is it possible to make really cheap vodka taste like expensive stuff

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Nov 7, 2000
16,403
3
81
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Originally posted by: EvilYoda
I guess the construction of the uberfilter will depend on the shape and size of the actual filters. I assume you can get something more disc-shaped than the normal funkily-shaped-trashcan-droid-from-SW pitcher-insert filters?

That was a lot of hyphens. whew.
Probably, but I can't really think of where off the top of my head. If you could just buy activated charcoal in bulk you could design your own filter, but I don't know where to buy that either.
You can buy activated carbon at a pet store. They often have like milk cartons of them for people to use to refil aquarium filter cartridges.

 

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
4
0
That's a really good idea and something that I'm definetly going to have to try. It's one of those idea's that so obvious you hate yourself for not thinking of it.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
makes me wonder what its doing to the filters, is it leeching anything bad?. if u can safely store such filters after use... instructions say to keep em wet anyways..bah. if the filters don't last, its not worth it.
 

broon

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2002
3,660
1
81
From what I've read all vodka is created the same. The only difference is when you get to the flavored stuff. To test this, you are supposed to get some good stuff and cheap stuff and freeze both. Do a blind taste test and determine for yourself.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Originally posted by: broon
From what I've read all vodka is created the same. The only difference is when you get to the flavored stuff. To test this, you are supposed to get some good stuff and cheap stuff and freeze both. Do a blind taste test and determine for yourself.

Well, that's sort of true. If they make it out of grains like corn, it'll have more of a sweet fruity taste (good for mixed drinks). If they make it out of vegetables, it has more of a dry medicine taste (good for martinis). Top top top shelf vodka has NO taste and NO odor, making it great to get past cops looking for drunk drivers :)
 

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
4
0
Originally posted by: Fritzo
making it great to get past cops looking for drunk drivers :)
Even if the spirt itself has no odor, the breakdown of the alcohol in ones stomach will surely produce the typical drunk breath.
 

gUEv

Senior member
Oct 11, 2000
882
0
0
im tempted to try this but I really dont care much for cheap vodka to begin with.

I mean...seriously, the difference between a good bottle of vodka could be $5..maybe 10. Obviously its a matter of opinion but still.

 

Slickone

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 1999
6,120
0
0
You can get the refridgerator water dispenser or ice maker filters at any hardware store.
Thing is, after spending all that money, why not spend slighty more and buy the better vodka?

Remember cheaper liquor doesnt just have to do with how well they filter, or if they filter at all, but also with that they use, and the quality of what they use, to ferment in the first place. You can't get something from nothing. Filtering may help remove some impurities, but it seems it couldn't transform it into the same stuff as the expensive stuff. But to me, considering vodka has no taste to begin with, I imagine maybe it could work for my taste buds anyway.

If you plan to do a bunch of filtering, how about a canister filter? Link. Link. Link.

This has some info on how vodka is filtered.


BTW, it seems Vodka is made from one or more of the following: sugar cane, potatoes, corn, barley, wheat, rye, beets, millet, oats, beans, [roots, shoots, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds of many grasses, herbs, shrubs and trees], or plums and other fruit.

This says grain based vodka is smoother than vegie vodka, yet this says the opposite.?

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Well, that's sort of true. If they make it out of grains like corn, it'll have more of a sweet fruity taste (good for mixed drinks). If they make it out of vegetables, it has more of a dry medicine taste (good for martinis). Top top top shelf vodka has NO taste and NO odor, making it great to get past cops looking for drunk drivers :)
No odor except for the...alcohol? :) BTW, what do you draw the line for top shelf?
 

azazyel

Diamond Member
Oct 6, 2000
5,872
1
81
Slice up some ginger and stuff it into the vodka bottle. Let it sit for a few months and wamo.
 

alexeikgb

Golden Member
Aug 24, 2004
1,135
0
0
THEY LIE!!!!..... Good vodka cannot be made from sh1t.............

Considering they were taking shots, after each filtering..... of course it's gonna taste better, your drunkness level is proportional to the percived "goodness" of cheap vodka... its a fact
 

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
4
0
Originally posted by: alexeikgb
THEY LIE!!!!..... Good vodka cannot be made from sh1t.............

Considering they were taking shots, after each filtering..... of course it's gonna taste better, your drunkness level is proportional to the percived "goodness" of cheap vodka... its a fact
Apparently they weren't taking full shots, they comment on the fact that their test samples were too small for their enjoyment, but were necessary to ensure sober impartiality.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Originally posted by: Slickone
You can get the refridgerator water dispenser or ice maker filters at any hardware store.
Thing is, after spending all that money, why not spend slighty more and buy the better vodka?

Remember cheaper liquor doesnt just have to do with how well they filter, or if they filter at all, but also with that they use, and the quality of what they use, to ferment in the first place. You can't get something from nothing. Filtering may help remove some impurities, but it seems it couldn't transform it into the same stuff as the expensive stuff. But to me, considering vodka has no taste to begin with, I imagine maybe it could work for my taste buds anyway.

If you plan to do a bunch of filtering, how about a canister filter? Link. Link. Link.

This has some info on how vodka is filtered.


BTW, it seems Vodka is made from one or more of the following: sugar cane, potatoes, corn, barley, wheat, rye, beets, millet, oats, beans, [roots, shoots, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds of many grasses, herbs, shrubs and trees], or plums and other fruit.

This says grain based vodka is smoother than vegie vodka, yet this says the opposite.?

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Well, that's sort of true. If they make it out of grains like corn, it'll have more of a sweet fruity taste (good for mixed drinks). If they make it out of vegetables, it has more of a dry medicine taste (good for martinis). Top top top shelf vodka has NO taste and NO odor, making it great to get past cops looking for drunk drivers :)
No odor except for the...alcohol? :) BTW, what do you draw the line for top shelf?

Bottles I would start weeping for joy if I saw them at a party:

Chopin (best! Must wear a tuxedo while drinking)
Armadale
Jewel of Russia

Bottles I would think "Hey...pretty classy" at a party:

Ketel One
Grey Goose
Belvedere (<--interesting- has a slight "cream soda" flavor left over from whatever it was made from)
Absolut (great mixer)

Bottles I would think "Aww man, this guy's stinks. He's going to have potato chips for appetizers."

Cîroc (branded as a top shelf, but it's awful)
Smirnoff (good for mixing)
Turi (tastes like rubbing alcohol)

I turned to wines when I hit 30 so I don't do vodkas much anymore.


 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Originally posted by: Slickone
[not quoting on purpose] Fritzo, where woud you put Finlandia, 3 Olives, and Stoli?
Another vodka thread

I had Finlandia Cranberry once some time ago. It wasn't too bad, but I've never had the plain version. 3 Olives is up there with Grey Goose. If I remember it's a strong vodka so it's good for your extra dry James Bond martinis. Don't see that too often though. Never tried Stoli.
 

amoeba

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2003
3,162
1
0
Originally posted by: Fritzo


Bottles I would start weeping for joy if I saw them at a party:

Chopin (best! Must wear a tuxedo while drinking)
Armadale
Jewel of Russia

Bottles I would think "Hey...pretty classy" at a party:

Ketel One
Grey Goose
Belvedere (<--interesting- has a slight "cream soda" flavor left over from whatever it was made from)
Absolut (great mixer)

Bottles I would think "Aww man, this guy's stinks. He's going to have potato chips for appetizers."

Cîroc (branded as a top shelf, but it's awful)
Smirnoff (good for mixing)
Turi (tastes like rubbing alcohol)

I turned to wines when I hit 30 so I don't do vodkas much anymore.

I put goose up there with Chopin. Interestingly I think Chopin is a potato vodka while most of the other top shelf vodkas are grain vodkas. Another I would put in the top column is red army vodka.

In the "pretty classy " range, I would put stoli. Stoli is much better than Absolut.



 

Crappopotamus

Golden Member
Oct 1, 2002
1,920
0
0
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Originally posted by: EvilYoda
I guess the construction of the uberfilter will depend on the shape and size of the actual filters. I assume you can get something more disc-shaped than the normal funkily-shaped-trashcan-droid-from-SW pitcher-insert filters?

That was a lot of hyphens. whew.
Probably, but I can't really think of where off the top of my head. If you could just buy activated charcoal in bulk you could design your own filter, but I don't know where to buy that either.

my aquarium has activated charcoal in the filter... hmmm... 10 gallons of vodka anyone??