Premium vodka is such a waste of money.

[JimLahey]

Saw a dude in the liquor store just now buying Ketel One. Don't get me wrong, I would drink that in a second, but why waste your money like that?
Doesn't it tell you something about the product when the best vodkas are supposed to taste like nothing... why not get a nice scotch and enjoy the flavor?
I mean, you chill a cheap vodka and it'll taste the same. Highballs or bloody marys mask the taste anyways.

[Chimneyfish]

I think buying premium vodka at least makes a little more sense than the people who by other types of expensive liquor and then use them for mixed drinks. People who drink vodka don't like the taste of booze, so it's understandable why they would want to pay more for less taste. On the other hand, it doesn't make any sense at all to buy something like a top shelf tequila and then use it to make margaritas, for example. Once you pour all that sugar in it, the premium quality you paid extra for is essentially undetectable.

I know what you mean though. I don't get it when I see really expensive vodkas or gins. The stuff is dirt cheap to make compared to anything that requires any aging.

[John Barleycorn]

I think buying premium vodka at least makes a little more sense than the people who by other types of expensive liquor and then use them for mixed drinks. People who drink vodka don't like the taste of booze, so it's understandable why they would want to pay more for less taste. On the other hand, it doesn't make any sense at all to buy something like a top shelf tequila and then use it to make margaritas, for example. Once you pour all that sugar in it, the premium quality you paid extra for is essentially undetectable.

I know what you mean though. I don't get it when I see really expensive vodkas or gins. The stuff is dirt cheap to make compared to anything that requires any aging.

With tequila I think it depends on what you mean by top shelf. I must confess that when I drink tequila at a Mexican restaurant, the one made with 1800 Reposado tastes a lot better than the well margarita made with Montezuma. Then again, I am not a big fan of tequila. It's not that I dislike it, I'm just not familiar with its ways and I'm not exactly eager to pay $45 for a bottle of Patron to do shots with. I can buy a handle of some damned fine sipping bourbon for that kind of money.

[JimLahey]

FUCK patron.

[John Barleycorn]

FUCK patron.

Whatever you say, chief.

[Chimneyfish]

Not sure I'd really consider 1800 top shelf, but yeah I agree that a more expensive liquor could at least slightly improve a cocktail by making it taste smoother. But that's kinda my point. With a premium vodka, people pay more just to get a smoother liquor. With all the other stuff, you pay more to get a smoother liquor that also has all the other good characteristics as a result of being aged longer. Once you mix it, all those other characteristics are irrelevant and the only benefit you get from having paid the premium price is the smoothness. If you only look at a liquor's smoothness when mixed into a cocktail, then the price difference between good and bad tequila is bigger than between different quality vodkas, so mixing other liquors usually results in a bigger waste of money than mixing vodka does. Aside from wasting money, I never really got why people liked to contrast their oaky anejos with some fruity sugary margarita mix. Around here I constantly see guys paying a lot more for Hennessy Privilege or Remy VSOP but ordering it mixed with Coke. Aside from smoothness, they're essentially tasting an E&J and Coke.

[Bur]

But I like the bottle design of russian standard gold and imperia :(

[John Barleycorn]

But I like the bottle design of russian standard gold and imperia :(

My favorite label design. This product is obviously about getting fucked up.

[Miklo]

FUCK patron.

patron is overrated, and expensive as hell. Many many many more brands that are better and cheaper.

As far as the vodka goes, i wouldnt mix a top shelf vodka, maby some ice or just shots. I dont know why others would either, a good solid drunk if your looking to mix is taaka vodka 8.99 a fith and tampica oarnge juice .99 a gallon.

[Jiggers McCoy]

Hell of it is, Ketel One ain't even that pricey compared to Grey Goose or any of the "celeb" vodkas (Ciroc springs to mind).But hey, if that's what people want to spend their money on, that's their business. Like the old story about the Indian selling turquoise jewelry: A tourist notices identical bracelets, one priced at $5, one priced at $20. Tourist asks, "Say friend, why you got these bracelets priced differently?" Indian just shrugs and says, "Some people want to pay $5, some people want to pay $20." We're slaves to our own perceived status.

I'm slowly coming around on tequila. For a long time I thought it just tasted like soap and could not understand why it was a go-to shooter for many that turned their nose up at whiskey. But after sampling a few 100% agave tequilas (and not the tequila-flavored industrial alcohol I tried as a college kid), it's growing on me. There's a meaty, savory quality to it that comes out when you give it a fair shake. And you must admit that pricey tequila is almost always good tequila, though you can find deals. I think Cuestion is about $30 a bottle and really tasty.

[peetie44]

I think buying premium vodka at least makes a little more sense than the people who by other types of expensive liquor and then use them for mixed drinks. People who drink vodka don't like the taste of booze, so it's understandable why they would want to pay more for less taste. On the other hand, it doesn't make any sense at all to buy something like a top shelf tequila and then use it to make margaritas, for example. Once you pour all that sugar in it, the premium quality you paid extra for is essentially undetectable.

I know what you mean though. I don't get it when I see really expensive vodkas or gins. The stuff is dirt cheap to make compared to anything that requires any aging.

If I drank straight vodka or maybe dry vodka martinis I might appreciate a premium brand. I remember having martinis made with Belvedere or Grey Goose a few times and they were quite good.

But with vodka-based mixed drinks, I can't tell the difference -- accept in my wallet.

[BBoozer]

Point is, and this is what JimLahey pointed out, that there is absurdness in paying high-level prices just to have a vodka that has no taste. Vodka is OK to me, but I buy it for the alcohol, not for the taste, so for me there is no use in paying big euros for my vodka.

[Bur]

[BBoozer]

Those bottles do indeed look great. But they would look just as great if there was water in them.

[BBoozer]

My brother-in-law recently bought a 200 euro bottle of champagne. Do you really think it's 20 times better than my bottles of clairette de die. As Boozy pointed out, prize is no guarantee for quality, you have to include the snob factor.