Imperial Collection Vodka Faberge Eggs
US$9,502
Russian vodka brand Imperial Collection launched its vodka carafes in the shape of faberge eggs in the UK three years ago.
Crafted by Russian artisans using enamel, crystals, and 24-carat gold gilding, the eggs are modelled on the world-famous jewelled eggs created by master goldsmith Peter Carl Fabergé over a century ago.
Housed inside is a decanter, four Venetian glasses, and a bottle of super premium vodka made from homegrown wheat and rye.
Each egg is topped by a golden eagle designed by a Florentine master jeweller who has worked in the Vatican for over 30 years.
Gold-plated eggs carry an RRP of US$9,502, while coloured enamel eggs are priced US$4,411.
Chopin Potato Vodka Isn’t As Bad As It Sounds
It’s safe to say that the potato is one of the most versatile vegetables out there. From French fries to vodka, the simple potato has proved itself time and time again. But still, it does sound a little weird to have the label “potato vodka” on your spirit of choice, but that’s how the Chopin Potato Vodka is marketed. Named after the famous composer, the Chopin Potato Vodka is hitting just below the middle of the pack, and it’s a fairly decent option.
According to GearMoose, Chopin Potato Vodka is one of the better “under $30” vodkas out there, as it is four times distilled and “has a creamy finish,” and it’s great when making a dirty martini . So what do the reviews say for the brand? “Smells like vodka, tastes like vodka. Very neutral,” a reviewer wrote on Flaviar. “A little of lemon and pepper with an oily texture. Overall, not bad. Different. Creamier than what I’m used to. Give it a try.” Another echoed that sentiment, saying that it was “surprisingly inoffensive for vodka.” So maybe give it a whirl you might like it.
Vodka Served In The Best Gastronomic Restaurants
The standing of a restaurant can be measured by the reputation given by its clients, colleagues and the media. The best names in gastronomy, known for their expertise and excellence, must constantly propose the best food and alcohol and consequently vodka. Vodka is the spirit served the most frequently in gastronomic restaurants. Most of the time there are less references in vodka on their wine list than there are in wine. However, it is important to remember that vodka has the biggest consumption of commercialised alcoholic drinks in the world, with slightly more that 500 million cases of nine litres in 2005. In any case, gastronomic restaurants need to propose the most delicious and prestigious vodkas to their customers. Moreover, vodka is one of the main alcoholic drinks in the composition of cocktails.
The wine list in a gastronomic restaurant grows richer from year to year with new vodka references. Over time, it improves, to continue proposing the best in vodka. In this, gastronomic restaurants can count on the work and passion of its professionals notably chefs and sommeliers.
To attain this excellence, gastronomic restaurants must propose to their customers the best productions and names in vodka. Therefore, they are likely to offer exceptional vodkas on their wine list.
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The Eye Of The Dragon $55 Million
The Eye of the Dragon vodka is a sight to behold. With dragons symbolizing wealth and good fortune, its no surprise that Hong Kong-based Dutch company Royal Dragon vodka chose to create a bottle with a meticulously crafted dragon studded with millions-worth of diamonds. In addition to its 50-karat intense yellow diamonds, the six-liter bottle has around 15,000 diamonds weighing 4.5 pounds of solid 18-karat gold. Encased in the bottle is one of the smoothest vodka available on the market, and this was done by charcoal distilling the finest winter rye five times.
What Makes Titos Vodka Unique
Since the brands labelling is decidedly unobtrusive, it relies on the purity and unique flavour of the vodka to appeal to consumers.
In order to achieve that all-desirable purity, Titos vodka is distilled 6 times . This time-consuming process, in addition to the vodka being made from corn mash , results in a smooth, glassy finished product.
Complete with a slightly candied aftertaste , we have a winning vodka. Its so revered, that today the brand makes only pure, unflavoured vodka .
Of course, unflavoured does not mean flavourless: The medium-bodied vodka hints at citrus, guava and passionfruit amid its signature clean taste.
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Clean And Simple Labelling
In direct contrast with the bold labelling commonly found on spirit bottles like Jagermeister and Jack Daniels, Tito wanted to minimise audacious branding on his vodka by keeping it clean and simple.
Rumour has it, Tito paid a Texas University art student to design his label for a meagre fee of just $25. As it turned out, the small investment bore fantastic results:
The brand has since become known for its modest label, which, as Tito had hoped, avoided detracting from the real pleasure bottled within.
Best Overall: New Amsterdam Vodka
Launched in 2011, New Amsterdam Vodka is a relatively young superstar in the vodka category and a favorite of the frugal drinker. This California spirit is distilled five times from American grains and goes through a three-stage filtration.
The brand’s flavored vodka line is filled with fun and tasty finds. The red berry variety is one of the portfolio’s originals, while the coconut option rivals similar products from top-shelf brands. Beyond that, if you’re looking for apple, grapefruit, mango, peach, pineapple, or watermelon vodka, New Amsterdam has you covered.
For the price, this vodka is surprisingly smooth. Don’t hesitate to drink it straight or keep it in stock as a go-to for any drink. From the vodka tonic to the spicy bloody mary, New Amsterdam Vodka forms a perfect foundation for any adult beverage, and the flavored vodkas add a fun twist to a rainbow of cocktails.
Region: America | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Nectarine, bittersweet, oily
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What A Bottle Of Vodka Can Buy You
The picture above shows a vintage Soviet poster which shows what a bottle of vodka could buy you at time. It was propaganda against the drinking problem, like Look! Instead of vodka you could buy all this!. Also, this might be called a Soviet variation on the Hamburger index. So really, what could a bottle of vodka buy you back then and now in Russia? See more inside:
So according to this Soviet pic, one bottle brings to table the following goodies:
1) 1 pound of beef2) two kg or 4 lbs potatoes3) 3 apples4) bread two kg 5) milk two bottlesand also onions, pepper and salt in unspecified amounts.This was back then. Now the guy has gone to a grocery store and bought the cheapest vodka and then used the same amount of money to buy some food. Here is what he got:
So this is his bottle of vodka, it cost him roughly $6.For this amount he was able to get:1) 0.75 kilo of bread2) 1 carton of milk3) two apples4) the same two kilos of potatoes.And thats it. No meats, no onions or salt and pepper.
And here is his second choice:
The same vodka amount brought him:1) one apple2) 2 kg of bread3) 3 kg of potatoes
What about your country? Can you trade in your vodka and survive?
Bert Tito Beveridge: The Vodka Guy
Titos pure, unflavoured 40% ABV vodka might just be the best thing to come out of Texas since Dr Pepper but its creator had zero experience in spirit distillation.
No, Tito did not come from a long-established line of master distillers whod passed on the torch in fact, hed held a cornucopia of job titles, including groundwater geologist, oil driller, and mortgage broker, before finally realising his calling as the vodka guy.
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Best Potato: Luksusowa Potato Vodka
This Luksusowa vodka bottle may not catch your eye, but the spirit inside is surprisingly tasty when you consider its low price. If you’ve been passing this one up on the liquor store shelf, this is your chance for redemption.
Luksusowa is a Polish potato vodka crafted in the fine traditions of the country’s vodka lineage. Distilled three times, the finished flavor is smooth and sweet. The company does not produce flavored vodkas instead, it prefers to stick with the same recipe and method used since 1928. It’s an ideal choice for fruity vodka highballs, so if youre a vodka cranberry drinker or enjoy the occasional screwdriver with brunch, its a great find.
Region: Poland | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Herbal, smooth, sweet
Poland may be best known for potato vodkas, but Sobieski Vodka is a great Polish rye vodka. It owes its name to the late 17th-century Polish king, John III Sobieski, whose image was on the label for many years.
Sobieski is one of the best clear vodkas you’ll find at a low price. Distilled from Dankowski rye, it goes through a continuous distillation process before it’s married to crystal-clear spring water. The rye gives the finished product a rich, silky taste that’s quite enjoyable on its own.
Region: Poland | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Spice, fruit, rye
Belvedere Is One Of Our Top Three Picks
If you’re a “I’m going to buy this vodka because I like the label” kind of person, then we’ll be surprised if you’ve never picked up a bottle of Belvedere before. The name itself just sounds fancy, and, as noted by Drizly, the vodka itself is excellent. Belvedere markets itself as the “true expression of luxury vodka,” and is the result of a 600-year vodka-making tradition originally from Poland. It is made with Polish Dankowski Rye and is distilled four times in order to “create the perfect balance of character and purity.” It also doesn’t have any added glycerin, sugar, or additives, so you know you’re getting the good stuff.
Belvedere is a fantastic choice as well, because it is not only great for sipping, but it makes the perfect martini . The only slight downside to Belvedere, as you may have guessed, is the cost. For a 1L bottle, you’re looking at dropping about $40, which isn’t exactly the most budget-friendly idea. But if you have a bit to spare, Belvedere is absolutely the right choice.
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What Is In Vodka
As we have seen, there appears to be a big three group of early vodka producers: Poland, Sweden and Russia. Each of these regions created a similar spirit, however, each area had its own unique twist on the major ingredients. Lets look at each individually.
Polish Vodka
Polish vodka must be made from one of five grains: rye, wheat, barley, oats, or triticale or it must be made from potatoes. Only the potatoes are required to be grown in Poland. Otherwise, the ingredients can be from anywhere as long as it the vodka itself is produced in Poland. The obvious other main ingredient is water, which is filtered and has the minerals removed.
Swedish Vodka
Swedish vodka typically contains two primary ingredients – winter wheat and water. The Swedes clearly prefer to keep it simple, as their other ingredient sometimes utilized is potatoes.
Russian Vodka
Many people hear vodka and automatically assume it is from Russia. While we have seen that there are other origins, Russia has taken over the common belief that it is the mother of all vodka production. It may have to do with the stereotype that in Russia, vodka is preferable to water. Russian vodka is similar to Swedish vodka in that it is typically made from two ingredients: either wheat or potatoes, and water.
Svedkas Story Starts In Sweden
Svedka vodka is distilled five times before being bottled and sold, which means its smooth enough to drink straight but much more fun to use as an excuse to get creative. Its produced using crystalline water from one of the worlds cleanest sources, Swedens ice-cold underground springs, along with the countrys hearty, flavourful winter wheat, which is harvested from the pastoral farmlands of Lidköping.
Exuberant, flamboyant and confident are three of the words most closely associated with this brand, making its storybook-esque history a great example of an oxymoron when compared to Svedkas playful spirit. Because in contrast to its humble beginnings in rural Sweden, Svedka vodka is the personification of the friend who convinces you to stay out for one more drink, with a new fancy cocktail in hand that youll end up ordering again and again.
Available in a rainbow of colours and flavours, its a top choice for cocktail making no matter whats on the menu. Keep it simple with the brands original offering, a vodka renowned for its light, citric aroma, heavy body and complex palate with hints of tingling pepper.
Or, delve deep into endless opportunities by slowly building up a collection of Svedkas more adventurous bottles. Take some time to explore all of Svedkas offerings, or stick with some of the most popular yet diverse flavoured bottles like Mango Pineapple, Vanilla, Raspberry, Cherry or Cucumber Lime.
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The Birthplace Of Vodka
Vodka can be traced back to three separate origins: Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Again, the history can be a bit fuzzy and of course pride gets in the way of accuracy so the answer to who had it first depends on who you ask. Both Polish and Russian vodka goes way back, and Sweden has been making a spirit that is essentially vodka called brännvin since the 15th century. Nailing down a specific birthplace for vodka is impossible but these three countries each claim their style of vodka as their own.
Grey Goose Wants To Bust The Mythical Correlation Between Distillation And Quality
Grey Goose undergoes a single distillation process and claims that contrary to popular belief, the amount of times vodka is distilled has no effect on its purity or quality rather, its the source of the ingredients that have more of an effect on the taste. Were happy to report that thats right the amount of times vodka is distilled does not matter, despite what you might see being boasted on a premium vodka label.
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Kirkland Scotch Whiskies Price And Selection Varies
Costco has teamed up with Alexander Murray, a California-based company that sources and bottles a wide range of whiskies from Scotland, to offer a rotating selection of very well-regarded and very well-priced scotch.
Think of it this way theres a lot of scotch whisky being made from producers big and smallish , but not all if it fits the flavor profile each producer is going for. What do they do with the stuff thats really good but not the right fit? They sell it to someone like fellow Scottsman Steve Lipp, owner of Alexander Murray, who bottles it under his own and Kirklands labels.
The options have ranged from Speyside single malt 18-year single malt , 12-year blended and a 16-year-old highland . Take note of those prices theyre at least $20 cheaper than name-brand bottles.
Are there any other bottles of Kirkland booze that you like to shop for that arent on this list? Add them in the comments below!
The Best Vodkas Served In Award
A good gastronomic restaurant is supported by reviews, which are made by clients, colleagues and the medias. Some reviews are also shared by jurys, these experts are likely to discern titles, prizes, and other awards. For a gastronomic restaurant one of the most prestigious awards is the acquisition of one or several Michelin stars by the Michelin Guide.
The attribution of stars by the Michelin Guide is based on identical criteria to guarantee the coherence of the best restaurants distinction. There are five criteria: the quality of the products including wines and spirits, the control of the cooking and flavours, the personality of the chef in his cooking and in his menu and wine menu, value for money in his menu and wine list and consistency over the years in both the menu and the wine list.
The inspectors representing the jury only judge « what is on the plate » and therefore what is in the glass of vodka. The stars only reward the quality of the cooking and the ingredients which are a part of it, notably vodkas.
The Michelin Guide stars enable the restaurants wine list to be classed :
- 3 stars indicate that the cooking, the wine, and the vodkas are remarkable and are well worth a visit to the restaurant.
- 2 stars means that the restaurant, the wine, and vodkas are excellent and should be tried.
- 1 star signals a good restaurant and good wine and vodkas in its category.
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The Best Vodka 2021 For Cocktails And Drinking Straight
From Grey Goose to Russian Standard, the best vodkas on the market
BySarah-Jane ButcherLast updated 2021-10-07T10:29:57.811Z
The best vodka is, contrary to what many people think, very drinkable, and won’t make you go blind or challenge strangers to fights. That’s if used in moderation of course. Considering you can make everything from screwdrivers to vodka martinis with it, there’s no doubting the versatility of vodka either. The best gin may be more on trend and the best tequila may be more glitzy but vodka is the world’s favourite spirit with good reason.
Here, we bring together our top picks for the best vodkas you should be drinking right now. Whether you are simply buying a bottle for after-dinner drinks at home or want to find a unique gift for someone, weve found a fantastic range of local and international brands that are changing the way we view vodka.
These days you can get a wide variety of different vodkas to cater to your palate and even dietary requirements. With the rise of food intolerances and health trends, gluten-free vodkas are now available quite widely, so if you have any special requirements, keep your eyes peeled for these options. At the other end of the scale you can find things like vodkas made from milk so there really is something for everyone.