Way to Russia Community and Forum

cyndy22 · Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 4:55 am Post subject: Vodka Taste Off

I like to think I am somewhat of a connisaur of vodka. So in preparation for my trip to Russia, I am curious what the best brands of vodka are? I just goota know that more than a few of you on this forum have qualified experience on thiis subject. What are the superior vodkas and besides drinking ice cold vodka in one gulp, are there any special vodka cocktails in Russia that I just might want to try. Next we'll be talking stupid drunk vodka stories, but I'll save that for now!

AliceFromMoscow · WayToRussified Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Posts: 411

Today's vodka birthday, judging news on one website.

brandalpayne11 · Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:35 pm Post subject:

Best Vodka's

#1-Polish, Berringer
#2-French, Grey Goose

What ire some "top-shelf" Russian Vodkas?

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:26 am Post subject:

I never heard of Beringer but friends of mine who are Polish brought me back a very good vodka on their last visit. The name is Debowa and I think it may be fairly new. It is in a wood bottle, kind of unique. But I gotta think that Russia has some very fine vodkas.

Alice, where did you hear it was vodkas birthday? That is funny.

Has anyone had any unusual flavored vodkas. I hear they arte popular in Russia.

Intourist · Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 10:29 am Post subject:

I think the best RUSSIAN vodka is the Platinum Russkiy Standard. It's incredibly smooth.

brandalpayne11 · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 5:51 pm Post subject:

blaked · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:51 pm Post subject:

Ironically enough, they don't have Stoli Vanilla here. I like Gorilka, which is flavored Ukrainian vodka. I guess the taste doesn't really matter, as long as its smooth. I would agree that Ruskiy Standard Platinum is top-shelf vodka.

cyndy22 · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 3:15 am Post subject:

I do appreciate all of your opinions. Thank you. I will have to do some sampling to make sure I am fair!

Where is UDAY when I need him?!!!

UsualSuspect · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 9:08 am Post subject: Sippin then Swilling

Cyndy,
Russian Standard Platinum is a very fine vodka, even their non-Platinum stuff is good. It is also twice as expensive (relatively Laughing

) as a lot of others.

Topaz lyuks is smooth as well.
Gzhelka is a personal fave and has a nice taste.
Altai is another.
The Kristall distillery has it's own brand of fine sippin material (They make Gzhelka and others).

Starka is very different, but I reckon that once into the flavoured vodka's the point has been lost.

To stop the burn after hoiking one down (neat), grab a slice of black bread and sniff it deeply, or sniff & chew a pickled cucumber.

Another tip, down the supermarket or whatever, vodka's are arranged much as they are in a bar anywhere else. Up the top is the good stuff whilst on the floor is the zip-top unbranded stuff which has god knows what in it.

What really annoys me is export Stoli is only 37.5% and that there is such a limited range for your average quaffer down here Mad

Regards
Usualsuspect

cyndy22 · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:30 pm Post subject:

Usual Suspect
You know Vodka! Thanks for the tips for stopping the burn too. Have you toured the distillary? Do they have tastings? Very Happy

UsualSuspect · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 12:34 am Post subject: Cristall tours

Cyndy,
I've only drunk my way across Russia!!
Maybe Alice would know whether or not they have tours. I know the Baltika beer factory is near Red Square, but not sure if that is the actual plant or just an old neon sign.

Russian Standard is from St Petersburg IIRC.

When travelling, a lot of regions have their own distillery. In Krasnoyarsk they have Enesiesk vodka, Sibirskaya was made in Novosibirsk (IIRC) and so on and so forth.

BTW...Just a personal opinion, I have found that non Polish/Finnish/Russian etc vodka's taste like rocket fuel. I reckon once you've sampled some hi-kwal stuff, you'll never go back to domestic products....except as a mixer..

Regards
Usualsuspect

cyndy22 · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 2:41 am Post subject:

UsualSuspect,
I want to party with you. Oh if only I were single and younger! I don't know what you mean by non Polish/Finnish/Russian vodkas being stronger than domestic. Perhaps you meant that Piolish/Finnish/Russian vodkas are so much more powerful? Dr. Fauste was kind to email me the website of the vodka museum in SPB. tHIS IS A GREAT FIND THAT WE WILL BE SURE TO VISIT. And they do have tastings for a fee in their restaurant. Thank you U.S. and DR. F. for enlightening me in the vodka capital of the world. I only wish I could toast you both and have a couple of ice cold vodkas togetherr.

UsualSuspect · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 9:12 am Post subject: Taste not strength

Cyndy,
The rocket fuel comment was purely about the taste and after burn effect. I found after guzzling the good stuff that vodka's like smirnoff or Kirov tasted like undiluted paint stripper. For a few months I could actually buy Altai here in Oz but the supply has dried up. I stick to Absolut and Cristall (If I can find it).

Their are lot's of flavoured ones if you are brave....a sample :
Limonaya (lemon), Pertsovka (pepper), Okhotnichnaya (aniseed, will clear the sinuses), Starka and I have tried Girkaya from the Ukraine.

And you never know. It's a small world. If I can meet a guy I went to school with at 2:00 a.m. in Hamburg's railway station, then anything is possible!

And maybe a last piece of advice....don't join in when the chant "pey dadna" (drink to the bottom) begins....

Regards
Usualsuspect

blaked · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 10:24 am Post subject: Re: Sippin then Swilling

FlyingRussianMan · Frequent Guest Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 36

My family personally enjoys Stoli. But our new "state liquor store" has several diffrent brands of vodka from Estonia, Poland, and The Netherlands. Voxx or Vox I can remember is the Dutch one which my mother likes and my Dad likes Grey Goose. I cant really tell you what kind I like because I have only had a sip here and there. But also try when your there if you can find it Moldovian or Georgian Wine, there world renouned.

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