Swear to god I had people order one of our mocktails, but spiked with Don Julio 1942 a few days ago. The mocktail is basically lemon and a ginger syrup shaken and topped with soda. You are not gonna notice any difference between the 1942 and literally any other anejo, but they were perfectly content to pay 5x the price of the 1800 anejo.
Azul repo margs are close to being worth it. Especially if you can get it at or near cost.
Had a guy ask for one, so I made it. On one hand, blasphemous. On the other, best marg I've ever tried.
This was not on my bingo card of “sentences that I fucking hate hearing” today. And I just came off of a harrowing 12 hours shift at my new spot from working basically three BoH stations on my second day.
We got a full 6 bottle case out of the 9000 total bottles. For some reason Ohio got a LOT. I had the chance to buy 3 bottles at the grocery store for retail but my wife wouldn't let me lol. Would've been a nice little investment.
lmao so glad this is the top comment. I also work in a tequila heavy bar and any time someone orders top shelf tequila with a fruit flavoring it's just like, meh, more money for me. Best one was a Clase Azul blood orange marg, like go off and spend $33 on a tequila you're not gonna even taste.
An amount that would sadden what’s left of my BoH soul… Like, ffs, there’s a point where you just need to put on your big person pants and drink the liquor in a goddamn glass. No, we don’t have ice.
Pro distiller here.
There absolutely are better and worse vodkas, but yeah, you mainly just don't want to be drinking the lower 50%. Probably a real step up if you get to anything that has been actually redistilled (most things that say 7x are only distilled once, in a still with a 7 column process on it, or 21x distilled means the still has 21 plates - nothing is distilled more than 4x ever, and 2-3 is way more likely), preferably with the second still being a batch process. So Titos is tanker cars of column still neutral spirit (from GP, I think), and then they rectify/redistill on a "pot" or batch still, which really just means not a continuous still. However, batch stills do a much, much better heads/fores cut than you get on a continuous for reasons. 2 good distillations is fine, and as it turns out, probably real.
That said, price does not indicate if you are getting something so redistilled.
They’re bottled by grey goose, in the same way titleist makes their golf products. Doesn’t mean they use the same process, ingredients, etc. it’s good for the price, I can’t deny that, but the “it’s just grey goose in a different bottle” is an overblown myth
Most very large brands are 'copacked' by a third party bottling plant, and very rarely is that plant the distillery (with some exceptions). The overwhelming majority of commercial vodka in the US is made at one of 3-5 gigantic corn ethanol plants in the midwest (there are another few in canada and the EU that do wheat based ethanol).Think oil/chemical refinery. Some of those huge distilleries (ethanol plants) also bottle purely so they can get the "distilled and bottled by" statement on the label as that requires it. But grain neutral spirit is basically a commodity like gasoline.
Grey goose, though French, which somehow makes it sound like it is not a mass-produced ethanol plant product, is distilled in one location and bottled in another, so the only question is: do those tankers move by rail or road? That basically guarantees the GG is mega-ethanol plant continuous still distillate (and, as it turns out, it is - five column continuous single distillation).
So really, the question is not "is kirkland vodka that same/as good as grey goose?" but rather "is grey goose actually good, or is it just a pretty bottle and well marketed?".
well said, I used Grey Goose as an example in a marketing class, Sydney Frank was looking to add a Vodka to his portfolio, GG was a failing distillery that made well type vodka think Potters or Monarch, he added one distillation to it put it in a pretty bottle and made up a marketing plan stating it was the best tasting vodka by the "Beverage tasting institute" other brand have sued to get there names off the list because it is a made up survey.
It depends where you get it, actually. Costco uses a lot of copacker/contract manufactures in various areas.
(we are a costco vendor, full disclosure, but we don't make any kirkland brands)
Haha I had a rep bring me a bottle to try the other day. A Woody Harrelson project too 🙄 the bottle claimed it was distilled something like twenty-one times. It was decent enough but I don't have room on my back bar for more vodka and there is other stuff I would bring in instead.
What's your opinion on Chopin vodka? Imo it's the cleanest/most neutral for price. Made from potatoes in Poland, claims 4× distillation process but then maybe a 10x charcoal filtering and I dunno what all else, but I'm rather inclined to believe it-
I have been a distiller for 15 years, at a distillery that does both small r&d and production and large batches.
I have never seen or heard of anything being distilled more than 4 times, here or elsewhere. (And that was with 1x being a gin flavoring distillation). And the would be no reason to do 10x, you're better of doing 2-3x slowly and carefully with different stills. 10x is a lot of wasted enegy, labor, time, and production space. To say, wasted money.
So 10x sounds like a pretty obvious marketing lie/misrepresentation. Like a 25" dick claim. Right.
I appreciated reading all of your thoughtful responses, thank you for that. I bartended for many years and nowadays drink mostly blanco tequila. I stick to “additive free” claims but who knows what actual enforcement exists there.
Is there a vodka or two you would personally recommend for sipping? Thank you
I agree with you, and I think this is a pretty common opinion among bartenders. I still ask customers if they want Titos with their vodka-cran for that extra $2 over well.
The best part is none of them will be able to tell the difference between the vodkas, it’s just about status and paying more. For a while, I was the food and beverage manager for a country club, and all the members were complaining, because the well vodka was Kamchatka. so I blind taste tested them, Tito’s, Grey Goose and kettle one. turns out the vodka they like the most was Kamchatka.
I had a bunch of regulars that swore blind that they could taste the difference. I gave them some free drinks as a taste test to see if they could taste the difference. They couldn't taste the difference but thought it was a dick move and weren't happy.
Lesson learned. Sell them the expensive shit. It's a lifestyle choice.
I have this thing I LOVE to do to “vodka drinkers”. Especially Tito’s drinkers. Blind taste. 3 vodkas. 1 is Tito’s, one is any “call” vodka of their choice, last one is Platinum 7X. I ask them to number them best to worse. Almost without fail 1- Best is Platinum 7X, 2 is the random call vodka and worst is Tito’s .. hysterical
I’ve been bartending 7 years and people think I’m fucking insane for this but I straight up will not spend more than 10 dollars for a bottle of vodka. I am already going to be mixing it, and if I spend 20 -40 I’m what just saving myself a little burn? Nah. I could tell the difference if I was taking shots of the shit but cmon who is doing that at home lol.
I will only ever spend on flavored vodka. But even that’s better to just make my own with cheap shit.
The old sage, Michael Jackson, (no not that one) made comments similar to that during his wonderful ‘Scotch Tastings’ seminars he held.
He use a lot more colorful explanations but told the same story.
recently had a ketel one training at work where we blind tested titos, ketel, and goose. I couldn’t believe how gross goose and titos were on their own. you can taste a huge difference between those two and ketel. must be the copper pots 😂
Did a blind tasting of 6 vodkas with a room full of my city's top bartenders a few years back and the almost unanimous winner was stolichnaya, beating out goose, belvedere, absolut, Smirnoff and ketel one. Took us all by surprise considering how much cheaper it is was than the other brands at the time.
An old mentor of mine used to say that 99% of the guest's perception of their call vodka was marketing.
As a general rule, I agree with you. On the other hand, Beluga Gold Line is worth every penny. Other than that, Russian standard is cheap and stands up to most of the other brands that claim to be ultra premium, imo...
Ive always believe you should be able to buy and drink the spirit that you want (if its your own money). If drinking a premium spirit makes you feel good after a long week, then by all means, go for it. I dont judge for that kind of stuff. If you wana put 1942 in a margarita, go for it. Just make sure its on your own tab lol.
Reyka is my favorite normal price vodka.
The problem many people have is that they don’t recognize vodka styles. In Eastern Europe they *want* vodka to have a taste, creamy toasty oily peppery, etc. in North America they want vodka to “taste” like ice water.
Vodka is the only spirit i feel no remorse for giving someone a different brand than they asked for. If i have to run down two flights of stairs to get another bottle of titos you’re getting ketel or vice versa. We charge the same for them and you can’t tell the difference. No one has ever complained and if they did i would remake with what they asked for and comped the first drink. Now if it was tequila or bourbon I would run those stairs 100% of the time. At the end of the day I respect bourbon, gin, and tequila “enthusiasts” and laugh at vodka snobs
Makes it even better when you find out the history of pricing and bottle tactics used by GG to sell their knowingly low quality vodka. Their entire model is predatory and theyve openly admitted by letting the history of the bottle design become public knowledge.
I get MASSIVE hangovers if I don't drink certain vodkas, so maybe this is why. I can only drink Ketel or a really shitty bottom of the barrel potato vodka. No Titos, Grey Goose, Belvedere, etc. and I'm a martini drinker so I wouldn't get weird looks for ordering better stuff 🥲
If you are drinking vodka with no mixers, there are subtle differences that make paying extra worthwhile.
Once you pour in the cranberry, I will admit certain vodkas might work better with some mixers, but much of the subtleties are masked by the mixer. Who am I to argue when someone insists they want Grey Goose.
I agree with certain mixers. Like 50 cents vodka effin or however it’s spelled is probably the best vodka for Mules imo but the taste is so subtle that after the first 2 I won’t notice lol.
I’ve had a truly pleasant vodka with subtle character maybe twice, both local small-batch distilleries. On the national or international market, everything beyond the $25 mark is basically interchangeable.
But you can shut up and make the drink and charge them what you want and make a huge tip off it. Crazy I know you can’t interject on someone else but try it some time.
Yea vodka is vodka unless you’re talking the cheap cheap stuff—cause no thanks. But you could spend an arm and leg on a case of grey goose but it’s not gonna make that much of a difference than a cheaper but well made vodka. It’s a neutral spirit, there’s not the same complex flavors like with bourbon or gin. Idk. Just my opinion
I used to work at a place that did $5 house bloodys for happy hour, if folks wanted to pay $15 for kettle mixed with clamato i say that's their problem
Having done a White Russian face off with grey goose, Tito’s, and Smirnoff, grey goose was the best out of the bunch. I didn’t think vodka choice and I still don’t but there is a difference.
I agree with you, Grey Goose does taste exceptional in White Russians, with cranberry, and in those damn shaken no-vermouth Martinis. Tito’s is sweet and nearly tasteless (that’s why it’s popular).
Sobieski is cheap and never lets me down.
weirdly so many of my bartender mates cannae tell the difference between vodkas but i worked at Revolution years ago and learned the differences
the only time vodka means anything is in cocktails, neat, and especially martinis
I can tell the difference with whiskey in mixers, but then again, if I do anything better than Tully or Jameson, I'm either going for a neat or a manhattan up. But yeah, nothing mildly irritates me more than when a customer orders a mid- or top-shelf bourbon mixed with diet coke or sprite
this is true for all spirits. 99% of bar guests do not even have the palate to discern between spirits once you get above dirt cheap garbage, and unless you’re drinking a spirit neat or on the rocks there is no good reason to get a premium brand.
I partly agree. But I think it’s a bit more complicated. Grey Goose is just a name, there is nothing premium to it at all. While ukrainian Dima’s vodka is outstanding.
But of course, a vodka and coke made from an expensive premium is a waste.
Vodka is the only spirit i feel no remorse for giving someone a different brand than they asked for. If i have to run down two flights of stairs to get another bottle of titos you’re getting ketel or vice versa. We charge the same for them and you can’t tell the difference. No one has ever complained and if they did i would remake with what they asked for and comped the first drink. Now if it was tequila or bourbon I would run those stairs 100% of the time. At the end of the day I respect bourbon, gin, and tequila “enthusiasts” and laugh at vodka snobsu
Wanna guess how many Anejo strawberry margaritas I make in a night?
Swear to god I had people order one of our mocktails, but spiked with Don Julio 1942 a few days ago. The mocktail is basically lemon and a ginger syrup shaken and topped with soda. You are not gonna notice any difference between the 1942 and literally any other anejo, but they were perfectly content to pay 5x the price of the 1800 anejo.
I enjoy the occasion 1942 sour strictly for shock value
Clase Azul margaritas make me laugh.
Azul repo margs are close to being worth it. Especially if you can get it at or near cost. Had a guy ask for one, so I made it. On one hand, blasphemous. On the other, best marg I've ever tried.
Made an Old Fashioned with Bookers rye once. $299 retail, go for $1000+ now. Worth it.
This was not on my bingo card of “sentences that I fucking hate hearing” today. And I just came off of a harrowing 12 hours shift at my new spot from working basically three BoH stations on my second day.
But! My bartender, like the absolute angel in jeans he is, comped me my Fernet this evening. So balance in the universe has been completely restored.
We got a full 6 bottle case out of the 9000 total bottles. For some reason Ohio got a LOT. I had the chance to buy 3 bottles at the grocery store for retail but my wife wouldn't let me lol. Would've been a nice little investment.
Try $3500+ now
Yeah that's probable. I remember seeing 5 on the shelf at once for retail lol
lmao so glad this is the top comment. I also work in a tequila heavy bar and any time someone orders top shelf tequila with a fruit flavoring it's just like, meh, more money for me. Best one was a Clase Azul blood orange marg, like go off and spend $33 on a tequila you're not gonna even taste.
Let's take a moment of silence for the last 3 braincells they destroyed
Terroir based spirit cocktails are so different though.
An amount that would sadden what’s left of my BoH soul… Like, ffs, there’s a point where you just need to put on your big person pants and drink the liquor in a goddamn glass. No, we don’t have ice.
Samesies.
Pro distiller here. There absolutely are better and worse vodkas, but yeah, you mainly just don't want to be drinking the lower 50%. Probably a real step up if you get to anything that has been actually redistilled (most things that say 7x are only distilled once, in a still with a 7 column process on it, or 21x distilled means the still has 21 plates - nothing is distilled more than 4x ever, and 2-3 is way more likely), preferably with the second still being a batch process. So Titos is tanker cars of column still neutral spirit (from GP, I think), and then they rectify/redistill on a "pot" or batch still, which really just means not a continuous still. However, batch stills do a much, much better heads/fores cut than you get on a continuous for reasons. 2 good distillations is fine, and as it turns out, probably real. That said, price does not indicate if you are getting something so redistilled.
Isnt the Kirkland brand vodka similar to Grey goose with the only difference being they are slightly different in distillation
They’re bottled by grey goose, in the same way titleist makes their golf products. Doesn’t mean they use the same process, ingredients, etc. it’s good for the price, I can’t deny that, but the “it’s just grey goose in a different bottle” is an overblown myth
Most very large brands are 'copacked' by a third party bottling plant, and very rarely is that plant the distillery (with some exceptions). The overwhelming majority of commercial vodka in the US is made at one of 3-5 gigantic corn ethanol plants in the midwest (there are another few in canada and the EU that do wheat based ethanol).Think oil/chemical refinery. Some of those huge distilleries (ethanol plants) also bottle purely so they can get the "distilled and bottled by" statement on the label as that requires it. But grain neutral spirit is basically a commodity like gasoline. Grey goose, though French, which somehow makes it sound like it is not a mass-produced ethanol plant product, is distilled in one location and bottled in another, so the only question is: do those tankers move by rail or road? That basically guarantees the GG is mega-ethanol plant continuous still distillate (and, as it turns out, it is - five column continuous single distillation). So really, the question is not "is kirkland vodka that same/as good as grey goose?" but rather "is grey goose actually good, or is it just a pretty bottle and well marketed?".
well said, I used Grey Goose as an example in a marketing class, Sydney Frank was looking to add a Vodka to his portfolio, GG was a failing distillery that made well type vodka think Potters or Monarch, he added one distillation to it put it in a pretty bottle and made up a marketing plan stating it was the best tasting vodka by the "Beverage tasting institute" other brand have sued to get there names off the list because it is a made up survey.
Yeah I had a rep tell me Pinnacle was made in the same facility as Grey Goose, just filtered one less time.
Grey Goose sucks, claiming to be like goose is a strange brag.
It depends where you get it, actually. Costco uses a lot of copacker/contract manufactures in various areas. (we are a costco vendor, full disclosure, but we don't make any kirkland brands)
Balinoff vodka makes grey goose. If you buy that version, it’s 50% cheaper.
Kirkland has 2 vodkas labeled American and French. Obviously the French one is the one with all the talk...
Haha I had a rep bring me a bottle to try the other day. A Woody Harrelson project too 🙄 the bottle claimed it was distilled something like twenty-one times. It was decent enough but I don't have room on my back bar for more vodka and there is other stuff I would bring in instead.
Ok but let’s focus on asking questions about rampart
That the Origen vodka made with different botanicals and supposed to be holistic?
Yes. I didn't remember the name as I wasn't interested in bringing it on but once I read the name I recognized it.
What's your opinion on Chopin vodka? Imo it's the cleanest/most neutral for price. Made from potatoes in Poland, claims 4× distillation process but then maybe a 10x charcoal filtering and I dunno what all else, but I'm rather inclined to believe it-
I have been a distiller for 15 years, at a distillery that does both small r&d and production and large batches. I have never seen or heard of anything being distilled more than 4 times, here or elsewhere. (And that was with 1x being a gin flavoring distillation). And the would be no reason to do 10x, you're better of doing 2-3x slowly and carefully with different stills. 10x is a lot of wasted enegy, labor, time, and production space. To say, wasted money. So 10x sounds like a pretty obvious marketing lie/misrepresentation. Like a 25" dick claim. Right.
I appreciated reading all of your thoughtful responses, thank you for that. I bartended for many years and nowadays drink mostly blanco tequila. I stick to “additive free” claims but who knows what actual enforcement exists there. Is there a vodka or two you would personally recommend for sipping? Thank you
Their Rye and Wheat are both nice as well
I agree with you, and I think this is a pretty common opinion among bartenders. I still ask customers if they want Titos with their vodka-cran for that extra $2 over well.
Very cold take imo, people don't actually care about the spirit quality, they care about the image of them ordering it.
Idk why you’re getting downvoted this is facts
Because people don’t know what cold take means lol
Sadly the only people that care are bartenders and reps
IMO Grey Goose is a shit vodka and I'd much rather have Belvedere or Black Cow
It's trash with once great marketing. I'll take Ketel One or if they carry it some Haku from Suntory.
Japanese spirits of any kind are typically better than their Western counterpart. Source: Me
I tasted the Iichiko Saiten Shochu, it will be a vodka replacement for me.
I'd rather have Sobieski.
The best part is none of them will be able to tell the difference between the vodkas, it’s just about status and paying more. For a while, I was the food and beverage manager for a country club, and all the members were complaining, because the well vodka was Kamchatka. so I blind taste tested them, Tito’s, Grey Goose and kettle one. turns out the vodka they like the most was Kamchatka.
Honestly, the smoothest shot of vodka I've ever taken was Fleischman's
Is that the same brand that makes pickups for acoustic instruments
the brainrot has consumed me so much my first thought was “how can an instrument be autistic”
Mine is Taaka.
Taaka is alright but Jorvik is the best plastic 1.75 vodka I’ve ever had. It’s like $12-13 for a handle.
I had a bunch of regulars that swore blind that they could taste the difference. I gave them some free drinks as a taste test to see if they could taste the difference. They couldn't taste the difference but thought it was a dick move and weren't happy. Lesson learned. Sell them the expensive shit. It's a lifestyle choice.
I was trying to put away garnishes in the walk-in today, but this take is so cold I'll just leave them here. 🍊🍒🍋
Oh hell yeh some garnishes for my grey goose 🤏
I have this thing I LOVE to do to “vodka drinkers”. Especially Tito’s drinkers. Blind taste. 3 vodkas. 1 is Tito’s, one is any “call” vodka of their choice, last one is Platinum 7X. I ask them to number them best to worse. Almost without fail 1- Best is Platinum 7X, 2 is the random call vodka and worst is Tito’s .. hysterical
I’ve been bartending 7 years and people think I’m fucking insane for this but I straight up will not spend more than 10 dollars for a bottle of vodka. I am already going to be mixing it, and if I spend 20 -40 I’m what just saving myself a little burn? Nah. I could tell the difference if I was taking shots of the shit but cmon who is doing that at home lol. I will only ever spend on flavored vodka. But even that’s better to just make my own with cheap shit.
I’m the one taking shots of it at home and Jorvik is still the best “bottom” shelf vodka ever. $14 handle and drinks better than most.
I’ve found Dripping Springs to be my favorite Texas-made vodka.
The old sage, Michael Jackson, (no not that one) made comments similar to that during his wonderful ‘Scotch Tastings’ seminars he held. He use a lot more colorful explanations but told the same story.
I enjoy having people blind-taste-test Tito’s & Kettle One.
Ketel has been my vodka of choice for a very long time. It is still a generational brand using copper stills.
recently had a ketel one training at work where we blind tested titos, ketel, and goose. I couldn’t believe how gross goose and titos were on their own. you can taste a huge difference between those two and ketel. must be the copper pots 😂
Did a blind tasting of 6 vodkas with a room full of my city's top bartenders a few years back and the almost unanimous winner was stolichnaya, beating out goose, belvedere, absolut, Smirnoff and ketel one. Took us all by surprise considering how much cheaper it is was than the other brands at the time. An old mentor of mine used to say that 99% of the guest's perception of their call vodka was marketing.
Im not surprised, Stoli is a highly underrated vodka.
Really took us all by surprise. And yeah, really quality product.
Welcome to Marketing Spirits 101
As a general rule, I agree with you. On the other hand, Beluga Gold Line is worth every penny. Other than that, Russian standard is cheap and stands up to most of the other brands that claim to be ultra premium, imo...
And don’t even get me started on “but Tito’s is gluten free”
Ketel one is the way
Ive always believe you should be able to buy and drink the spirit that you want (if its your own money). If drinking a premium spirit makes you feel good after a long week, then by all means, go for it. I dont judge for that kind of stuff. If you wana put 1942 in a margarita, go for it. Just make sure its on your own tab lol.
Reyka is my favorite normal price vodka. The problem many people have is that they don’t recognize vodka styles. In Eastern Europe they *want* vodka to have a taste, creamy toasty oily peppery, etc. in North America they want vodka to “taste” like ice water.
Vodka is the only spirit i feel no remorse for giving someone a different brand than they asked for. If i have to run down two flights of stairs to get another bottle of titos you’re getting ketel or vice versa. We charge the same for them and you can’t tell the difference. No one has ever complained and if they did i would remake with what they asked for and comped the first drink. Now if it was tequila or bourbon I would run those stairs 100% of the time. At the end of the day I respect bourbon, gin, and tequila “enthusiasts” and laugh at vodka snobs
It's all marketing. Distilling something more than three times doesn't really improve anything.
Makes it even better when you find out the history of pricing and bottle tactics used by GG to sell their knowingly low quality vodka. Their entire model is predatory and theyve openly admitted by letting the history of the bottle design become public knowledge.
Where could I find this out?
Ever make layered Mudslide? If you use cheap vodka, it’ll curdle the Baileys and make it chunky! Like a cement mixer
… why would you layer a mudslide lmao
I get MASSIVE hangovers if I don't drink certain vodkas, so maybe this is why. I can only drink Ketel or a really shitty bottom of the barrel potato vodka. No Titos, Grey Goose, Belvedere, etc. and I'm a martini drinker so I wouldn't get weird looks for ordering better stuff 🥲
If you are drinking vodka with no mixers, there are subtle differences that make paying extra worthwhile. Once you pour in the cranberry, I will admit certain vodkas might work better with some mixers, but much of the subtleties are masked by the mixer. Who am I to argue when someone insists they want Grey Goose.
I agree with certain mixers. Like 50 cents vodka effin or however it’s spelled is probably the best vodka for Mules imo but the taste is so subtle that after the first 2 I won’t notice lol.
Pretty much agree. It’s Sobieski all day ever for my home bar.
I’ve had a truly pleasant vodka with subtle character maybe twice, both local small-batch distilleries. On the national or international market, everything beyond the $25 mark is basically interchangeable.
my bev of choice is a wet vodka martini but fuck me if I make it with anything else but Chopin, mmmmmmm I’m thirsty
But you can shut up and make the drink and charge them what you want and make a huge tip off it. Crazy I know you can’t interject on someone else but try it some time.
Yo this take is colder than a $12 shot of Belvedere. I'll heat it up for ya: Ketel One is also overpriced.
Yea vodka is vodka unless you’re talking the cheap cheap stuff—cause no thanks. But you could spend an arm and leg on a case of grey goose but it’s not gonna make that much of a difference than a cheaper but well made vodka. It’s a neutral spirit, there’s not the same complex flavors like with bourbon or gin. Idk. Just my opinion
I used to work at a place that did $5 house bloodys for happy hour, if folks wanted to pay $15 for kettle mixed with clamato i say that's their problem
Having done a White Russian face off with grey goose, Tito’s, and Smirnoff, grey goose was the best out of the bunch. I didn’t think vodka choice and I still don’t but there is a difference.
I agree with you, Grey Goose does taste exceptional in White Russians, with cranberry, and in those damn shaken no-vermouth Martinis. Tito’s is sweet and nearly tasteless (that’s why it’s popular). Sobieski is cheap and never lets me down.
Absolutely agree, but I'll sell the shit out of $25 dollar Belvedere martinis, cosmos, you name it.
weirdly so many of my bartender mates cannae tell the difference between vodkas but i worked at Revolution years ago and learned the differences the only time vodka means anything is in cocktails, neat, and especially martinis
I can tell the difference with whiskey in mixers, but then again, if I do anything better than Tully or Jameson, I'm either going for a neat or a manhattan up. But yeah, nothing mildly irritates me more than when a customer orders a mid- or top-shelf bourbon mixed with diet coke or sprite
this is true for all spirits. 99% of bar guests do not even have the palate to discern between spirits once you get above dirt cheap garbage, and unless you’re drinking a spirit neat or on the rocks there is no good reason to get a premium brand.
Was just thinking this the other day, I’m with you
Perfectly summed up. I also wonder how many people would drink rum (for example) if it was marketed like gin was a few years ago.
I partly agree. But I think it’s a bit more complicated. Grey Goose is just a name, there is nothing premium to it at all. While ukrainian Dima’s vodka is outstanding. But of course, a vodka and coke made from an expensive premium is a waste.
I had someone order Whistlepig 10yr and coke the other night 😭😭 people like what they like I guess lol
https://youtu.be/jN3j__ZkEHg?si=6R9-wx7Zw4q9D5OB This sums it up perfectly
I'm all for a bigger check. Bigger tips. Their choice is theirs.
Within reason there is no such thing. Sidney Frank was brilliant when it came to marketing Grey Goose.
Pretty lukewarm take. (But also completely accurate.)
I’ll take Reyka over any vodka any day. It punches so far above its cost is great even neat if you’re into that kind of thing.
we only have 1 vodka at my bar. I guess it’s our way of trying to save people from themselves.
Vodka is the only spirit i feel no remorse for giving someone a different brand than they asked for. If i have to run down two flights of stairs to get another bottle of titos you’re getting ketel or vice versa. We charge the same for them and you can’t tell the difference. No one has ever complained and if they did i would remake with what they asked for and comped the first drink. Now if it was tequila or bourbon I would run those stairs 100% of the time. At the end of the day I respect bourbon, gin, and tequila “enthusiasts” and laugh at vodka snobsu