Water & wine

[Neubob]

Pavel, have you ever sampled Stoli Elit?



My friend Tom and I decided that any vodka selling for $60 a bottle is worth trying, so we drank a 750 one night. I had real trouble telling apart that stoli from regular stoli.

Later, when I shared the story of this experience with my dad, he laughed at me, saying that we paid $60 for an elaborate container of generic stolichnaya. This holiday season, however, I found a similar bottle in his basement refrigerator. He claims it was a gift.

What do you think, just a gimmick?

[nirvana]

According to Wikipedia, the elit is just ultra filtered.  Supposed to decrease hangovers when it's filtered more isn't it?

[Neubob]

Decrease hangovers and smoothen out the finish. Vodka, in my experience, pound for pound, gives the least severe hangovers of any alcohol. The finish on the Elit wasn't too much better than conventional stoli though. The smoothest remains grey goose, which, in my opinion, is a little too smooth for vodka. Reminds me of drinking real vodka while suffering from a bad case of cotton mouth.

[Boroda]

Originally posted by Neubob
Pavel, have you ever sampled Stoli Elit?



My friend Tom and I decided that any vodka selling for $60 a bottle is worth trying, so we drank a 750 one night. I had real trouble telling apart that stoli from regular stoli.

Later, when I shared the story of this experience with my dad, he laughed at me, saying that we paid $60 for an elaborate container of generic stolichnaya. This holiday season, however, I found a similar bottle in his basement refrigerator. He claims it was a gift.

What do you think, just a gimmick?

I usually drink cheapest good stuff I find, I mean with "Lux" (Ëþêñ) grade ethanol. Some stuff made of Extra grade isn't poisonous too.

Currently i buy Medal vodka from Kristall distillery, Moscow. It contains amber acid, makes hangovers better.

Paying 60 bucks for a half-litre is insane IMHO. I'd better buy good brandy (Armenian or like that) or Canadian whiskey. Or rum, like Cpt Morgan, Havana Club or Bundaberg - I prefer dark rum, had too much white Havana club in Soviet times. But this drinks require different food and the feeling is different. If you want to drink vodka - the only thing to avoid is potato stuff, this means that you shoulf buy Russian or Ukrainian production. Pay attention to Kristall vodka (Stoly), then - Nemiroff (best pepper vodka, white one is good too), Soyuz-Viktan (birch-tree), I don't know what else is sold abroad.

I saw Stoly "strawberry" and other flavoured vodka in stores in the US and Australia. I didn't taste them, but I suggest to avoid this chemicals. The only good flavoured stuff was "Russian Souvenir" with cranberry, but I don't see it in stores here any more

We do have $60 vodka here, but it's "ïîíòû" - stuff to raise your social status. In restaurants I always buy cheapest stuff, it's all from one barrel.

In Sydney in a bar I had a weirdest shot of vodka. Double Stoly, plain. In a HOT GLASS! I mean - when a bartender gave it to me - I couldn't hold it! An American guy drinking with me had it on the rocks (i never understood why you have to drink vodka on the rocks, but this time I got it). Radio was playing G-n-R "November rain", it was November 7th, and the rain outside was warm. Weird land. I love it.

[RAIDER14]

I haven't seen Boroda in a while:eek:

[Neubob]

Remember Bezkozirka, Pavel? Not sure if that's the proper name, or just jargon. Back in the soviet times, it used to come in bottle with a tearable top that you could not re-seal once opened. I never drank this, was far, far too young. I did see a bottle of it once at a relative's home, sort of like a museum exhibit. Now all those old Russians just drink French and Dutch premium stuff.

I like my vodka very simple. Ice cold, in a shot glass. Sometimes, on the rocks will work too, but nothing beats the utility of an frosty shot.