# Somebody please explain the appeal of premium vodka to me. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [July 24, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somebody-please-explain-the-appeal-of-premium-vodka-to-me/365850 "2006-07-24T17:53:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somebody-please-explain-the-appeal-of-premium-vodka-to-me/365850/41 "2006-07-25T19:53:24Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] Premium vodka is almost tasteless when you drink it straight (especially when chilled) [/QUOTE] Not true at all. The flavors are simply _incredibly subtle_. Try sipping a neat cold shot of, say, 42 Below and one of, say, Grey Goose. If all I had tried (in terms of Premiums) was limited to GG, I might agree with you. But, 42 Below and Iceberg Borealis (to name my two favorites) actually have flavors to them. Really really _really_ subtles ones, I will admit. It’s kind of like drinking White Tea. Also, I find that in “clean” drinks (i.e. ones that aren’t overpowered by their own flavor combinations), premiums are worth it. For the first two drinks of the day. After that, well, there _is_ ethanol in there… 😃 (FTR: “Clean” drinks to me means e.g. Martini’s, \_\_\_ & Tonics, \_\_\_ & Sodas, and neats.) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somebody-please-explain-the-appeal-of-premium-vodka-to-me/365850/42 "2006-07-25T20:34:23Z")
[QUOTE=commasense] [Cite.](http://www.lfexaminer.com/img_0322.jpg) [/QUOTE] I have occasionally wished to be someone else. Never before have I wanted so much to be merely someone else’s shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somebody-please-explain-the-appeal-of-premium-vodka-to-me/365850/43 "2006-07-26T01:16:41Z")
[QUOTE=commasense] [Cite.](http://www.lfexaminer.com/img_0322.jpg) [/QUOTE] You. Suck. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somebody-please-explain-the-appeal-of-premium-vodka-to-me/365850/44 "2006-07-26T01:29:06Z")
[QUOTE=Shalmanese] I’m surprised nobody has linked to the infamous [NYT Taste test](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/dining/26wine.html?ex=1264654800&%2338;en=a9c441f3597a0350&%2338;ei=5088&). In a blind tasting of 21 vodkas, smirnoff came out on top. [/quote] ?! I like Smirnoff OK, but compared to the upmarket stuff, I do detect a slight additive tang. Maybe it’s the plastic bottle. > [@](#): > > Grey Goose tastes smooth going down, not because of any particular chemical in Grey Goose, but because of chemicals in your brain which are responsible for you thinking “I’m drinking Grey Goose”. I had a shot (OK…several!) of GG the first night I’d ever seen it (I was playing jazz at a charity gourmet event and they were practically pouring the stuff down our throats). My reaction, entirely innocent of the brand name, was: \ “_…shmmOOOOooooth._” BTW, I happen to know the Times photographer credited with the bottle-in-the ice shot. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somebody-please-explain-the-appeal-of-premium-vodka-to-me/365850/45 "2006-07-26T01:36:51Z")
[QUOTE=yoyodyne] I still hate you for that, you lucky, lucky bastard. 😛 [/QUOTE] > [@Cervaise](#): > > I have occasionally wished to be someone else. Never before have I wanted so much to be merely someone else’s shoulder. > [@KRM](#): > > You. Suck. Neener, neener! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somebody-please-explain-the-appeal-of-premium-vodka-to-me/365850/46 "2006-07-26T03:01:54Z")
When I’m out, I drink vodka tonics, and I always use well vodka. There isn’t enough difference to justify spending more money, unless you’re after spending money. At home, I stick to Bombay gin with a lime slice, so I can’t help you there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somebody-please-explain-the-appeal-of-premium-vodka-to-me/365850.md?page=2)