Posted on 02/27/2006 1:09:50 PM PST by x5452
High-end vodka is keeping spirits up
By Nora FitzGerald International Herald Tribune
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2006
MOSCOW People thought it couldn't be done. The idea of renting Liberty Island in New York Harbor for a bling and borscht party to introduce a Russian vodka seemed too absurd. But Roustam Tariko, 44, a Russian tycoon who made his initial fortune in importing and banking, not only got permission, he also spent more than $3 million, inviting more than 1,000 people to the September event and feeding them Beluga caviar, blinis, quail eggs and, of course, red borscht - all washed down with his red-capped, $35-a-bottle Imperia vodka.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
After seeing how vodka is made, how can any of it be considered "high-end"? It's all the same unless it's been distilled through a truck radiator.
That's pretty off topic, the article is about Imperia being launched in New York City at the Statue of Liberty.
Same as beer, the ingredients/quality of water/type of components used in brewing equipment.
I can definitly taste the difference between Pravda (polish), Gzhelka (Russian), and Crystal (Russian) and American brands like Popov or Crystal Palace.
I can tell the difference between Shipyard IPA and a fresh from the brewery IPA also, even though Shipyard does a darn good job of acheiving the same taste.
Is this stuff any good?
Imperia? Unknown, I actually haven't had a chance to try it. I'd grab some if I could find a show that stocked it. I'll have to pick some up next time I'm in the city.
I haven't seen any magazines review it yet either.
I am a very occasional drinker, and even then never more then my limit is generally three, but I have noticed a huge difference. I don't know if it is component of the cheap stuff, but I do know there is a difference in quality of vodkas.
Vodka is the most vile stuff on earth. I have hated ever since some genius put it in a water bottle, and I took a big ole swig of it at 7 in the morning. That is a wake up call and a half.
They can throw all kinds of nasty and or synthetic crap into something and call it vodka.
I'd be interested actually to see how you fair with Gzhelka as opposed to Crystal or Stoli Gold. Gzhelka is reknowed for its taste but is made using a lot of average quality tricky ingredients that give it a high end flavor and a low-mid end price tag.
Similer here.
Rare drinker but when I do its always vodka. Any actually it took until this past year until I started to kick it up a notch a drink the good stuff.
Its so much better.
I've never heard much as about inconsistency (its a pretty simple process, they'd have to really screw around to get major inconsistency but if its possible its possible in Russia).
Bootlegging is a HUGE problem however, and brands like ararat cognac are pirated massively, and have even had problems with bugs and things.
If I am out and see an attractive bottle (Gray Goose has a beautiful bottle), I will ask for that and so far have none of the problems that I had with Fleischmans, and other "bar rail" vodkas I had before.
As I said, I never knew when I would get the headaches, but they were crushing, so I assume it was from certain batches as opposed to brands, maybe some impurities that wouldn't be filtered out in cheap vodkas. Or who knows, maybe it was all in my head.
I would be interested in trying this new brand, because there is also a subtle taste difference in vodkas, I notice that the higher quality, the smoother the taste (not unlike many liquors).
I found that I enjoy the drink so much more, that I think the difference in price is worth it. I also have found that trying some of the higher quality stuff becomes as enjoyable as the drink itself. There is such a choice out there that I was never aware of, and that is part of the fun.
(Ug I refuse to drink Grey Goose, 1 its french, 2 its french vodka which they pitch as the world's greatest. If the french are great at anything its wine and whine, not vodka)
A lot of vodka like Fleischmans are made in NJ... that's enough to scare you right there.
Alcohol should kill the bugs right? :)
Our neighbor gave us some Russian chocolate. It was very sweet and generous of her but, it was pretty bad -- a peanut mash with a very light coating of chocolate. Each piece was individually wrapped in colorful foil.
Since I can't read Russian, I am not sure what it is.
(I beleive it was dead floating bugs... but bugs all the same...)
Can you describe the letters? :)
I've had mixed luck with Russian confections also. Last time I was over there I bought some that I'm fairly sure after opening them pre-date the fall of communism.
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