…but I can spell “ukulele” !
I meant in the earlier post that Bombay Sapphire was a lower proof than Tanqueray…80 rather than 90, IIRC.
Once again we agree. I wouldn’t make a Tanq martini for my worst enemy. Sapphire is simply the only gin worth drinking.
I rather like Peconica and Ketel One vodkas, myself. Grey Goose is great and all, but I believe it is overrated. As for Absolut, well, I wouldn’t even pour it down my sink.
I am not a rum drinker whatsoever, so I have no comment there.
Vodka: I like SKYY vodka. Originally designed to give less of a hangover, but ended up tasting good too. For value I like Absolut when buying from the duty free- I can get a full liter of the stuff for around $7. Awesome deal!
Gin: Sapphire, of course.
Rum: Well…You probably mean Bacardi type, but here we have a different kind of rum called tuzemsky(sp?). It tastes…different, but is quite good. For what you want, I like Morgan’s Spiced for mixed drinks.
Gotta run-
-T
Don’t know much about Gin and Vodka, but I do know a bit about rum.
Havana Club - I don’t really like the 3, Anejo Reserva, 7, or the 15. I do love the silver dry in a Mojito though.
Matusalem Grand Reserva - This one is a good pick and easier to find than…
Pampero Anniversario - a fine Venezuelan rum which is even easier to find than my favorite…
Ron Zacapa Centenario - I’ve done a few rum tastings with friends and I always hold this one back 'till the end. Once you’ve sampled this nectar you’ll never want to go back. If you don’t believe me, take note of the fact that it has taken first place at the Rum Fest in the Super Premium Category in 1998, 1999, and 2001. It only lost in 2000 to Ron Zacapa Centenario X.O. (the super- super premium Zacapa).
I’m a Skyy person too.
Bombay Sapphire
I like Bacardi 151, I think, I can’t remember much after that night 
I’m not a gin or rum drinker, but I think the best vodka is
Chopin. Polish made and one of the few still made from potatoes rather than corn.(I think Monopolowa is also made from potatoes) For the money, I like Skyy or Stoli. Worst is Absolut. I’d rather drink the ultra cheap Gordon’s vodka over Absolut.
Skyy is all right, but for that price range, I prefer Oliphant.
And if you like buying stuff for the packaging, Belvedere has the most awesome bottle. Long thin neck, cork top instead of screw on, and you can see the back scene magnified from the front of the bottle. It’s quite gorgeous.
I purchased this for a friend years ago (he’s a vodka man) because of the bottle alone. Found out later that it’s grade A stuff.
for the best vodka…you might try Finlandia. It is smooth even straight up from the freezer. Price of it is not too bad either!
Strictly speaking, isn’t Ketel One (Kay-tel One) a jenever, similar to Jonge Bols? I’ll admit ignorance of this “utra-premium” vodka, having never had it, but my mother, who is Dutch, has said as much in the past so I’m curious.
I agree with most of the popular gin and vodka votes, although I was disappointed that Bombay Sapphire isn’t actually blue.
But in answer to thinksnow’s question: Seagram’s gin is reminiscent of kerosene.
Can only address GINs with any authority, but here are my 2c:
Best – Tanqueray (Sapphire and regular Bombay are both very pleasant, but have a completely different taste that’s a little too smoothe IMO; I prefer Tanqueray’s “bite”)
Best for the money – Gordon’s, especially if you’re going to put anything in it other than ice and an olive/onion. Sir Robt. Burnett’s is also a good, relatively cheap gin.
Worst – Gilbey’s, etc. (Personally, I’d put Beefeater’s in this category as well – not because it tastes as nasty or harsh as Gilbey’s or “generic” house gin, but because it’s always tasted more like vodka to me).
. . . Time to knock off work for the day and test whether I’ve forgotten anything about the taste of Tanqueray.
I’m a vodka guy. However, I try and stick to potato vodka, not those made from grain. Potato vodka is usually sweeter and smoother for drinking straight.
Of the few potato vodkas I’ve found, Luksusowa is excellent! Keep it in the freezer and drink it straight.
Now I don’t know if Martha Stewart throws back the spud, but here’s a party suggestion: Take an empty half gallon cardboard milk carton. Put the bottle of Lukusowa (conveniently the bottle is square) in the milk carton, fill it with water, then carefully put it upright in the freezer. When your guests arrive, take the milk carton out of the freezer, remove the cardboard from around the ice encased bottle, place the iced bottle in a bowl to catch the water that melts, and lo and behold, you have ice cold vodka for the evening.
Cocktail.com had a vodka tasting recently, and if you’re of legal drinking age you can see the results here:
http://www.cocktail.com/tasting/vodkasipping.htm
Grey Goose won, I’ll have to try that sometime.
I worked in a package store in college. All American vodkas, from Smirnoff’s down to Tvarscki are pretty much the same. They use grain neutral spirits (Everclear, basically) diluted to achieve the desired proof. It’s possible that there’s some difference in the diluting process used, and that Smirnoff’s might use fine, filtered spring water to dilute, while TV uses the leaky tap in the basement as their source, but all in all, American vodkas are the same. I can also tell you for well drinks (which is what you get in a bar if you don’t specify the brand), most places use Boston’s for everything except bourbon. That’s usually Jack Daniels Green Label, if it’s a nice place, all the way down to Beam’s Five Star, if it’s not so nice. Green Label is also what you’re likely to get, some places, if you just ask for “Jack Daniels”. Sneaky.
Best for the money:
Vodka: Stoli, Stoli, Stoli. Gordon’s Pepper is quite acceptable for Bloody Marys.
Rum: I’d say Bacardi, seeing as most rum is drunk with sweet mixers. Put enough strawberry gunk in, how can you tell the difference?
Gin: Another vote for Bombay Sapphire
I have heard the same legend about vodka and hangovers. Imported vodkas, especially potato vodkas, have impurities in them that give them flavor just like any other alcohol. I’d say the hangover rate for “high quality” vodkas would therefore be higher than that for cheaper ones.
Listed as 1st choice, then 2nd:
Rum: Havana or Bacardi Dark (I don’t drink the clear stuff… not by choice, anyway)
Gin: Tanqueray or Gordon’s
Vodka: Absolut/Finlandia(tie) or Viru Valge (Estonian brand)
The Vodka’s ALWAYS in the freezer!
You’re on the list. I had fallen out of bed, stumbled off to work, and posted that on about two short hours of sleep. I’m not going to forget this.
Ever try Tarantula Azul? I never liked tequila straight until I tried it, and I’ve talked some tequila haters into giving it a try and they all liked it. It’s a bit sweet with a citrus flavor that complements the natural tequila flavor quite well. I like to drink about a few ounces out of a 32 oz. bottle of Fierce Lime Gatorade and fill it back up with Tarantula Azul, then leave it in the freezer until it gets slightly slushy…yumm.
Gin: I like Bombay Sapphire, and think Gordon’s and Tanqueray are tolerable. I’ll never buy 'em.
Vodka: Finlandia gets my vote.
Rum: I’m a dark man. Gimme Appleton Estate 25-year-old if I’m drinking it straight. Best for the money is Appleton XV.
Vodka: My favourite is Zubrowka, the bisongrass vodka. I also like Stolichnaya and Finlandia.
Gin: Plymouth Gin is the best. It’s smooth and citrussy. Second is Bombay Sapphire, then Tanqueray.
Rum: I’m not a rum connoisseur.