See-throughs - long question

"rb608" wrote

What should I be looking for in the taste of a "good" vodka? What
type/brand do you like?

(in very best foghorn leghorn voice): well, now, son err--uhh, you jes'
sit yoself down rat here on this here little stump while i gone give you the
lass' word on them see-through concoctions, doncha know!

your friend may be russian, but either he doesn't know good stuff when
he tastes it, or i have the taste of a russian peasant... (ok, ok, i
know--insert wiseass rejoinder here________________)

i tried luksusova on a couple of occasions and found it overly bland.
while stoli seems "peperry", and absolut has a slight lemon aftertaste,
tater vodka just reminds me of how ethanol alone would taste when touched up
with tonic. all the other designer brands just have more or less of what
seems to be cheap perfume mixed in.
at any rate, it's not rocket science--i just stick with stoli and tonic,
no lime, and just a splash of tonic.
the no lime factor is the deal maker, for me. oh, and the vodka should
be kept in the freezer, of course.

yfitons
wayno(happy to be a factor in supporting alchoholism between friends)

Wayne Harrison typed:
"rb608" wrote

What should I be looking for in the taste of a "good" vodka? What
type/brand do you like?

(in very best foghorn leghorn voice): well, now, son err--uhh,
you jes' sit yoself down rat here on this here little stump while i
gone give you the lass' word on them see-through concoctions, doncha
know!
your friend may be russian, but either he doesn't know good stuff
when he tastes it, or i have the taste of a russian peasant... (ok,
ok, i know--insert wiseass rejoinder here________________)

i tried luksusova on a couple of occasions and found it overly
bland. while stoli seems "peperry", and absolut has a slight lemon
aftertaste, tater vodka just reminds me of how ethanol alone would
taste when touched up with tonic. all the other designer brands just
have more or less of what seems to be cheap perfume mixed in.
at any rate, it's not rocket science--i just stick with stoli and
tonic, no lime, and just a splash of tonic.
the no lime factor is the deal maker, for me. oh, and the vodka
should be kept in the freezer, of course.

I gotta go with wayno on this one. I prefer Stoli over any of the others
I've tried, more or less expensive. A good vodka is one that requires no
fillers; tonic, lime, olives, etc. and Stoli is the most refreshing one to
me.

All that said, I haven't had any of that fine liquid for a few months now -
red wine has taken its place, in a far less preferable back seat position.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

"No fillers" is how I've been enjoying it thus far. I don't know where
the cutoff is proportion-wise; but at some point, the inital flavor of
the vodka (gin, whatever) becomes unimportant and overshadowed by the
mixers. If I'm drinking it straight, I want and am willing to pay for
the good stuff (within reason); otherwise I can just buy a jug o'
Popov, 1.75L for $9.99.

Joe F.

On 12 Dec 2005 08:43:38 -0800, "rb608" wrote:

"No fillers" is how I've been enjoying it thus far. I don't know where
the cutoff is proportion-wise; but at some point, the inital flavor of
the vodka (gin, whatever) becomes unimportant and overshadowed by the
mixers. If I'm drinking it straight, I want and am willing to pay for
the good stuff (within reason); otherwise I can just buy a jug o'
Popov, 1.75L for $9.99.

Joe F.

If you can find a Costa Rican liquor called guaro/Cacique (cas-see-kay),
you might try it. It is a cane-based liquor, but it isn't as "rum-my"
as rum. I like it over ice or with tonic or soda with a slice of lime,
but have had it shaken and strained, again with lime, ala a "martini."

TC,
R

On 12 Dec 2005 08:43:38 -0800, "rb608"
wrote:

If I'm drinking it straight, I want and am willing to pay for
the good stuff (within reason); otherwise I can just buy a jug o'
Popov, 1.75L for $9.99.

Hell, now wayno will trade in his Smirnoff for Popov. No way to save
him, I guess.

In article . com,
says...
If I'm drinking it straight, I want and am willing to pay for
the good stuff (within reason); otherwise I can just buy a jug o'
Popov, 1.75L for $9.99.

Try some experiments:
Go to an expensive yuppy bar that does a brisk trade in brand name
vodkas, and forage a bunch of empty bottles out of their dumpster
(or just give the bartender a nice tip and ask for some empties.)
Take them home and re-fill them with your jug o' Popov. Now gather
a group of purported vodka snobs and ask them to do a comparative
tasting from your bottles (be sure to let them see the labels.)

I betcha one of Wolfgang's shiny new nickels that they will all
taste subtle differences among the samples.

Or you could buy an assortment of vodkas and randomly rearrange
the contents of the bottles, and do the comparison test.

Since cold anesthetizes the taste buds, and vodka is typically
drunk ice-cold, I'd wager that subtle differences among vodkas are
more imaginary than real.

Kevin,
who would be interested in seeing the results of such a test, but
has zero interest in being part of the tasting panel.

Kevin Vang typed:
In article . com,
says...
If I'm drinking it straight, I want and am willing to pay for
the good stuff (within reason); otherwise I can just buy a jug o'
Popov, 1.75L for $9.99.

Try some experiments:
Go to an expensive yuppy bar that does a brisk trade in brand name
vodkas, and forage a bunch of empty bottles out of their dumpster
(or just give the bartender a nice tip and ask for some empties.)
Take them home and re-fill them with your jug o' Popov. Now gather
a group of purported vodka snobs and ask them to do a comparative
tasting from your bottles (be sure to let them see the labels.)

I betcha one of Wolfgang's shiny new nickels that they will all
taste subtle differences among the samples.

Or you could buy an assortment of vodkas and randomly rearrange
the contents of the bottles, and do the comparison test.

Since cold anesthetizes the taste buds, and vodka is typically
drunk ice-cold, I'd wager that subtle differences among vodkas are
more imaginary than real.

I don't think so. When my mother visited a while back, she made us both a
bloody mary. Sight unseen, one sip told me she had bought the cheap crap -
and that was through a spicy mixer. I tossed the Popov bottle after she
left.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

I have often considered setting up a blind taste test at the occasional
family get together, not only for vodka in this case, but also for
other products with "status" brands. For each group of products, I'd
figure on covering the cost spectrum as well as the reputation
spectrum. My in-laws are not heavy drinkers; but there are enough
social drinkers among them to come up with a sample size with possibly
meaningful results.

Serving size would be an issue if too many choices are offered. One
ounce x 6 is still 3 shots of straight vodka. Not so much for me; but
most of 'em don't have my blood volume or stomach lining. I don't want
a house full of puking inlaws at midnight. g

How much would be an adequate taste sample? And what would be a good
"neutralizer" to serve between tastes? Saltines? White bread?

Joe F.

On 12 Dec 2005 12:11:28 -0800, "rb608" wrote:

I have often considered setting up a blind taste test at the occasional
family get together, not only for vodka in this case, but also for
other products with "status" brands. For each group of products, I'd
figure on covering the cost spectrum as well as the reputation
spectrum. My in-laws are not heavy drinkers; but there are enough
social drinkers among them to come up with a sample size with possibly
meaningful results.

Serving size would be an issue if too many choices are offered. One
ounce x 6 is still 3 shots of straight vodka. Not so much for me; but
most of 'em don't have my blood volume or stomach lining. I don't want
a house full of puking inlaws at midnight. g

Kick 'em out at 11:55....

How much would be an adequate taste sample? And what would be a good
"neutralizer" to serve between tastes? Saltines? White bread?

A 1/4 oz. should do it as far as "tasting" unless anyone wants more.
There's very little or nothing to "neutralize," so you don't need
anything (HINT-HINT - notice many labels: "grain _neutral_ spirit(s)").
And save your money, time, and BAC and forget anything made in the US
(absolutely neutral), unless you just want spoilers and/or to **** with
people.

TC,
R

rb608 wrote:
I have often considered setting up a blind taste test at the occasional
family get together, not only for vodka in this case, but also for
other products with "status" brands.
...
How much would be an adequate taste sample? And what would be a good
"neutralizer" to serve between tastes? Saltines? White bread?

You've come to the right place to ask about liquor
tastings. Wayno hosted roff's Single Malt Scotch
tasting and a grand old time was had by all ...
I think ... or so I was told when I woke up to a
Wild Turkey chaser the next morning.

--
Ken Fortenberry