Looking For A Good Mixing Vodka? Try Smirnoff.
Written: Nov 22 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fairly inexpensive, will make a good mixer.
Cons: Too numbing for my sipping tastes.
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| cmuir's Full Review: Smirnoff Vodka 80 proof |
Smirnoff Vodka makes three different types of Vodka, in various proofs and made in either Russia or the United States. This review will deal with the 80 Proof, USA made Smirnoff Vodka.
The first Smirnoff Vodka was produced in the early 1860's by Piort Arsenyevitch Smirnov in a Russian town. He was also the first person to use charcoal filtration in his distilling process.
During the Russian Revolution the distillery was confiscated by the state, but one of the founders’ son’s left Russia and moved to Paris. Here he met an American businessman who thought that perhaps the Russian Vodka would find a market in the United States. In March of 1934 Smirnoff Vodka was introduced to the United States. Also in this year the Heublein Company purchased Smirnoff.
Smirnoff Vodka is still owned and distributed by Heublein, and produced by Ste Pierre Smirnoff FLS, from Stamford Connecticut.
Smirnoff starts the distilling process by using a neutral grain spirit, which they then blend with a specially filtered water. The charcoal used in the filtration process is also made from specifically chosen hard woods to make sure that each bottle of Smirnoff Vodka attains the clear, crisp taste that the customers have come to expect.
The bottling of this vodka is rather interesting. The company emblem is made from raised letters and figures on the back of the bottle. The label is white, with red, gold and black letters, and highlights.
This vodka looks like water when poured into a glass. And since I kept mine in the freezer which was recommended for straight up tasting, the viscosity was a little thicker than room temperature vodka, but not much. A small amount of the vodka does stick to the sides of the glass when swirling, but not a lot.
The scent of this is rather surprising since the myth is that vodka doesn’t smell or taste like anything. But that is not correct, when smelling this it has a slight sweet, rather smokey smell. Not unlike a light whiskey. This must be a leftover from the charcoal filtration process. There is a slight alcohol scent, but nothing overpowering.
On the tip of your tongue, you can taste the 80 proof warmth, but it passes quickly into a sweet numbing aftertaste. This is really rather heavy once you get it into your mouth, in this instance it is not similar to whiskey, since it really has the tendency to want to cling to everything. The actual taste of this does remind me of a light whiskey, with the smoke and sweet grain tastes being present, but boy is this taste bud numbing. Could this be why people don’t think that is tastes like anything? Because their mouth, tongue and taste buds are numbed almost instantly?
The aftertaste is still sweet, slightly bitter, I am catching perhaps a hint of licorice or anise, and my mouth is starting to come back to life after several minutes.
I will be the first to admit that I am not a vodka drinker, I have a tendency to compare everything to whiskey, which is my drink of choice. To me, this is too sweet and very clingy. I like to taste what I am drinking, and this vodka numbs my mouth too much to be able to taste much of anything. But if you happen to like vodka to start with, you may enjoy this.
I do happen to like several mixed drinks made with vodka, which I will include here. And also don’t forget your typical “juice” vodka drinks such as a Screwdriver (orange juice), Baybreeze (cranberry juice), Bloody Mary (tomato juice) or a Greyhound (grapefruit juice).
Kamakazies- while these are generally done as a shot. We used to make them by a shaker pitcher, then everyone could pour their own shots.
Fill your container with ice, fill halfway with vodka and Triple Sec, then top off with lime juice, preferably Roses, and 7-Up or Sprite. Another way I used to make these was instead of using the light soda, try some orange soda for a orange flavored Kamakazie.
You can also experiment with adding various flavored schnapps such as Raspberry or Blueberry with your vodka and Triple Sec for fruit flavored Kamakazies.
Cherry Bombs- this is another shot that we used to make by the shaker pitcher.
Fill your container with ice, next add vodka, Cherry Vodka, Amaretto, Sloe Gin and Southern Comfort to half fill the container. Finish filling with half Sweet and Sour mix, and half 7-Up or Sprite.
Mind Eraser- fill a shot glass halfway with vodka, then top off with Kahlua and a shot of tonic water.
Vodka is a base for many different drinks, all it takes is a bit of imagination and some mixers. The US version of Smirnoff Vodka is fairly inexpensive, $10.99 per fifth, so it would be a good one to use for mixers. While not top shelf, it certainly is not bottom shelf either, and should be a welcome addition to the liquor cabinet.
As far as vodka’s go, since they are not really my choice, I am rating this a three star. It is very useable as a mixer, and most certainly drinkable. I would recommend it for those uses. On it’s own, it is not as good as other’s that I have had. So the choice is yours, and will depend on what you will be using this vodka for. Mixers most definitely, straight, probably not.
Recommended:
Yes
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