With the current threads on libations, and with the norse contingent, I'd like to get some feedback on good Vodkas. I consumed many litres of cheap vodka in college, but now prefer something a bit more refined, Absolute Citron is my favorite, though I've had a grapefruit flavored vodka that was outstanding.
When I was in Kazakstan, the Russians said there are two types of Russian vodka, bad vodka, and very bad vodka. I concur with their asessment, and stuck with Finlandia.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
About pure vodka (no flavor)> Here good "vodka drinker" tell you that Absolut is good, but it is "mid range". Much better is "Starosibirskaja" or "Stolicnaya". But many vodkas mean many tastes. Key is what kind of taste do you prefer : neutral or "natural little basic" (made from basic water) or with added NaHCO3, made from barley or wheat.
The worst is potato "vodka" or sugar-beet "vodka" . . .
I can drink (I do not do it often ) liter of good vodka (Stolicnaya) and day after I have no head ache or stomach problems or I can drink 5cl of bad vodka and have head ache and diarrhea for two days . . .
If you REALLY like vodka you must go to a place called "Red Square" in Vegas. They have a vodka menu that is probably the most extensive in the world. Some of these bottles are available only at Red Square or Russia.
Enjoy,
JohnTheGreek
Posts: 4697 | Location: North Africa and North America | Registered: 05 July 2001
Belvedere is pretty darn good, and I'm half Russian.
I can tell you from hard experience that anything from "the Old Country" or any of the former Soviet satellites is consume at your own risk. The stuff we were toasting with in Uzbekistan had formaldehyde listed as an ingredient on the label... When we ran out of "vodka" we'd switch to "technical spirits" which are also used as a cleaning fluid on jet engines...
It's sort of a tradition, when we're out at the cabins around here, to enjoy a drink or two.
Not the hunting trips so much. More drinking on the crabbing/fishing cabin trips.
Much easier to pack a bottle of vodka, rather than a case of beer. Throw in a gallon of orange juice, and I'm drinkin' screwdrivers. (like texas-hunter!)
Brian
Posts: 778 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 23 May 2002
There are very few potato vodkas anymore . . . And most of them are very small operations (one in Idaho not surprisingly). I would bet dollars to doughnuts that Absolut is made from grain.
JohnTheGreek
Posts: 4697 | Location: North Africa and North America | Registered: 05 July 2001
) liter of good vodka (Stolicnaya) and day after I have no head ache or stomach problems or I can drink 5cl of bad vodka and have head ache and diarrhea for two days . . .