Vodka

[MK]

I am curious about vodka. It has no flavor.....so why is some vodka so much more expensive? The French charge high prices for Grey Goose....but the French are crazy to start with.

Schmernoff (i have to misspell once in a while or the nim-rods would have no life) is half the price of Absolute. Why?

 

[Sergei]

As anything else it boils down to always two things:
- quality of materials
- manufacturing process

The quality in materials is mainly the water used for vodka. The other prime ingredients for high-end vodka would be potatoe, wheat or soy. The cheap stuff is corn, milo or other cheap sources of starch. The manufacturing process includes how many distillations and how many filtrations. The higher the number for distillation (# of columns) and filtrations provides the smoothness and character of the vodka. The challenge is to keep the good tasting parts and filtering out the nasty impurities. It's the impurites that cause harshness and that "bad" feeling the next day. I woudn't know anything about that.

So that is why you have this extreme stratification. Cheap ingredients, shody or cheap short manufacturing processes, vs. attention to detail. In fact when the Soviet Union disbanded, Gorbechev disbanded the "state run" factories. They quickly lost the quality aspects and reinstated the "state" factories whick provided a more historical, disciplined way to making vodka. Very much like the way the French imposed on how to make Champagne.

-Sergei

 

[MK]

So does that mean Smirnoff is not a good vodka? Why is it the most famous brand?

 

[Sergei]

Originally posted by MK
So does that mean Smirnoff is not a good vodka? Why is it the most famous brand?

Well most likely you drank the American version of Smirnoff. After the repeal of National Prohibition in 1933, the Heublein Company bought the rights to the Smirnoff brand of Vodka from its White Russian ?ɬ©migr?ɬ© owners and relaunched Vodka into the U.S. market. The American manufacturers tend to use the cheaper starches like corn and molasses. It's the most famous brand because we are here in the States. The most famous and ubiquitous brand in the WHOLE WORLD is none other, than "Stolychniya". Stoly Gold, is the premium version.

-Sergei

 

[Sergei]

Here is an excellent site that captures all the different ways Vodka is produced from country to country. Vodka clearly came from Mother Russia.
http://www.tastings.com/spirits/vodka.html

Another good site:
http://www.epinions.com/fddk-review-3F39-16825D3A-39047CF0-prod5


-Sergei

 

[kent]

Well, cheap 1.75 L plastic bottle vodka glows..

I tried looking at the other vodka with a black light but don't think anything happened. (I probably wasn't in the most scientific state for testing)

--Kent

 

[Matt Deckard]

I stand by the Grey Goose. That stuff is smooth.

Grey Goose Vodka Martini with atwist of orange is the way I like it.

 

[MK]

Ahh...you and your French vodka.

 

[Matt Deckard]

So much anger toward the French...

You yourself have seen that these are a people who kick back and take in life. A people who take the time to perfect their food and drink.

If we americans are the fighters, the French are the cooks. Forget fast food and savour the flavors of a nation that takes pride in the food and drink their artisans create for their cooks are not cooks they are chefs.

 

[Minnesota_Jones]

Stoly Doly....

Ever have a Stoly Doly - they take Pineapple slices and soak them in a huge pitcher of Stoly...... so it's a sort of Pineapple flavored vodka, very tasty!

 

[Sergei]

Ah, but..

...the French did not invent Vodka.

I have been always mesmerized when visiting French people come on business to California. They refuse to drink California wines. They don't even to bother to acknowledge the wine industry outside of France. So in a restaurant, I have to let them order French wines and I am the host! Rather rude, in my opinion.

Grey Goose is formidable. But I shall exercise my right and throw their attitude right back at them as they do with wines. But.. .have you had Cristall (formerly Stoly Gold)? or Three Olives (British)? Belvedere, which is from Poland? Great Stuff...

 

[Matt Deckard]

I have been always mesmerized when visiting French people come on business to California. They refuse to drink California wines. They don't even to bother to acknowledge the wine industry outside of France. So in a restaurant, I have to let them order French wines and I am the host! Rather rude, in my opinion.

I understand how you feel about it. I remember when I went to France I seemingly gravitated toward coke, and flush toilets (instead of the pits). If there was a local cola, I did not care for it. Would be an inferior french substitute to my taste buds.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Curious

MK--

Ahh...you and your French vodka.

So are you against French Vodka?
And if so, is it because it is French, or because it tastes bad

 

[Sergei]

In 1976, the world changed it's opinion on California wines. How so? In a blind taste test, French wine experts picked a California wine over it's first growth (tier) wines. So the French palate, even picked the California wines over their own. BTW, a red wine and white wine winner was both Californian.

Read about the historical event:
http://www.cask23.com/1976tasting.htm

It just goes to prove, that even their own taste tests, they would still prefer to drink French over California, even though in blind tests their perference is California. Go figure? Just another example. Folks the California wine industry is awesome, and it's right in our backyard.

-Sergei

 

[MK]

Re: Curious

Originally posted by Matt Deckard
MK--

So are you against French Vodka?
And if so, is it because it is French, or because it tastes bad

The vodka taste good. I am pissed at the French for their attitude and lack of gratitude.

 

[Matt Deckard]

We'll we did pull them out of a burning building (WWII). They still expect gratitude from us for their assistance durring the revolutionary war.

by the by, I like California wine. We took their grapes and made a better product and they hate us for it.

 

[PrettyBigGuy]

I must admit that I am a fan of Grey Goose vodka as well. The fact that it is made in France has its advantages though. If you get good and loaded on Grey Goose and then try to handle a firearm, you'll immediatly drop it and raise your hands in the air!
PBG

 

[MK]

I bought a bottle of Stoly and I can taste a big difference from Schmirnoff. The Stoly is much smoother. Is Stoly Gold much better?

 

[kent]

I used to be a big Smirnoff 100 fan, but I've moved to SKYY lately, as it is considerably smoother.
I'll have to say the best Vodka I've had was some that my dad snuck out of Uzbekistan. I could drink it out of the bottle like water.

 

[patterson]

Sorry - I'm not a fan of ANY vodka. I've tried the top shelf stuff, and can tolerate a shot if it is ice-cold.

I've always been one who needs strong flavors - comes from my Italian half. Now, compare the Italians to the French; IMHO the Italians are the cooks, and the French just cover everything in sauces - much like Americans do with ketchup.

Back to spirits? Smooth burbons. Cask-strength, select single malts, and select blended scotch. Good Irish and Kentucky whiskey. Smooth Gin. Beer you cannot see through. Reislings that are crisp. Chianti and some select Cabs. Remy Martin (thank God the stuff was so expensive and I was so poor in college!).

Next stop - Betty Ford!