Blind Taste Test: Vodka

Miranda Furtado and the rest of the Dose team put their palettes to the test to see if they can spot the difference between lower end and premium vodka brands. To read the full article, visit: http://www.dose.ca/style/Beware+Blind+Vodka+Taste+Test/3947724/story.html

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With the holidays just around the corner and party hosts stocking up their home bars, we tested three different types of vodkas, ranging from premium to value brands. We pinned Polar Ice, Smirnoff and Belvedere against each other in a blind taste test, judging each one on smell, taste, burn and aftertaste.

Miranda Furtado, style and social networking editor, Dose.ca:
I wasn't surprised that I found Belvedere the best on all levels (taste, smell, burn, after taste) -- and if you're paying nearly $50 for a bottle, it should be. But I was shocked that I chose the Polar Ice over Smirnoff. As an ex-bartender, I know Smirnoff seems to be the go-to vodka for most patrons -- but when it comes to taste and price, I would easily recommend Polar Ice over Smirnoff any day.

Jen McDonnell, managing editor of Dose.ca:
Unfortunately for my wallet, it turns out that my favourite (No. 2) was Belvedere, the most premium, expensive brand we tried. I would have sworn that my least favourite one, No. 3 (Smirnoff), was the cheapest of the bunch, but that honour goes to No. 1 (Polar Ice). Since the price gulf between my favourite and my second favourite is quite wide, I'll probably end up buying Polar Ice for making mixed drinks, and only splurge on Belvedere for drinks that really focus on the flavour, like vodka on the rocks or vodka martinis.

Kat Angus, TV editor, Dose.ca:
I wasn't surprised to find out that my favourite, No. 2, was the Belvedere Vodka -- the most expensive brand. It's too bad, because at about $50 a bottle, it's way out of my price range. No. 3, Smirnoff, was my second-favourite, and at about $25 a pop, is far more affordable; so is my last pick, Polar Ice, which retails for even less. If I had a very special event where only liquor was appropriate, I might spring for the Belvedere.

Steve Cristina, graphic designer, Dose.ca:
First up was what turned out to be Polar Ice. It smelled and tasted quite weak, so I was not particularly impressed. It was also the cheapest of the three. This may be a good choice for someone who doesn't like the flavour of vodka, or paying a lot to get their drink on. Next up was Belvedere. This was a crisp, fresh flavourful treat to my taste buds. It went down smooth and didn't leave any aftertaste at all. Of the three vodkas tested, I'd say this one was the best-tasting by a wide margin. My least favourite was Smirnoff, the third vodka tested. The flavour and smell of this one was too overpowering, and took away from the enjoyment of drinking. I have a feeling this may also be the most likely to cause headaches and nausea. Overall, I would definitely shell out the extra money for Belvedere if I weren't chasing it with anything, as it was the most satisfying of the three.

Leah Collins, music editor, Dose.ca:
I thought Polar Ice was, surprisingly, the smoothest of the three, followed closely by Belvedere. As for the Smirnoff: that's Russian for "Liquid Knives," right? Thankfully, there are these delightful things called "cocktails," so you have no reason to ever guzzle it straight, and can continue to enjoy it (responsibly!) under a delicious mask of the mix of your choosing.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• dose.ca
• miranda
• furtado
• vodka
• taste
• testing
• belvedere
• smirnoff
• polar ice
• bartending
• bar
• liquor
• alcohol
• blind taste test
• drinks
• cocktails
• premium

[TheMotherfer]

Drinking and getting paid for it, absolutely fabulous.

[david292978]

this is a sad experiment. these ppl know nothing

[Energydrinks4Lyfe]

@manns101101 I had to rewatch this a few times cuz i thought i was the one that was wrong BUT WTF THE GUY GOT IT RIGHT I KNEW IT!

[Mig29tvc]

@BringerOfTruth123

The pronouncing is S.M.I.R.N.O.V.

[BringerOfTruth123]

By the way, it is pronounced SMUR-noff. NOT smear-noff.

[BringerOfTruth123]

Price and popularity have nothing to do with the quality. Jean Marc XO and Belvedere are very expensive and known for great quality. Grey Goose, on the other hand, has been beat in many known taste tests by much lower priced vodkas, such as Smirnoff, and Tito's. The most important thing is to not give in to the hype. Ciroc and Goose are popular mainly because of rap music, not because they actually taste good.

[manns101101]

WTF - the woman got it wrong - the guy got it right.

[StanDolla]

but she got it wrong...

[AtibbsSPARTAN]

Taking 3 shots in a row makes this entire test a bust

The other glaring problem is the bias created when people get to hear others responses! That's not a blind test!

These people got 3 free shots...but the results mean nothing

[737koolkid]

this was soo cute.

*spring break* <3

[TheMotherfer]

Odd question, and maybe Miranda has been asked this. Is she related to the other Furtado?