It may be the very subtly of vodka's taste and smell that is the culprit. In my experience, I've found that just the hint of the right alcohol can often leave more of an impression on the mind than an overpowering blast.
One whiff of Tequila and I usually need to sit down.
As far as vodka goes, my rules are simple. Drink it ice cold and try to stick to the quality stuff. Take shots quickly and often. If I need a chaser, a nice little pickle or cherry tomato is better than anything liquid.
And then I wake up, anxious and dazed, and run to the phone to piece together the previous night.
