Vodka is not an aged alcohol. Most vodka even some of the cheapest are triple filtered through charcoal to remove the Ethanol, which gives cheap alcohol that biting taste. The major difference is the quality of water used to make the final 80 proof blend. Water isn't that expensive.
2006-08-14 08:11:25 · 18 answers · asked by dononvan_666 2 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
Absolutely! It is a scientific fact that after the third distillation, the most they can pull out in impurities is another 1/2%. So even if they distill it ten times there is no guarantee that any impurities will be pulled out, even so it will never be more then 1/2%. So everyone who buys into it is paying extra money for the hell of it.
However it is more then just the water, it is also the grain being used. A wheat vodka will be soft, a rye vodka will be peppery, a corn or potato vodka will be sweet. And remember the more you distill alcohol the less impurities there will be, so the more damage it does to your liver!
2006-08-14 11:24:32 · answer #1 · answered by BRY1970 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually I saw a blind taste test with an expert. He nailed it exactly, from bottom shelf to top shelf vodka. I guess it depends on how much of a connasuere you are in regard to vodka. I disagree that the only difference is the water. The key is the distiallation process itself as well as the filtering as you mentioned. A slow even distillation produces a much "cleaner" better product. Whereas a quicker distillation allows unwanted esthers to leach into the final product. Do I think it's a scam, well not really. Do I think that ALL alcohol is overpriced, including top shelf stuff? Your damn right!
2006-08-14 08:19:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely right.
Grey Goose has only been around for 10 years or so. The guy who started it just had a brilliant marketing campaign and has already cashed in the brand to someone else for over $1BB.
Buy Smirnoff, Goose, freeze both and have someone bring you the shots in an unmarked shooter. You'll never know the difference.
And those women who walk up next to me at the bar for a Grey Goose Cosmo: I've litterally chuckled out loud a few times. Like you can tell the damn difference. You wouldn't know vodka from moonshine if some magazine ad didn't tell you so.
2006-08-14 10:31:18 · answer #3 · answered by obviously_you'renotagolfer 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are mixing your vodka with coke or juice or something else with a strong flavour then top shelf is a waste of money, but I like vodka and water with just a lime and there is a big difference in top shelf to bar brands. I really like Grey Goose and I cannot stand Stolichnaya.
Some vodkas are grain based spirits and then some like Luksusowa are potato based sipirts. The filtering process is important in making a smooth easy drinking vodka.
2006-08-14 09:09:52 · answer #4 · answered by LAUGHING MAGPIE 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, if I may I will dissagree with you. In my group's opinion the top shelf vodkas differ in way of hangover. We are Grey Goose drinkers, Kettle One if we are in a bind, and Absolute if we are Absolutely Slumming it. I can drink an unbelievable amount of Goose, and wake up with very little if ANY headache, or hangovers. Cheaper vodka makes me feel as if my skull is fractured the next day. This is observed by most of my friends. Besides that, I do have accuired a taste for Goose and Kettle. We are not 23 Year old kids who can drink rubbing alcohol and be fine the next morning. We are the 27-35ish kind. Maybe that has something to do with it.
2006-08-14 08:27:26 · answer #5 · answered by Rachel S 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Consider this:
Marketing = scam
Yes, for the highly tuned-in, there are minute subtleties between vodkas. However, vodka in general is simply neutral spirits diluted to 40% (some at 50%). The differences are from the water used to dilute, the source of the ethanol (grain, grapes, potatoes, cane sugar, etc), the intensity of the distillation process, filtration of the distillate, planetary alignment, and oodles of others. All of which add up to very little.
Oh, and vodka=ethanol...remove the ethanol and you have water.
2006-08-14 19:39:48 · answer #6 · answered by Trid 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely wrong. I've drank quite a few horrible cheap vodkas, like Popov and Majorska, and they tasted disgusting, even mixed with juice or soda. The premium vodkas are a lot better, but there isn't much parity between them. A $22 bottle of Ketel One tastes as good or better than Grey Goose for $32 or Hangar One for $35. The main difference is when you are drinking vodka straight, as opposed to mixing it with whatever, just to get drunk. I do invest in Ketel One or Pearl frequently and it's a lot better than the cheap crap, particularly when you'll be doing shots.
2006-08-14 09:59:14 · answer #7 · answered by crazyhorse3477 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe there is a difference but not all top shelf is taste good because I'm 1 of the biggest vodka drinkers around and some leave a nasty after taste.
2006-08-14 09:52:03 · answer #8 · answered by Tae Kwon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I could'nt disagree more ..you just need to develop your pallate a bit more....if you think that a cheap brand can compare to the likes of jewel of russia, stoli eliete or even a moderatley priced luksosowa...you are way off....spend some bucks on a real premium vodka and you will notice a dramatic difference and will begin to notice the difference between those made with rye as opposed to those made with potatoes as opposed to those made with other wheats. a true vodkaphile
2006-08-14 09:04:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow,
I really thought I was alone here.
I buy store Brand Kappies Vodka and I swear it is as good s any vodka out there. It cost me 10$ for a liter or 18.99 for a half gallon
2006-08-14 08:17:12 · answer #10 · answered by billyandgaby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋