I'm with you here. Pure class and regarded as the best in many corners of the Earth, including Singapore.

Agree with others re Belvedere, bang for your buck Sobeiski is excellent value and IMO is superior to Grey Goose, which I think is very overrated.

For sipping: Zubrowka

For mixing: home-infused black pepper or chipotle vodka made with a reasonably priced, fairly neutral brand like Finalandia or such.

As a shot: Double Espresso Van Gogh

Just because: Crystal Head Vodka by Dan Aykroyd

Has anyone tried Karlsson's Gold vodka? This is single distilled from virgin new potatoes from the Cape Bjare region of Sweden. The creator of it is Borje Karlsson who created Absolut vodka. Karlsson's Gold is supposed to be a vodka with terroir and vintage variation. I know that this is probably the complete antithesis of what people are looking for in a vodka but it appeals to me.

Actually try mixing that with apple juice and you'll get one of the best drinks ever invented! :-: ^

Would some knowledgeable FT'er be so kind as to explain the US drinking etiquette regarding vodka. Mostly martinis, right? Is this really just a steakhouse/steak dinner thing to do?

I'm still more or less stuck in the Russian/Polish/Ukrainian/Scandinavian idea of having clear vodka shots with pickled herring, boiled tongue and other small delicacies before the actual meal starts...Or at least with bread and salt.

Agree 100%. I've had it & like it. It actually has some flavor, since it's unfiltered & distilled just once. Virgin potatoes only - no added water. A great idea, going against the grain. The competitors who distill 5 & 6 times have turned their products into lab alcohol with all the charm of such, IMO. Karlsson's drink of choice is on the rocks with ground pepper on top. They also make an Akvavit which I like ever better. wj

Is Belvedere made from Potatoes?

What's the difference in taste between those grain, rye, and potato-distilled vodkas?

Belvedere is "quadruple distilled from the world's finest rye" and proud of it ... it is the anti-potato vodka!!!!!

Completely agree that the best vodka is made from potatoes; sometimes it can be quite cheap too. For example Monopolowa sold by TJ in the US and made in Austria (by ex-Polish refugees). Completely different mouthfeel and taste compared to the grain vodkas.

But some grain vodkas are quite good, for example Russian Standard. This is because of the grain and water used (winter grains and glacial water with low mineral content). Much better than Gray Goose. Try the Gold Standard (spiked with Ginseng extract).

Isn't Grey Goose a blend of a different ingredients?

Do you really think the water used makes that big of a difference? Potato-base vodkas tend to have a sweeter hint to them, don't they?

I also like how Smirnoff is distilled and bottled by a contracted company in Kansas.

I wouldn't say that. I've seen plenty of people drinking Vodka/Diets, Vodka/Cranberries, Screwdrivers, or just vodka on the rocks or shots of chilled vodka. Drink it anyway you want, it's your money.

Grey Goose is made from 100% French wheat, grown in an area south of Paris, and column distilled using alpine spring water that has filtered through the limestone plateau of the Massif Central. It is a modern product with no tradition, created in 1997 in response to the success that Belvedere had (Polish brand brought to the US market the previoius year at a stunningly high price point). Grey Goose was sold to Bacardi for $2 billion dollars (for an estimated profit of $1.6 billion for its founder). Many of the "modern" faddish high-priced spirits are inspired by the success of Grey Goose.

Many better tasting and superior quality vodkas have not had the marketing success of Grey Goose. As for sweetness, that is a function of the distilling and filtration process, all vodkas can be as sweet or as dry as the maker wants it to be, the source of the feedstock doesn't matter. Mouthfeel (viscosity) is the primary difference between vodkas along with the trace impurities (intentional or accidental). Quite an art to making a fine vodka.

There was a vodka tasting at the ANC Board Room a couple of weeks ago. The Alaska Distillery did a tasting of their flavored vodkas (blueberry, cranberry and other Alaskan berries) along with Permafrost, the pure vodka. I'm not usually a fan of flavored vodkas, but these were quite good. The Permafrost was exceptional. It's made from Matanuska Valley, locally grown potatoes.

Very Good Stuff!!!

So true. I have it in a martini about 5% of the time.

I typically have it with a mixer, whether it is in a screwdriver or bloody mary.

Charbay Clear Vodka. Sometimes hard to find but its my favorite.