Best vodka to stock for my new sweetheart -- Gimmee some help!

[Apathy]

Dirty Digs. You sound like you know you're [censored] but I think that polish Vodka is terrible, but I might have been biased before drinking it (I have had a lot though/more then one occasion).

OP: Stoli is my favorite mixing Vodka and I like Belvedere or Level as well as far as premiums go, but I haven't tried several of the premiums people mentioned in this thread (which I am going to do though, thanks for the ideas everyone)

[RunDownHouse]

[ QUOTE ]
Wookie,

sup, long time. Let's say I were in an argument with a kind of snobbish materialistic dude who insisted that grey goose was the bomb. other than disregarding his opinion, what could I do to try and convince him that he was wrong?

I'm thinking some review where grey goose gets exposed or something

[/ QUOTE ]
There's an article where the founder/owner flat-out states that his whole concept was to make a mid-quality vodka - think Skyy or Absolut - overprice it, and then market the hell out of it. I know I've linked it on 2+2 before, so a search should turn it up.

When the guy running things says its not really any better than stuff 1/2 to 2/3 of its price, that's pretty convincing.

[Rootabager]

Didnt El Diablo challenge anyone to be able to taste the difference of 5 high end vodka's of his choosing?

It was awhile back so I dont feel like searching for the thread but no one would take him up on the offer.

[Klompy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
A pretty good idea is to not really listen to the alcohol advice of anyone who touts Grey Goose. In case you didn't know, this is an over-priced and over-marketed vodka for which the reputation far exceeds its actual quality. Definitely look elsewhere.


[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you for being one of the first people I've heard who also knows this.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess people cant just like it more? For whatever reasons?

[/ QUOTE ]

The only reason people think grey goose is good vodka is because it's marketed that way, and it's expensive. You can walk in the store and pick out tons of vodkas that both taste better, and are cheaper. Most people who actualy think grey goose is their favorite vodka are very easily convinced by adds, or they just assume that more money means better.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have never ever seen a SINGLE ad for grey goose in my life, and I think it tastes the best. Less burn, smoother, tastes best mixed, are just a few reasons I like it. I dont go touting my tastes to everyone else like you obviously more wise and sophisticated people do, but thats what I think tastes good.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't claim to be wise or sophisticated, but as someone else has already added to this thread, the entire idea behind grey goose was to take a pretty good vodka and market it likes it's great. The entire idea behind it bothers me so much that I'll never buy another bottle of it again in my life, especialy because I know of several other vodkas that taste better "to me" and are cheaper.

[MrMon]

[ QUOTE ]
Didnt El Diablo challenge anyone to be able to taste the difference of 5 high end vodka's of his choosing?

It was awhile back so I dont feel like searching for the thread but no one would take him up on the offer.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have no doubt that someone with a very trained palate could do this, but I would be surprised if it's anyone here. That guy on Mythbusters who was able to put the cheap vodkas in order of how many times they had been through a filter comes to mind, but you'd have to be that good to be able to do it.

I believe this is the Grey Goose article in question. If not, it gives you an idea of what's really behind it.

The Man Behind Grey Goose

[DirtyDiggs]

[ QUOTE ]
Dirty Digs. You sound like you know you're [censored] but I think that polish Vodka is terrible, but I might have been biased before drinking it (I have had a lot though/more then one occasion).

OP: Stoli is my favorite mixing Vodka and I like Belvedere or Level as well as far as premiums go, but I haven't tried several of the premiums people mentioned in this thread (which I am going to do though, thanks for the ideas everyone)

[/ QUOTE ]

Not sure if you meant potato instead of polish; Belvedere is Polish but from grain. Good taste though. Its my favorite premiums that you can get most places. Of course that was when I had some extra cash before I went back to Grad School and realized that I actually wasn't good at poker. I'd agree that Stoli > Absolute

I've been getting the feeling that potato vodka leads to worse hangovers, but that might have to do with the quantities consumed.

Funny part is that almost everyone ripping Grey Goose likes Kettle one, which is basically the same effect but at a lower price point. They tried with the same type of marketing plan before Goose but got outdone. After a slight lull, it has actually performed better with Goose as a prominent player in the market. Its a typical "compromise effect" in buyer behavior. People subconsciously assume a good value. I'm not ripping either of them, drink what you like. To assume one a success only because of marketing and the other because of the "quality of process" is erroneous.

Kettle one has gotten relatively cheaper to buy at retail lately though, but I doubt that is reflected at a bar.

[ChipWrecked]

I bought some Rain based on a Wookie post from many moons ago and it is now my standby. Good [censored].

Take mine straight btw.

[calmB4storm]

[ QUOTE ]
Alaska attacks..... Kamchatka!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

I still cringe when I hear that name...

[bdf]

Voxx FTW!

[Bobby Digital]

A little late here but I didn't see it mentioned so I had to give it a shout.

Tanqueray Vodka

Best vodka under 20 bucks, no question.