For some years drinkers of Smirnoff vodka have been seeing double, depending on which side of the Atlantic Ocean they are standing on. In London, Smirnoff, which is owned by United Distillers and Vintners, a unit of
Top Shelf: Bottles on the highest shelves behind a bar. Though there's no hard rule as to cost, these tend to be bottles that would retail for $50 or more in a store. Mid Shelf: Bottles on the lower half of the shelf behind a bartender. With liquor, this would usually be bottles that fall in the $25–50 range.
Smirnoff is a great bottom shelf vodka, but doesn't make the cut when it comes to casual drinking. If you're in a club and you don't want to shell out for Stoli, Smirnoff is your man. Smirnoff Red Label still maintains my low-as-I'll-go rank.
Absolut Wins For Best Vodka
When it comes to vodka quality, there is no doubt that Absolut is the best, because it has no added sugar and a premium taste. Polmos Spirytus Rektyfikowany is the strongest vodka on the planet and the world's most popular alcohol, with a 50% alcohol by volume, 100 proof label.
Bottom-shelf vodka can be on the more intense side and often comes with a strong alcohol burn going down. Due to the lower price and quality, you're paying for the fact that it can get you tipsy and not any specific flavor qualities that come naturally to higher quality vodkas.
Grey Goose is considered a top-shelf spirit, but it's still very affordable compared to many other top-shelf liquors. The original non-flavored Grey Goose Vodka has a range of sizes. There are some small format bottles, but the ones above are by far the most popular and available.
1. Smirnoff. Created by a Russian serf named Pytor Smirnov, the world's best-selling vodka has been sold since 1864. In 1886, Smirnov penned an exclusive contract to supply vodka to the Tsar of Russia.
Smirnoff (/ˈsmɪərnɒf/; Russian: [smʲɪrˈnof]) is a brand of vodka owned and produced by the British company Diageo. The Smirnoff brand began with a vodka distillery founded in Moscow by Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov (1831–1898). It is distributed in 130 countries.
Svedka and Smirnoff are middle of the road vodkas. Inexpensive, but not bottom shelf.
Smirnoff is a clear, grain-based vodka. Grain vodkas are the most popular and tend to be smooth and fruity. Grey Goose vodka is unique as it is distilled 5 times. This extensive amount of distillation generally produces a spirit with a smooth palate and high level of purity.
If you're looking for an affordable vodka, Smirnoff may be a good option. At Kroger, a 750ml bottle of Smirnoff vodka costs around $15. This vodka is a good choice for mixed drinks and cocktails. It has a clean, neutral flavor that won't interfere with the other ingredients in your drink.
Premium vodkas are different from the outset. They use a higher quality mix of ingredients as well as bespoke botanical infusions. More emphasis is put on producing a pleasing taste, removing the sharpness that can be found in cheaper brands.
For House, the top-shelf liquor basics include good bourbon, rye, tequila, gin, vodka, Scotch whisky, an amaro, and bitters (both potable and aromatic), along with small bottles of sweet and dry vermouth, which she recommended keeping in the refrigerator.
Stoli is probably the most famous and favorable vodka brand in Russia. Consumers and bar staff prefer Stoli products since they use traditional methods with modern distillation technologies.
Potato vodka is known as the "healthiest" of vodkas because of its gluten- and sugar-free nature. The tuber might also remain the base that results in the best vodka served over ice and/or straight up.
While Absolut brings in higher sales on a global scale, Grey Goose consistently makes VinePair's list of the best vodkas and is viewed as a symbol of luxury. While both are distinguished vodkas brands with massive market shares, they offer drinkers a clear choice in both style and production method.
Spirits like whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, etc. don't need to be refrigerated because the high alcohol content preserves their integrity. And most liqueurs also have a satisfactorily high alcohol content, as well as sugar that also helps to keep the flavors preserved.
Based on 10 votes, the average rating for Absolut Vodka is 6.2/10. Top reviews for Absolut Vodka: ― A small step above Sobieski for about 15 dollars more. Absolut Vodka which is carefully distilled at Absolut is adored for its fruit, caramel, vanilla and wheat flavor notes.
Grey Goose vs Belvedere: The Verdict
While both are top-shelf vodkas, gluten-free, lower-calorie vodkas, Grey Goose follows a stricter processing method. It uses locally-sourced French wheat and water that came 500 feet below its main facility, while Belvedere follows the strict rules of Polish vodka.