Vodka....a little help please.

[dave0010]

So basically as a thank you to a friend I would like to buy him a decent bottle of vodka. Now my only experiences with vodka go along the lines of throwing shots down my face hole as fast as I can in clubs!!

So are there any people can recommend? is Smirnoff the best or are there more obscure brands that wipe the floor with it?

[Pferdestarke]

Just buy something you've never heard of for around £35.

It'll be better than Smirnoff.

[93Jay]

As a gift something like Belvedere or Grey goose would be better. But pricier than Smirnoff though.

[Shaw Tarse]

google site pistonheads : vodka

[anonymous-user]

I always recommend this whenever these threads come up, but:



Can be bought from http://www.penderynstore.com/Brecon-FIVE-Vodka-70c...

But the new bottle looks pretty crap compared to the original one.

[dave0010]

Symbolica said:

I always recommend this whenever these threads come up, but:



Can be bought from http://www.penderynstore.com/Brecon-FIVE-Vodka-70c...

But the new bottle looks pretty crap compared to the original one.

well so far this has my vote as I like the new bottle. Price wise though I'm happy to spend up to £100 is that makes a difference with Vodka?

[Slink]

93Jay said:

As a gift something like Belvedere or Grey goose would be better. But pricier than Smirnoff though.

really is quite good grey goose, not sure i like paying the price of it, but it is good.

[Puggit]

Russian Standard Gold - it comes in a little golden case

[Puggit]

As a serious answer (although there's nothing wrong with Russian Standard Gold!), my Russian friends would give me this as the best vodka they can get hold of:

http://www.masterofmalt.com/vodka/beluga/beluga-vo...

[rix]

I love a bit of this...

http://www.waitrose.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

My Polish living inlaws always bring me a bottle over but I don't actually realise it was so reasonable here.

[Mobile Chicane]

As a 'thank you', push the boat out for a fancy name such as Grey Goose or Belvedere, however my favourites (very smooth and all from the cheaper end of the spectrum) would be:

Wyborowa (Waitrose)
Danoff (Waitrose)
Green Mark (Asda)
Russian Standard (Asda/Waitrose)
Danoff (Waitrose)

[Hoover.]

rix said:

I love a bit of this...

http://www.waitrose.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

My Polish living inlaws always bring me a bottle over but I don't actually realise it was so reasonable here.

Go absolutley hammered on that (Bison Vodka) on Friday night... the pub ran out of it, so finished up on smirnoff black....

but for everyday at home

Finlandia or Green Mark, followed ny Russian Standard if I get either of those

[Hackney]

Zubrowka (get some good apple juice too)
Ketel One
Chase

[paolow]

Hackney said:

Zubrowka (get some good apple juice too)
Ketel One
Chase

+1 for Chase - possibly the nicest vodka I have ever had. Mrs Paolow got a bottle for her birthday and I did the lot before she noticed it was even open

[vsonix]

I like Zubrovka/Wybrowka (the bison grass stuff) too. Smirnoff is hideous... well, the black label one is OK I guess, and I find Absolut is pretty rough too. Mind you I'm not a big vodka drinker anyway.

[DBSV8]

theres two Vodkas The Russians all drink in good restaurants out here


Beluga





and Putinka gold



if you want authentic copper pot distilled Vodka , go for

Black label Smirnoff unlike , Red / Blue Black is distilled in Moscow

[ShortShift811]

Vodka willy-waving for PH director types (88% ABV ). If you don't already have a goatee, this will probably put one on your face and some hair on your chest:

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-7233.aspx

(Be warned... I drank two shots of this neat once when my ex ran a specialist vodka bar. I have no recollection of the rest of the evening).

Alternatively, I'd recommend Five or Belvedere as already mentioned. Although nice, I've always found Zubrowka (the Bison grass one) a bit of an acuired taste.

[vsonix]

ShortShift811 said:

a bit of an acuired taste.

true, although pretty much all alcohol is... and cigarettes. One acquires the taste fairly quickly though. And as has been said already, the Bison stuff is lush with apple juice, can't think of anyone I know who has tried it and not liked it.

[Dr G]

paolow said:

Hackney said:

Zubrowka (get some good apple juice too)
Ketel One
Chase

+1 for Chase - possibly the nicest vodka I have ever had. Mrs Paolow got a bottle for her birthday and I did the lot before she noticed it was even open

+2 Nice all on its own.

[matchmaker]

With a splash of Tesco Value Cola at 17p.

Works for me