Informal Double-Blind Vodka Taste Test

[RocketManJames]

So... friends did a double-blind vodka taste test. The results are surprising to say the least.

Each column represents scores given by each participant. The order of tasting was random (people drank each one randomly and water was used as a 'cleanser' between sips). The original intent was to try 'crappy' vodka filtered via Brita versus 'good' vodkas. The scores were pretty damn consistent... this is shocking to me. Participants later went back to the bottles to try the 'good' vs 'bad' vodkas and were shocked to see that what they had written was consistent with the 2nd tastings.

Last 2 columns are average score and std. deviation.

Here they are:

Grey Goose 4 1 1 2 2.5 2 1 4 2 -- 2.17 1.17
Popov Filt. 5 4 7 7.5 6 6 8 7 5 -- 6.17 1.32
Absolut 4 3 2 1 2 3 2 9 8 -- 3.78 2.82
Popov 5 7 7 6 8 4 6 8 7 -- 6.44 1.33
Belvedere 4 8 3 5 2.5 5 4 7 8 -- 5.17 2.06
Skyy 7 6 4 5 3 5 5 7 7 -- 5.44 1.42
Vitali 6 5 2 2 4.5 4 3 6 1 -- 3.72 1.82
Vitali Filt. 8 9 6 8 9 7 7 6 6 -- 7.33 1.22
Absolut Filt. 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 -- 1.56 0.53

*Filt. = vodkas that were filtered via Brita.

I am shocked... unfortunately, I was not a participant. I just transcribed the above table from a spreadsheet sent my way. And, this is from a group of regular drinkers, not first-timers. Everyone thought they what knew good vodka tasted like, but apparently not. Who knew that back in college we were drinking the good stuff (Popov)?

Vitali = VONS (grocery chain) Brand Vodka

-RMJ

[chococat22]

I was a participant. I have to say, Grey Goose was the grossest tasting for real. We even went back afterwards and poured directly from the bottle because we didn't believe it. Sure enough, it was the same. Maybe we don't have good taste but at least we were all in agreement. To say we were shocked at the results would be an understatment.

[DrPublo]

I think the only way your taste buds could be this far off is if you regularly eat shoe polish.

The Doc

[Tron]

This seems like a good premise for a party.

[BEP]

They just did this on Myth Busters (unless it was a rerun).

They did 9 filtrations of a crap vodka and then had one top shelf vodka. The expert taster perfectly placed each filtration in order and then the top shelf at the top. Pretty amazing.

[Alobar]

[ QUOTE ]
They just did this on Myth Busters (unless it was a rerun).

They did 9 filtrations of a crap vodka and then had one top shelf vodka. The expert taster perfectly placed each filtration in order and then the top shelf at the top. Pretty amazing.

[/ QUOTE ]

rerun

cool ep tho, I was impressed by that guy

obviously the participents in this test arent vodka experts.

would be like if you had a bunch of fraternity guys doing a double blind taste test, and they all picked natty light as the best tasting beer over (insert whatever beer the snobby beer people consider great).

I suspect it has something to do with the fact thats what they always drank, so thats what they were used to, and thats why it tasted "the best"

[Tron]

The key words in this case, of course, are "expert tester"

[The Dude]

Interesting. I actually think taste tests like this can be very informative, and should be done more often.

BTW, you either don't know what a "double-blind" study is, or you guys went WAY overboard on this one.

[Chairman Wood]

This is important. Did you actually swallow each tasting of the vodka? Previous alchohol that you consume will affect the results greatly. Perhaps you should have a spitoon like they use in wine tasting.

[Evan]

[ QUOTE ]
This is important. Did you actually swallow each tasting of the vodka? Previous alchohol that you consume will affect the results greatly. Perhaps you should have a spitoon like they use in wine tasting.

[/ QUOTE ]
But part of the reason crap vodka sucks is the way it feels going down.