.

yeah... I'm a whisky person.... primarily Scotch but I do enjoy changing things up with Bourbons, Ryes and Irish... other than that good ole beer works too...

Scotch-snob in da hizzy. Islay specifically:
Laphroaig is my shit. Quarter Cask is the regular rotational, but also several different cask strength batches, 10 year, 15 year, Triple Wood (Quarter Cask with an additional mellowing cask), Select, and Lore.

Adore Ardbeg. 10 is fine as a sipper, and they get tastier from there.

Talisker Storm is a terrific cheap option.

Bowmore is also nice on the low end.

Lagavulin is OK, though I feel it's overpriced for the flavor profile.

I also partake of several bourbons, Old Grandad 114 being a regular for "take a single glass and sip for the evening" type. Caramel, heat, pepper and a little oak.

I enjoy a good Islay, Ardbeg is my go to for sure, Bruichladdich makes some excellent stuff, was able to tear in to a bottle of Octomore 8.1 a few months ago... that shit was amazing.... I recently picked up a bottle of Compass Box Peat Monster, saving it to drink with some other peat loving friends in the not to distant future lol

BUT... by default I'm a Highland fan... Dalmore is my home base, I know they get shit for non age statements and using colouring... but I DGAF, their shit tastes good, right now I have a bottle of the Cigar Malt, Valour and the 12 year old.... Glenmorangie 10 is my go to beater and I keep some of the Blavenie 14 year Old Caribbean Cask for when I want something nice that isn't breaking the bank....

[ajaxlepinski]

I'll drink anything you put in front of me.

Love Ardbeg Corryvrecken - tastes like creosote... fucking awesome!!!
Love Shochou (made from sweet potato) - on the rocks - it produces a very unusual, lucid buzz
Love Rhum Barbancourt 5 year - bast rum eva!!! Make a mix of 1/3 Orange Juice, 1/3 Ginger Ale, 1/3 over-ripe-banana puree and add Rhum Barbancourt to taste... it's called Planet of the Apes; an amazing tiki beverage.

Vodka & coke
Vodka in a bloody mary

[Marc G]

I'll drink anything
Vodka & coke

I've never seen or heard of that combo..... it's always vodka and soda..tonic.... sprite/7Up or some fruit juice.... but... never Coke....

[nightflameauto]

I enjoy a good Islay, Ardbeg is my go to for sure, Bruichladdich makes some excellent stuff, was able to tear in to a bottle of Octomore 8.1 a few months ago... that shit was amazing.... I recently picked up a bottle of Compass Box Peat Monster, saving it to drink with some other peat loving friends in the not to distant future lol

BUT... by default I'm a Highland fan... Dalmore is my home base, I know they get shit for non age statements and using colouring... but I DGAF, their shit tastes good, right now I have a bottle of the Cigar Malt, Valour and the 12 year old.... Glenmorangie 10 is my go to beater and I keep some of the Blavenie 14 year Old Caribbean Cask for when I want something nice that isn't breaking the bank....

Yeah, I don't much care about age statements. Colouring doesn't bother me one way or another so long as they aren't using colouring on an inferior tasting product.

I know Laphroaig has been getting shit for non-age-statement more expensive drinkers lately too. Who cares, if it has the flavor profile.

I'm such a smoke and peat fiend with Scotch I have a hard time with the non Islays, though some can be quite tasty. There's one I get every once in a while from the place up the road I can't remember the name of that's a really light, flowery flavor with just a hint of a grassy aftertaste that's on the lower end of the price spectrum. If I remember the name I'll post it.

For Vodka: the vodkatini. Equal parts sweet vermouth and dry vermouth, double the amount of vodka, lemon peel, olive. Shake with ice, pour and strain.

I like those really massive olives in a *tini that are brined in a light vermouth bath and stuffed with either jalapenos or pimentos. Best one of each.

[ajaxlepinski]

I'll drink anything
Vodka & coke

I've never seen or heard of that combo..... it's always vodka and soda..tonic.... sprite/7Up or some fruit juice.... but... never Coke....

Never heard of it either until, my g/f turned me on to it about 5 years ago.
It goes down real easy!

[Marc G]

Yeah, I don't much care about age statements. Colouring doesn't bother me one way or another so long as they aren't using colouring on an inferior tasting product.

I know Laphroaig has been getting shit for non-age-statement more expensive drinkers lately too. Who cares, if it has the flavor profile.

I'm such a smoke and peat fiend with Scotch I have a hard time with the non Islays, though some can be quite tasty. There's one I get every once in a while from the place up the road I can't remember the name of that's a really light, flowery flavor with just a hint of a grassy aftertaste that's on the lower end of the price spectrum. If I remember the name I'll post it.

agreed with the colouring and age statements.... as long as it tastes good I don't care and well at least there's the knowledge that the only caramel colouring allowed by Scottish law is the odorless flavorless one.... that being said I've tasted some very underwhelming 18+ year old scotch without colouring and some amazing scotches with no age statement and colouring.... even the whole blended Vs Single Malt shit is annoying.... there are garbage single malts on the market and great blends out there....

when you remember the Non-Islay scotch you like let me know.... sounds kinda interesting...

[nightflameauto]

agreed with the colouring and age statements.... as long as it tastes good I don't care and well at least there's the knowledge that the only caramel colouring allowed by Scottish law is the odorless flavorless one.... that being said I've tasted some very underwhelming 18+ year old scotch without colouring and some amazing scotches with no age statement and colouring.... even the whole blended Vs Single Malt shit is annoying.... there are garbage single malts on the market and great blends out there....

when you remember the Non-Islay scotch you like let me know.... sounds kinda interesting...

FOUND IT! Glen Moray, it's a Speyside. Not something I'd drink every day, but a very refreshing and light flavor for a Scotch.

Tomatin ain't bad either, though a little heavier on the palate than Glen Moray.

Speaking of blends, I know someone'll get the cattle prods after me for it, but Dewars special releases where they age them in old sherry or port casks are surprisingly good for how bland the base level white label has gotten over the years.

[Telephant]

Every chick in Austin is drinking some Deep Eddy grapefruit bullshit. Lemon flavored is the other one I see them drinking a lot (my wife included ).

[Telephant]

Vodka in a bloody mary

Gin a bloody mary is surprisingly good. Specifically Waterloo gin. Course it's also heartburn in a glass but that's typical for a bloody mary.