Originally Posted by JBord

I like both of those brands as well. I'll buy them if they're on sale. To me, the smoothness is the factor. I don't want to feel like I'm burning my throat, but I want to know that I'm drinking alcohol. Smirnoff, New Amsterdam, and Tito's are brands I buy sometimes (Ketel only if it's a really good deal) and they all do that for me. Honestly, if I were to pick a favorite, it would probably be Stoli. It makes a very clean vodka martini. But at it's price, it's a rare treat.

My wife is a wine and vodka drinker, primarily vodka martinis. Since she likes them dirty, I make them for her with any of the midrange brands and she always comments on how good they are. Basically, if you're mixing them even with just a tablespoon of olive juice and vermouth, the midranges suffice.