Austijoe's Most Recent Comments

1. At the Crystal Head Review on Dec 21, 2010 at 12:34 pm...

   I don't think I can even drink my bottle! I give myself the liberty of having a shot about every month!

2. At the Rain Review on Dec 21, 2010 at 12:32 pm...

   What I enjoyed about this bottle is how versatile the product is. While it is a great shooter and sipper, its also a great mixer. Ciroc for me is only a good mixer, with the shot coming across very bitter and not very enjoyable. While the white corn in the Rain comes across as warming and smooth however when mixed it adds a bit of it's sweetness to whatever it is added to.
   
   Unfortunately in the vodka market, the way to make money is how well a product can be mixed because let's face it, most people don't pour vodka into a glass and drink it room temp like we do! But they combined best of both words, a great sipping/martini vodka and a great mixing vodka.

3. At the Crater Lake Review on Dec 21, 2010 at 12:28 pm...

   I'm surprised you didn't like this vodka more Rob! It reminded me a lot of Titos with the slightly oily velvety mouth feel, but not as intense.
   
   I still think it has a bit of a slight burn going down, but some might find that enjoyable. It still is a top shelf vodka though!

4. At the Crystal Head Review on Nov 23, 2010 at 8:42 pm...

   I loved this vodka. It has peppery nodes towards the back of the pallet that are very enjoyable, and a very smooth clean light after taste. As supposed to Sobeiski, which has a more full mouth feel.
   
   If it was 20 bucks, I would buy this everyday. Great stuff.

5. At the Sobieski Review on Oct 30, 2010 at 4:14 pm...

   You can't beat Sobieski for the price. We did a small blind taste test between Rain, Colorado Vodka, 360 and Sobieski. I was surprised because 360/Colorado/Rain are some of my favorite vodkas, but I picked Sobieski over all three twice.
   
   There is something about the taste that really pleases the pallet, and at 16 bucks a handle (1.75L) you really can't beat that price or the taste and quality you receive. I will tell you this though, it does seem to leave nastier hangovers than the 360.

6. At the Grey Goose Review on Oct 21, 2010 at 8:21 pm...

   Well, while I may have fallen into the marketing campaign, after tasting over dozens and dozens of other vodkas, I can honestly say my opinion of grey goose has fallen. In my first post I grabbed a bottle of 360 shortly after and I have to say, I'm done with the goose. You were right Rob!

7. At the Belvedere Review on Jul 05, 2010 at 4:07 am...

   We did the blind taste test again with my wife this time. She however is not a fan of vodka, having said that she also picked belvedere as the smoothest with the least burn. Just another data point...

8. At the Belvedere Review on Jul 03, 2010 at 11:40 pm...

   Alright I decided to do this test with a fellow spirit critique to get things right.
   
   We did a blind taste test between Belvedere, 360 Vodka and Sobieski. With lime in between tests, and a swig or two of water to cleanse the pallet.
   
   We rate the vodkas and smoothness and taste...
   
   Both me and my fellow taster rated Belvedere as the smoothest, without much of a burn. We rated 360 with the most taste, with a very crisp front like taking a breath of air after a new fallen snow. The Sobieski was a great in between. However, what gave it away was the ethanol smell that the Belvedere and 360 lacked.
   
   Over all I loved the Belvedere, thought it was smooth and had a very neutral taste. However I got it on sale for 23 bucks at a local grocery store. I would never pay for a 37 dollar bottle of vodka (which is the normal price around here). Factoring in the taste with the vodka, its "okay". I would expect a vodka to go down way smoother, and with less bite for almost 40 bucks for a 750ml.
   
   When you could easily pay 20 dollars for the same bottle of 360 vodka, or even less for Sobieski, seems impractical even if someone can afford the high price tag.
   
   Again, loved the vodka, thought it was smooth and right on. But it was nothing I couldn't get in a cheaper priced vodka.

9. At the Ciroc Review on Dec 17, 2009 at 6:27 pm...

   Well I got to say, Ciroc is a great mixer. I did a one to one ratio with the brand Simply Lemon aid and Ciroc. The unpleasantness of drinking it strait is the variable that makes it a good mixer. I a have feeling I am going to get hammered tonight...

10. At the Ciroc Review on Dec 16, 2009 at 11:27 pm...

    Sipping on a martini right now I just mixed up. No Vermouth, just ice in a shaker with vodka.
    
    It has a weird taste on the front of it, not anything I have tasted from a grain or potato vodka. Its not smooth enough to praise and not rough enough to critique just in between.
    
    I just finished a bottle of 26000 right before Ciroc. I thought that vodka was very clean and very smooth for the 10 dollar price tag I found it for. Having said that, for the price I wouldn't it again. Actually if it was 10 bucks I might consider it, but there are much better vodkas for cheaper. Just not a fan of the the actual "taste" of the vodka. Haven't tried it in a mixer, it sounds like from the reviews that it would probably taste good in Red Bull or something similar. I will give that a try tomorrow, because this martini is not very enjoyable!