getting a decent vodka for xmas

Sean Quagmire

Looking to pick up a decent vodka for my house. Ran dry of Smirnoff and absolute so would like to try something premium.

OBriens doing Belvedere for 40e http://www.obrienswine.ie/spirits/spirits/vodka/belvedere-vodka-70cl.html. Is that decent?

Hearing great things about Russian Standard too. Any recommendations?

will be having on the rocks or with cranberry.

snowblind

Russian Standard is the best one around IMHO. There have been good deals in Dunnes/Tesco etc for it too. Beats grey goose and other "fancy by brand image" vodkas easily.

edit: Actually Russian Standard is just 20€ in drinkstore http://www.drinkstore.ie/RUSSIAN-STANDARD-700ML-4603400000043/

rubadub

If your definition of a vodka is a neutral spirit devoid of smell & taste, then I would recommend skyy. It was made to be totally clean and very suited to cocktails where it will not take over the taste.

While I consider smirnoff red to be the budweiser of vodkas, smirnoff black is very nice, and cheaper than other expensive ones like grey goose.

If you know how vodkas are made & the cost of ingredients then the price they ask for some is laughable. People are probably falling for it by comparing it to the price hike you might see with other expensive spirits, like whiskeys etc, which do have genuinely higher production costs. Grey goose was a brilliant marketing trick.

snowblind

I find Russian Standard more neutral than Skyy. I wouldn't really go for "devoid of taste" though, I'd say "devoid of taste imperfections" which means mostly neutral but a bit of grain in there too.

My favourite vodka is Zelenaya Marka - a russian household brand, apparently one of if not THE most popular vodka in Russia. A few euro a bottle in Estonia. The Russian market is so massive they haven't expanded beyond the Baltics at all...

suicide_circus

You can get a litre of grey goose in dublin or cork airport for under 40 euro duty paid.

askU

snowblind wrote: »

I find Russian Standard more neutral than Skyy. I wouldn't really go for "devoid of taste" though, I'd say "devoid of taste imperfections" which means mostly neutral but a bit of grain in there too.

My favourite vodka is Zelenaya Marka - a russian household brand, apparently one of if not THE most popular vodka in Russia. A few euro a bottle in Estonia. The Russian market is so massive they haven't expanded beyond the Baltics at all...

Can i but this in Cork?

MonstaMash

Grey Goose... http://www.celticwhiskeyshop.com/Other_Spirits__drinks/Vodka/Grey_Goose_Vodka-category-24-distillery-22-brand-117-z-brand.htm

the beer revolu

askU wrote: »

Can i but this in Cork?

Russian Standard?
Yes, in any Tesco - often on special too.

snowblind

askU wrote: »

Can i but this in Cork?

It should be available in Tesco/Dunnes/lots of places

lubie76

I'm not sure if you're far from the border but I spotted a litre of Russian standard in asda enniskillen last week for £17 or £13 for 70cl.

http://groceries.asda.com/asda-webstore/landing/home.shtml#/product/62314133

drumswan

Paid 11 quid for a bottle of Russian Standard in a supermarket in France last week, the price of spirits here would sicken you

pa990

drumswan wrote: »

Paid 11 quid for a bottle of Russian Standard in a supermarket in France last week, the price of spirits here would sicken you

That's why I tend to stock up this time of year when there are bargains about,
And other than that, spirits are only bought in airports.

hfallada

drumswan wrote: »

Paid 11 quid for a bottle of Russian Standard in a supermarket in France last week, the price of spirits here would sicken you

I was in Carrefour last summer and there cheapest vodka was €5 for 700ml and buy 2, get one free. There must be little or no duty on spirits in France compared to Ireland. But in France you have higher income taxes than us.

Sean Quagmire

Went with Russian Standard in the end and it is indeed a lovely vodka. Was 18e for a 70cl in carryout if anyone is wondering. will get another one for myself this week.

Was thinking of picking up the litre bottle of absolute from obriens for 23e which isn't too bad. handy to have for mixers for parties. been a while since i had it, is it still categorised the same a smirnoff red label?

http://www.obrienswine.ie/spirits/spirits/vodka/absolut-1ltr.html

Noticed dunnes are doing 1ltr smirnoff red for 19e. too bad i hate the stuff.