See-throughs - long question

It's going to take a few paragraphs to get to the real question, but
as is my habit, I like to include a few hundred words of context.

Among the many subjects for which I am most thankful to the collective
wisdom and guidance of this group, I must include my introduction,
exploration, and enjoyment of single malt scotch. There are few things
finer than a relaxed afternoon or evening, alone or in the company of
good friends, taking life a bit more slowly while sipping the warmth of
a glass of good scotch.

Because of the rites and rituals I'm come to associate with such
enjoyment however, I cannot lightly or casually enjoy a glass of
Balvenie when the time simply isn't right. I get home from work,
check on the kids' schoolwork, maybe start on dinner preparations,
look through the mail to see which creditors are after me today. For
these more active or hectic times, I've gravitated toward beverages
of the see-through genre. Beverages I can enjoy while walking from
room to room while catching up on daily activities.

For me, that drink of convenience has been the martini. I can mix up a
batch, keep the bottle in the freezer, and pour a good one on a
moment's notice. Yummy, warm, effective. But, variety is nice too.
Enter vodka.

I've never been much of a vodka drinker beyond a fondness for a
perfect bloody mary, but with all of the hubbub and hype these days, I
thought I'd give it a thought. Now, I know at least one participant
here is a virtual expert on see-throughs, but I'd like to toss out
the question to the group with a few nuggets of my own.

One of the engineers in my office is a stereotypical Russian. Nice
guy, with a great "moose and squirrel" accent. I figure he ought
to know vodka, so I ask him what he considers the best vodka available
for sale here in the states. He responds by launching into story after
story about the connected party officials and their lavish lifestyle.
According to his assertions, "Russian vodka is ****." His
assertion is that Polish potato vodka is the best and was the vodka of
choice among the well-to-do in his country. Russian vodka was for the
peasants.

As a result of his recommendation, I bought a bottle of Luksosova. At
half the price of Grey Goose, I thought it was actually pretty good,
but as I say, I'm no expert on this stuff. I'm happy with the
popular Absolut, and I know others here are fond of Stoli, so here
finally is the question.

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

On 12 Dec 2005 07:38:15 -0800, "rb608" wrote:

As a result of his recommendation, I bought a bottle of Luksosova. At
half the price of Grey Goose, I thought it was actually pretty good,
but as I say, I'm no expert on this stuff. I'm happy with the
popular Absolut, and I know others here are fond of Stoli, so here
finally is the question.

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

Back in the day when I used to drink vodka I liked Luksusowa the best, FWIW.
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

rb608 wrote:

As a result of his recommendation, I bought a bottle of Luksosova. At
half the price of Grey Goose, I thought it was actually pretty good,
but as I say, I'm no expert on this stuff. I'm happy with the
popular Absolut, and I know others here are fond of Stoli, so here
finally is the question.

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

I'm certainly no expert, but the vodkas I like best have a bit of a
"peppery" taste to them. Tito's Handmade is a local (Austin) brand, and
it's currently my favorite. (He's "exporting" it now, so it's possible
you could find it in different states.)


Chuck Vance

"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/

On 12 Dec 2005 07:38:15 -0800, "rb608" wrote:


As a result of his recommendation, I bought a bottle of Luksosova. At
half the price of Grey Goose, I thought it was actually pretty good,
but as I say, I'm no expert on this stuff. I'm happy with the
popular Absolut, and I know others here are fond of Stoli, so here
finally is the question.

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

Since most vodka sold in the US is grain vodka (basically, grain alcohol
mixed with water), and the alcohol portion would contribute no "flavor,"
what kind of water do you prefer? If you're mixing it with things like
juices, tonics, lime, etc., I doubt any but the most _trained_ (not
"discerning") palate could tell the difference.

With a "martini" made the way "martinis" are often made (incorrectly)
today - first, with vodka, and then with no vermouth - I'd offer a
selection of mini/airline/50ml bottles and your own "taste test" would
be the only real way to see if you can tell much difference. OTOH, if
you're happy with Absolut, it might be best not to fix what ain't broke
- YMMV.

A friend who drinks primarily vodka swears by "Skyy" (I think that's the
spelling) because it claims and he agrees that it produces less of a
hangover if one over-indulges. I cannot speak to this as I'd not drink
enough of it to ever have a hangover.

TC,
R

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 11:09:12 -0500, "Wayne Harrison" wrote:

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________________)

The people I met during the few weeks I was in Russia preferred Polish vodka,
FWIW.
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

"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.

"rb608" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
oups.com...
SNIP
What should I be looking for in the taste of a "good" vodka? What
type/brand do you like?


I am not a vodka drinker, but I have a few Polish friends, and they also say
the Russian stuff is not very good. According to one of these friends, who
always brings me a bottle, this stuff is one of the best. "Bueffelgras
Vodka" ( "Bison grass vodka")This is Vodka with a piece of buffalo grass in
it. Vodka itself does not taste very strong, due to the fact that it has
been distilled several times. According to my friends, one should drink it
ice cold, and only taste the "warmth". The buffalo grass vodka does have
some aroma, presumably from the grass.

may be of interest;
http://www.theculturedtraveler.com/A...2004/Vodka.htm

http://cocktails.about.com/library/r...olishvodka.htm

http://www.american.edu/TED/polish-vodka.htm

TL
MC

rb608 wrote:

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

I don't know anything about vodka beyond Stoli is fine
in my Bloody Mary, so that's what we have in our liquor
cabinet. I have friends whose opinions I generally agree
with in these kinds of things who swear by Belvedere.

--
Ken Fortenberry