Originally Posted by moondog (Post 32964868)

This flavored foods/beverage idea has gotten me thinking that a thread dedicated to this topic in the general sense might be interesting chat fodder. Potato/corn chips, in particular, lend themselves to some truly insane flavor combinations (e.g. late night ramen, Hawaiian pizza, kungpao chicken) in regional markets.

Back on the vodka topic, here's a sampling of the current retail market here in Shanghai (all numbers represent CNY and the USD/CNY fx rate is around 6.5; assume 700ml or 750ml for each):
-random Russian vodkas 75
-Skyy 80 (but, I've seen it for as low as 59)
-Smirnov 80
-Stoli 80...a little more for desirable flavors
-Absolut 80-150, but 140 is most common
-Grey Goose 300
-Belvedere 325
-Tito's 350

We do have a piracy problem here, and vodka has to be insanely easy to fake, but I have a reasonable amount of trust in the larger channels (i.e. FamilyMart has minimal incentive to play games). I usually end up buying Skyy when I can find it, but readily admit that my decision process is driven by a combination of the fact that it is cheap and I'm a sucker for the cobalt bottles. At bars, I splurge for the higher end stuff...typically only a 25% premium v the house brand.

-

Originally Posted by DELee (Post 32964902)

So what do you do with the empty cobalt bottles?

David

Originally Posted by Eastbay1K (Post 32964861)

At least in California, alcohol purchases cannot occur in a self-checkout lane.

Originally Posted by moondog (Post 32964868)

Back on the vodka topic, here's a sampling of the current retail market here in Shanghai (all numbers represent CNY and the USD/CNY fx rate is around 6.5...
-

Originally Posted by pseudoswede (Post 32963218)

I make my own Swedish mulled wine (glögg) every year to give to our neighbors. It's very heavy on cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. Typically I use mandarin vodka to strengthen it, but this year I decided to try Deep Eddy orange vodka. It made it a bit too bright, so adding some cinnamon vodka probably would've fixed it instantly. Instead, I threw in a few more sticks of cinnamon and let it steep for a few days, and that did the trick.

Originally Posted by gaobest (Post 32965777)

This. I prefer self-checkout for every transaction and generally eschew alcohol at Safeway and Costco because I just use self-checkout.

Do any of these import brands make special vodkas for the China market?

Originally Posted by gaobest (Post 32963851)

the $3.99 for 750ml, and Trader Joe’s only having cashiers, were my reasons for the purchase. Maybe I would have passed on jalapeño or anise or tomato vodkas. Or if Trader Joe’s had self-checkout, then I wouldn’t have bothered. $3.99 is a lot of money for me but I couldn’t not go for it.

Originally Posted by Eastbay1K (Post 32964861)

At least in California, alcohol purchases cannot occur in a self-checkout lane.

Originally Posted by LondonElite (Post 32958891)

I believe Smirnoff regularly wins blind tests, and Grey Goose is exposed as overpriced plonk.

Originally Posted by PGberkshire (Post 33110950)

any data points? or links?
being a big vodka drinker I wouldn't touch Smirnoff - its barely above paint stripper.

Originally Posted by gfunkdave (Post 33118707)

I buy vodka so infrequently but when I do I just buy a big bottle of Ketel One or Tito's. To my mind, the ideal of vodka is a tasteless neutral spirit. It's supposed to not taste like anything.

Originally Posted by JBord (Post 33118817)

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.

Originally Posted by gfunkdave (Post 33118829)

I think New Amsterdam gin makes a great cocktail with tonic. They have citrusy elements that go well together. I bet the vodka is the same.

Originally Posted by JBord (Post 33118906)

The vodka seems pretty clean tasting to me. I'll have to try the gin though. I enjoy the London dry gins and do spend more for a nice gin, although I'm usually perfectly happy with Beefeater's too. My preferred martini is gin with a splash of vermouth. Since my wife likes them "shaken, not stirred", if we're both having one, I'll just make a double batch of vodka martinis in the shaker (olive juice in her glass), so I do drink those sometimes. Vodka tonics are probably my go-to vodka drink.

Originally Posted by gfunkdave (Post 33121305)

You and I have similar martini tastes, though Plymouth is my favorite gin. Our favorite local bartender recently yelled at me when he discovered I like to shake martinis.

Originally Posted by gfunkdave (Post 33121305)

You and I have similar martini tastes, though Plymouth is my favorite gin. Our favorite local bartender recently yelled at me when he discovered I like to shake martinis.