Crystal Head recently replaced Chopin as my favorite premium/sipping vodka. Don't let the awesome bottle fool you (positively or negatively) -- it really is super-smooth. I did the blind taste test versus Chopin at the bar the first time I tried Crystal Head. Vodka Gibson is my martini of choice, btw.

If you dig the Crystal Head bottle, be on the lookout for the holiday gift set, which includes two skull shot glasses. I scored a set at Sam's Club last week.

My favorite bloody mary vodka is Bakon. Yep, it's bacon flavored. Made in Seattle, and the flavor it adds to bloody marys will knock your socks off. Bakon's a little harder to find, but you can buy it over the internet.

My other fave mixed vodka drink is Redbull and cherry vodka. I'm not too picky about the vodka brand for that drink, as long as it's cherry flavored. And as far as I'm aware, Popov and Gilbey's don't come in cherry versions