What do you look for in a good vodka?

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Vodka marketing is a scam. Absolut is the most money you should spend on vodka unless you want your friends to think you’re cool. Vodka is supposed to be tasteless.

I buy the big kirkland bottle from Costco.

I prefer potato based vodka if I'm making a vodka martini or a drink where you can taste the vodka. Otherwise for a mixed drink any will do.

You dont need to spend a ton on Vodka. You can get a damn good Vodka for under $18 a fifth.

Ever since this past summer with covid and everything I've been drinking a LOT of vodka.

It comes down to three things really for me: viscosity, sweetness/dryness, and smoothness.

Was a really big Tito's fan. I like the viscosity and smoothness of it and it's not too expensive. It is, however, definitely on the sweet side.

Living here in Michigan I was introduced to Valentine vodka a few months ago. It hits in all three: not to thick or thin, super smooth and definitely on the dry side rather than sweet.

It's expensive: $30+ for a fifth, so I never really buy it for myself, but it has definitely given me an appreciation for more expensive/small batch vodkas.

I should add, like any liquor, the more expensive vodkas like Valentine's are made to be appreciated without mixing. I shoot a lot of vodka. Some might describe me as an alcoholic.

My everyday go to is Tito's, but I also really like Russian Standard if I'm feeling frugal.

Belvedere is my go to.

Sobieski is a real good vodka for the price, about $14. Only place I've found it is CVS. Our local CVS, oddly enough, has a real good liquor section.

Stoli
Tito's
Zyr

In that order.
Stoli mixed with lime and water. Tito's mixed with OJ. Zyr, on the rocks.

I used to drink Tito’s but then they started going up in price three or four years ago.
Now I drink Svedka

The myth: Vodka is supposed to be tasteless


This has been drilled into our heads for a while now for some reason, and that simply is not true. Yes the cheap mixers try to shoot for this, but that is due to their sole goal being to allow people to drink mixed drinks without tasting any alcohol. It's for the chicks that like to get sloshed but don't like to taste it.


GOOD Vodka is something different. It absolutely has taste, and it can be very nice. No it will never be like a rum or whiskey, but it is subtle and sweet in its own way. It is distilled not to remove flavors but to enhance it. A few that I think are great buys are:

Reyka (best for the $15-$20 price range. I used to like Titos best until I tasted this one. It's fantastic either as a sipper or mixed in cocktails.



Tito's is still a good buy as well.


As for the pricier bottles for sipping pourposes or standard martinis, Belvedere and Chopin are fantastic. Both are owned by the same distillery with the difference being Belvedere is grain while Chopin is potato.


Do not waste money on gray goose and absolut. These are overpriced due to years of great marketing and being established as the trendy vodkas of choice.