295159 Tue Dec 02 13:14:38 -0800 2003 14 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1620968 What is your favorite vodka? I always buy Stoli, but want to experiment. I'm especially interested in trying some Eastern European vodkas I see in ethnic markets. Any recs? Thanks! Tue Dec 02 13:14:38 -0800 2003 0 AndieCat 1 1620975 Try Shakers Vodka. Made right here in MN by Infiniti Spirits. Pretty darn good stuff, right up there with the best of them. Tue Dec 02 13:45:24 -0800 2003 1620968 0 Sven 1 1620976 Monoporova is good, and a pretty good bargain. Tue Dec 02 13:46:04 -0800 2003 1620968 0 john clark 1 1620984 I buy Wyborowa imported from Poland. It's fairly inexpensive and is often rated as equal to or superior than many premium brands in blind tastings. Tue Dec 02 14:06:33 -0800 2003 1620968 0 JoanN 2 1620995 I would second the recommendation for Wyborowa. It is a potato vodka from Poland. Excellent in a martini or a shot. Tue Dec 02 14:57:17 -0800 2003 1620984 0 DeeDee 1 1620987 ciroc vodka. dangerously smooth... Tue Dec 02 14:14:59 -0800 2003 1620968 0 rebs 1 1620988 Hangar One! I like the kaffir lime, but it's very intense--be forewarned. Link: http://www.hangarone.com/ Tue Dec 02 14:16:23 -0800 2003 1620968 0 Missy P. 1 1621004 Tito's is pretty darn good... Link: http://www.titos-vodka.com/ Tue Dec 02 15:41:03 -0800 2003 1620968 0 Pssst 1 1621005 Zubrówka (pronounced correctly, Polish-ly, zhu-BROOF -ka) is something a bit different - Polish potato vodka flavored with a blade of buffalo grass; a taste like no other. I highly recommend it; mixed with apple juice it becomes "sarlotka", and it's dangerously innocent tasting; imbibe with caution. Tue Dec 02 15:50:45 -0800 2003 1620968 0 Sir Gawain 1 1621038 Not a substitute for your regular vodka, but someone gave me bottles of Charbay Key Lime and Ruby Red Grapefruit vodkas. Best flavored vodka I've had. You can see a description at www.charbay.com. The only drawback to the flavors I've tried is that they are very strong; in a mixed drink, I'll only use that for half the vodka called for and use plain vodka for the rest. Just as well, since I gather Charbay is quite expensive. Tue Dec 02 18:54:00 -0800 2003 1620968 0 bibi rose 2 1621088 I like the Charbay best as a shot straight from the freezer. There is also an orange (or blood orange?) version. Wed Dec 03 09:43:03 -0800 2003 1621038 0 Sarah C 3 1621157 The Charbay website lists, as well as Ruby Red Grapefruit and Key Lime, Meyer Lemon and Blood Orange. I tried some of the grapefruit over ice last night. It had a kind of unctuous quality I don't care for that much,but I have that problem with a lot of vodkas. The flavor is wonderful, anyway. Wed Dec 03 16:03:32 -0800 2003 1621088 0 bibi rose 1 1621060 I second the Ciroc reco... with tonic it tastes like lemony water DANGEROUS Also Zyr in the aquamarine bottle is even better but harder to find. Tue Dec 02 22:17:40 -0800 2003 1620968 0 Jonathan Saw 1 1621127 I lived and travelled in Russian and Eastern Europe for a year and a half, and my hands-down favorite is Russki Standart (Russian Standard). It's really hard to find, but worth it if you can get it. So smooth you can just sip it like wine. Barring that, I would say that any of the Polish potato vodkas (Zubrówka, Wyborowa, Chopin) are great bets. Wed Dec 03 12:49:41 -0800 2003 1620968 0 Jon 1 1621448 Come Back Salmon vodka from Japan. No, seriously. Fri Dec 05 23:18:24 -0800 2003 1620968 0 Kent