Clear Spirits

Restaurants, food, beverage, hawkers, and local markets and suppliers. This is the place for discussion on Hua Hin's culinary options.
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hhfarang
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Clear Spirits

Post by hhfarang »

Ok, we've got a thread on beer and one on whiskey so lets continue our alcoholic education by finding out everyone's preference of clear spirits.

A long time ago, myself and a few friends got into an argument about what was the best gin. We did a double blind taste test of shots of gin and the results surprised us. We tested all the premium gins that were available at our neighborhood liquor store which were Beefeater, Boodles, Tangueray, and Bombay.

Almost all of us, before the test, thought Tangueray was our favorite, but the results were that we all 100% chose Bombay as the best tasting and I've been drinking it ever since (on the rocks or in martinis); when mixing, such as in gin and tonic, a cheaper one will usually suffice.

On Vodkas: Over the last 20 years a plethora of designer vodkas have appeared from almost every country in the world and most are very expensive like Grey Goose for example. While they are good, I really can't tell the difference from them and what I have always considered a good mid priced vodka that I've been drinking for over 40 years from Russia; Stolichnaya. After all, the mark of a good vodka is not the taste, but the lack thereof in my humble opinion, and Stoli's is a very clean near tasteless spirit from the home of the (arguably) vodka experts.

Opinions?
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Re: Clear Spirits

Post by Spitfire »

Ah, this is more my style, Smirnoff Black label is quality along with Stoli and Absolute as generally decent vodkas.

Black label Smirnoff should be iced to freezer style (luckily you can't freeze vodka), then drunk neat.

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Re: Clear Spirits

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Black label Smirnoff should be iced to freezer style (luckily you can't freeze vodka), then drunk neat.
Back in my 20's and 30's we used to do the same thing with Stoli's. Now I make sissy drinks like screwdrivers, vodka tonic, vodka cranberry, vodka grapefruit, and bloody marys (especially on those tough mornings after a hard drinking night).
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Re: Clear Spirits

Post by Spitfire »

Yes HHF, good vodka, all of which brands mentioned here are, should be enjoyed in such fashion.

The thing with vodka is that it pretty much mixes with anything and has become a standard ingredient of almost any cocktail, especially for the 'by the pool' brigade that want umbrellas and olives in their drinks, guess it's a case of 'whatever floats your boat' etc.

The vodka drinking countries from where it originates will mostly forward it's drinking on it's own, well frozen.

Real decent vodka should be frozen and drunk straight, a little like whiskey.

Why have decent stuff if you are going to mix it with coke? Pretty sure that's why they invented red label Smirnoff.

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Re: Clear Spirits

Post by Bamboo Grove »

Koskenkorva, a true Finnish vodka, straight, mixed or in coctails. Stolishnaya comes a good second.
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Re: Clear Spirits

Post by jimmy40 »

I gota say i like Gilbeys dry gin the best, And don't forget the clearer the alcohol the more refined it is, hence lower attrician to a hangover, Cheers :cheers:
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Re: Clear Spirits

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^ Good point, that's one of the things I like about vodka!
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Re: Clear Spirits

Post by Spitfire »

With the gin, then Bombay Sapphire has to have a mention, 11 herds I believe.

Many say though that a G+T is not a G+T without Schweppes tonic.

However, once I get on clear spirits then this guy and me have something in common. :oops:

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Re: Clear Spirits

Post by hhfarang »

With the gin, then Bombay Sapphire has to have a mention
Yes! We did the taste test I mentioned with regular Bombay... I discovered Sapphire later which is even better!
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Re: Clear Spirits

Post by Spitfire »

If I've got this right then Finlandia Vodka is also easily available here, and seems OK.

What the general judgement from you Scandies dudes on Finlandia vodka BG or Norseman?
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Re: Clear Spirits

Post by Bamboo Grove »

Finlandia is not bad but it's not as fancy as you would think from looking at the bottle. Koskenkorva is smoother in taste but I don't know if it's sold outside the Nordic countries.
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Re: Clear Spirits

Post by STEVE G »

Almost all of us, before the test, thought Tangueray was our favorite, but the results were that we all 100% chose Bombay as the best tasting and I've been drinking it ever since (on the rocks or in martinis)
The English playwright Noel Coward suggested that the perfect martini should be made by "filling a glass with gin and then waving it in the general direction of Italy."
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Re: Clear Spirits

Post by TypicallyTropical »

Well guys, if it's "clear spirits" than forget gin or vodka or tequila. They all take second place to another clear spirit. I will never ever forget that thing that looked like water but tasted like fire in Hungary! They had many different varieties like made of apricot, cherry, pear, plum, and at one time, on a farm, I had one that was made of lots of fruits and wild berries(?) mixed together. (Drink it like schnapps.)
I eventually found something similar in a liquor store in New York, it was called "Slivovica" (made of plum) but it wasn't as tasty or as strong as the ones I had in Hungary!
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Re: Clear Spirits

Post by luckyalf »

As it seems to be alcohol week, or perhaps alcoholics week,heres my favourites- Bombay Sapphire with schweppes tonic and a slice of lime.Stolli from the freezer neat,or any vodka with a mixer.Tequilla slammers for one hell of a wild night.Avoid Absinthe at all costs if you want to keep your ears.A nice pint of cider for a refreshing afternoon drink
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Re: Clear Spirits

Post by Bamboo Grove »

I think you are talking about Palinka, TypicallyTropical.
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