# Whats some good non expensive vodka brands **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [July 25, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444 "2013-07-25T01:00:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/22 "2013-07-25T11:45:34Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Spec’s Liquor Warehouse often has different beer, liquor & wine reps offering free samples. One afternoon, a vodka salesman was handing out half-shots of his product. Not seriously chilled, in little plastic cups–and I’m not a big vodka drinker, anyway… > > It was surprisingly good. And it was Svedka! You probably can only find it at Spec’s, but [Shustoff](http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-126475-0000-shustoff-luxury-vodka-ukraine) is one of the tastiest vodkas I’ve ever had. Extremely clean, so not for the Ketel One fans, but phenomenally smooth and a really tasty drink. At $30/750 mL, (or 2.5x the Svedka price) it had better be. I prefer it to Tito’s but YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/23 "2013-07-25T12:22:49Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Tito’s Handmade Vodka! > > [Tito's Vodka - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito%27s_Vodka) This is what I came to say. It’s a reasonably priced, very good vodka product…and made in Austin Texas, of all places. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/24 "2013-07-25T15:38:50Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > [Luksusowa](http://www.proof66.com/vodka/luksusowa-potato-vodka.html) potato vodka from Poland. At $12-$14 a fifth, it’s about as good a vodka deal as you’re going to get. [Sobieski](http://vodkaonly.com/sobieski-vodka-review/) is a bit cheaper ($10-$12 a fifth), made from grain, and also great bang-for-buck. I was popping in here to recommend Luksusowa. Wyborowa, as I recall, was also good–both, when I was in college, came in plain bottles, which made them cheap. Fancy bottles make a vodka expensive. > [@kayaker](#): > > Has anyone here tried the vodka in the glass skull? See above re: fancy bottles. Also, it’s sorta vaguely indirectly supporting woo. (Or at least, the idea for it was based on woo.) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/25 "2013-07-25T15:49:07Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > _ **French** vodka?!?!?_ Call me a snob, or a Franco-phobe, but no. Just, no. Be like Russian Champagne… 😃 You’re welcome at Chez Knead any time, **Ants**. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/26 "2013-07-25T16:06:30Z")
Anytime there is a discussion of cheap versus premium vodka I have to post this story from [ABC News](http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Consumer/story?id=3201973&page=2). It’s a not scientific, yet somewhat illuminating blind taste test of some professed vodka snobs. One of the conclusions, Smirnoff is just as good as anything else for mixing. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/27 "2013-07-25T16:26:03Z")
I like Stolichnaya. Not because I can really taste any appreciable difference between it and other same-tier vodkas, but I once worked with a Russian guy who gave me a bottle for Xmas, and I’ve been a fan ever since. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/28 "2013-07-25T16:46:49Z")
What is “Everclear” (190 proof alcohol) like if diluted to standard vodka proof (40-50% alcohol)? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/29 "2013-07-25T16:57:54Z")
Vodka. The only flavors will be alcohol and the minerals in the water you use to dilute it. I just checked the liquor cabinet. Here we have Ketel One for when the wife wants a martini, Skyy for Bloody Marys, Absolut Citron and Peach for other cocktail creations, and a bottle of Stoli Honey that a distributor gave me 20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/30 "2013-07-25T18:05:00Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > In terms of the stuff you can buy at your average liquor store, Ketel One (I always spell it wrong) is one of the most expensive here in NY state. With tax it’s close to $50 for a big bottle! Svedka is less than half that. > > _ **French** vodka?!?!?_ Call me a snob, or a Franco-phobe, but no. Just, no. Be like Russian Champagne… 😃 Huh, weird. My numbers based on BevMo California, member discount, all 1.75 mL, unflavored: Ketel One: $31.98 Grey Goose: $49.98 Belvedere: $54.99 - no discount currently on this one though Chopin: $49.99 Local artisanal vodka Hangar One $27.99 for 750 mL ($2 more than the same quantity of Belvedere, or $3 with no discounts) Also, I think most people think vodka is made from potatoes in Russia. The last two are Polish, and Chopin is the only one made for potatoes. Vodka’s normally been made from grain for a long time, and your bottle of Smirnoff is probably not made in Russia anymore. > [@kayaker](#): > > Has anyone here tried the vodka in the glass skull? Made by Dan Ackroyd! I just want the bottle. Very pricy. Crystal Head 1.75mL - $89.99, discounted from $99.99 (!) ---
**Author:** ![Jay4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f1d935/32.png) [@Jay4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay4)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/31 "2013-07-25T18:15:27Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I like Stolichnaya. Not because I can really taste any appreciable difference between it and other same-tier vodkas so there really is a difference taste wise because its a russian vodka? some of the flavors they have sounded pretty good ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/32 "2013-07-25T18:26:06Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Tito’s Handmade Vodka! > > [Tito's Vodka - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito%27s_Vodka) This is the vodka I was talking about!!! Yes! It’s very very good, and not expensive. I highly recommend it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/33 "2013-07-25T18:28:36Z")
Non-expensive: Ketel One. It’s a very good neutral spirit, anything cheaper is liable to taste nasty. I must admit that I mix Belvedere rather than drink it straight. It’s more expensive than Ketel One but it has a _little_ bit of taste which is sometimes a good thing. The taste comes out even better when making infusions. That way you know you are drinking blueberry vodka rather than blueberry flavored alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/34 "2013-07-25T19:48:00Z")
> [@Jay4](#): > > so there really is a difference taste wise because its a russian vodka? some of the flavors they have sounded pretty good I can’t tell a difference because it’s Russian, but it is good vodka, and it’s usually a good price. The flavors are very good, in my opinion. They are a lot of fun. Much better than Burnetts which also has a ton of interesting flavors, but isn’t as good as Stoli. But Burnetts is ok, I’ve used it at parties and no one complained. Also there’s a brand called Three Olives which makes a number of flavored vodkas I’ve had at parties. I’ve never bought it personally so I don’t know the price, but I’ve drunk it and it tastes fine. They have some that tastes like birthday cake, which is sort of horrific to me, but I was essentially forced into trying it and I will say it tastes pretty much exactly like birthday cake. Which I hate, so I thought the vodka was pretty disgusting, but if you like that sort of thing it was pretty neat I guess. eta: looks like Three Olives specializes in the sweeter flavors, so if that isn’t what you’re looking for I guess avoid that brand. I’ve tried a few of them in shots though, and I can say they do a good job of approximating the tastes. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/35 "2013-07-25T20:24:25Z")
If you like Stolichnaya I’ve heard that Moskovskaya is pretty much the same thing but cheaper. The bottle looks really similar. Someone told me once that it’s what the Russian guys they knew drink. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/36 "2013-07-25T20:35:13Z")
> [@Zjestika](#): > > If you like Stolichnaya I’ve heard that Moskovskaya is pretty much the same thing but cheaper. The bottle looks really similar. Someone told me once that it’s what the Russian guys they knew drink. Really interesting article about vodka in communist Russia [here](http://www.theglobalist.com/storyid.aspx?storyid=3030). Back in the day there were essentially only two brands: Stolichnaya and Moskovskaya, the latter being the cheaper brand. They came in half-liter bottles that could not be recapped. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/37 "2013-07-25T20:48:38Z")
I used to keep an empty bottle of Stoli, filled with water, in the liquor cabinet. On several occasions I’d bring up the idea of chugging a fifth. People would go back and forth on whether it was do-able. A the right time I’d mention that I thought I had a new fifth. I’d look around, pull out the bottle of water, open it and start chugging. Good times as people would freak out. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/38 "2013-07-25T20:57:30Z")
These days, I could barely chug a fifth of water. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/39 "2013-07-25T21:11:08Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Really interesting article about vodka in communist Russia [here](http://www.theglobalist.com/storyid.aspx?storyid=3030). > > Back in the day there were essentially only two brands: Stolichnaya and Moskovskaya, the latter being the cheaper brand. They came in half-liter bottles that could not be recapped. By 1994 or so, you could recap them- a buddy did a study-abroad at Moscow State and brought back a bottle of each. Stolichnaya tasted like it does here, and Moskovskaya tasted a little tiny bit like baking soda. I’m kind of amazed though; why do people buy flavored vodkas? I mean, what’s the big attraction to lemon or peach flavored vodka vs. muddling up a slice of lemon or peach in your vodka? One tastes like artificial flavors and the other like real fruit. (or better yet, try muddling some peaches, mint and bourbon with a little sugar!) ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/40 "2013-07-25T21:24:55Z")
Another vote for Tito’s. Nice clean taste. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444/41 "2013-07-25T21:31:28Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Has anyone here tried the vodka in the glass skull? I’ve had it, and got to keep the bottle. It’s smooth, and mild. Makes a goooood martini, but I like it best on the rocks with a twist of lemon. I also have a bottle of Kah Tequila Blanco. They have some cool, Dia de Muertos inspired skulls bottles. There’s a [different bottle](http://www.kahtequila.com/#!the-brand) (beware: site auto-plays sound) for all four of their tequilas (blanco to extra anejo). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-some-good-non-expensive-vodka-brands/664444.md?page=3)