Vodka 101
Goodness, I'm so surprised at the number of vodkas that have hit the markets recently that are safe for me to have (gluten free). I must give a lot of the credit to my ever vigilant and thoughtful boyfriend in San Diego.
Grape vodkas:
Ciroc has been around for a while. I can even get it here in AZ. Definate nostalgia value for me, as it was the first gluten-free vodka I found that I truly enjoyed.
Idol is the newest to be seen in some markets. Boyfriend found it when looking for safe vodkas for me to have. Like Ciroc, it's also from French grapes. BevMo is listing it for $30/bottle. Didn't get to open that bottle on my last trip....
Because Roth won the day on this trip. This is from California grapes. Boyfriend noticed it at a bar in San Diego that was there because a waitress with celiac who requested it from the owner. Very good stuff. Needs to warm up a bit to develop the light fruity taste, but well worth the wait. Or you can cheat and hold it in your mouth before swallowing. It was $26 at BevMo.
I'm having a couple bottles of Roth on order from a speciality market, but Idol and Roth are available in BevMo stores in California.
Potato vodkas:
Luksusowa is a Polish potato vodka. I can drink it straight if needed, but this is the cheapest stuff on the market ($11-$13/bottle), so I tend to use this when I need to mix stuff.
Chopin is another Polish potato vodka. Boyfriend found it at CostCo and gave me the "CostCo size" version of it. I tend to use this as a mixer as well (especially with a CostCo size bottle of it), but don't mind drinking it straight.
Blue Ice is a Idaho potato vodka. Wins points for the coolest bottle. A bit more expensive than Luksusowa (~$17 on sale/bottle), but not quite a straight drinking vodka. When I get a bottle in San Diego, I tend to use this as a mixer vodka as well.
Teton Glacier despite its claim to be the "only producer of potato vodka in the United States", makes a much better vodka. I finally have seen it at AJ's speciality markets here in AZ (also seen at BevMo in San Diego). At $32/bottle, this is NOT a mixer vodka. Very smooth water like vodka.
Cold River is from Maine potatoes. Boyfriend has not seen this in any store, but heard about it when a friend of his said he was going to Maine and was going to bring me back a bottle. This friend is constantly on the move, thus I have not had a chance to taste this vodka. But I'm looking forward to trying it, but have no idea how much it costs.
Ku Soju is from Korea. I'm lumping into the potato vodka groups. But it actually says that it is made from sweet potatoes. I found this at a BevMo in San Diego, and brought it home with me. I forgot to put it in my freezer this morning, so I'll have to wait another day to try it. If it's good, I'll take it with me to my parents place Friday night and try and coax my dad into partaking it with me. The one thing I'll say is my first impression is "it's green". Pretty sure it's just a green bottle, but they sure love the color on their website as well. I'm a little leary because I only paid $14 for the bottle, but am cautiously optimistic.
Strom vodka is also a potato vodka. No website, and no experience trying it.
Monopolowa vodka is also a Polish potato vodka. Would imagine it similar to Luksusowa, but haven't tried it myself.
I've seen some mentions of a "Quotes" Polish potato vodka. But I can't find their website, or any domestic seller of this vodka. Maybe someday....
Other
I have tried a corn vodka called "Rain", but I don't post their website or anything. It tasted like moonshine. Nuff said.
There's a soy vodka called 3 Vodka. Haven't tried it, so can't comment on how it tastes. But it lists for $4 at BevMo, so I'm very scared.
Han Asian is a rice vodka. No personal experience, but will probably pick up a bottle at BevMo and give it a try during my next visit. I'm guessing it'd be kind of like sake (which I don't mind at all).
Class dismissed.
Grape vodkas:
Ciroc has been around for a while. I can even get it here in AZ. Definate nostalgia value for me, as it was the first gluten-free vodka I found that I truly enjoyed.
Idol is the newest to be seen in some markets. Boyfriend found it when looking for safe vodkas for me to have. Like Ciroc, it's also from French grapes. BevMo is listing it for $30/bottle. Didn't get to open that bottle on my last trip....
Because Roth won the day on this trip. This is from California grapes. Boyfriend noticed it at a bar in San Diego that was there because a waitress with celiac who requested it from the owner. Very good stuff. Needs to warm up a bit to develop the light fruity taste, but well worth the wait. Or you can cheat and hold it in your mouth before swallowing. It was $26 at BevMo.
I'm having a couple bottles of Roth on order from a speciality market, but Idol and Roth are available in BevMo stores in California.
Potato vodkas:
Luksusowa is a Polish potato vodka. I can drink it straight if needed, but this is the cheapest stuff on the market ($11-$13/bottle), so I tend to use this when I need to mix stuff.
Chopin is another Polish potato vodka. Boyfriend found it at CostCo and gave me the "CostCo size" version of it. I tend to use this as a mixer as well (especially with a CostCo size bottle of it), but don't mind drinking it straight.
Blue Ice is a Idaho potato vodka. Wins points for the coolest bottle. A bit more expensive than Luksusowa (~$17 on sale/bottle), but not quite a straight drinking vodka. When I get a bottle in San Diego, I tend to use this as a mixer vodka as well.
Teton Glacier despite its claim to be the "only producer of potato vodka in the United States", makes a much better vodka. I finally have seen it at AJ's speciality markets here in AZ (also seen at BevMo in San Diego). At $32/bottle, this is NOT a mixer vodka. Very smooth water like vodka.
Cold River is from Maine potatoes. Boyfriend has not seen this in any store, but heard about it when a friend of his said he was going to Maine and was going to bring me back a bottle. This friend is constantly on the move, thus I have not had a chance to taste this vodka. But I'm looking forward to trying it, but have no idea how much it costs.
Ku Soju is from Korea. I'm lumping into the potato vodka groups. But it actually says that it is made from sweet potatoes. I found this at a BevMo in San Diego, and brought it home with me. I forgot to put it in my freezer this morning, so I'll have to wait another day to try it. If it's good, I'll take it with me to my parents place Friday night and try and coax my dad into partaking it with me. The one thing I'll say is my first impression is "it's green". Pretty sure it's just a green bottle, but they sure love the color on their website as well. I'm a little leary because I only paid $14 for the bottle, but am cautiously optimistic.
Strom vodka is also a potato vodka. No website, and no experience trying it.
Monopolowa vodka is also a Polish potato vodka. Would imagine it similar to Luksusowa, but haven't tried it myself.
I've seen some mentions of a "Quotes" Polish potato vodka. But I can't find their website, or any domestic seller of this vodka. Maybe someday....
Other
I have tried a corn vodka called "Rain", but I don't post their website or anything. It tasted like moonshine. Nuff said.
There's a soy vodka called 3 Vodka. Haven't tried it, so can't comment on how it tastes. But it lists for $4 at BevMo, so I'm very scared.
Han Asian is a rice vodka. No personal experience, but will probably pick up a bottle at BevMo and give it a try during my next visit. I'm guessing it'd be kind of like sake (which I don't mind at all).
Class dismissed.
posted by Jenn @ 10:21
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