Vodka Review: Fris by Robert
- Rating
- out of 5 shots
- Bang For The Buck
- 5 out of 5 shots
- User Rating
-
3.3333 out of 5 shots
- Rate It Now!
- Average Price
- $9.77 per 750 mL / See By State / You add a price you've seen if you join VodkaBuzz.
- Percent Alcohol
- 40
- Distilled From
- Wheat
- Times Distilled
- 6
- Other Processes
- Freeze Distilled
- Imported By
- Absolut Spirits, Co
- Website
- Fris
- Cap Type
- Plastic Screw On
Identifying Features
Silver top with a crescent shaped indention above the label.
Written on the Bottle
By appointment to the Royal Danish Court. Frïs (say Freeze) is produced from all natural whole wheat and pure spring water. Our freeze distilled® vodka is also distilled six times and distinguished by its clean, smooth mouthfeel.
Review
I first had Frïs — or Fris as I'll be writing it for the rest of this review — several years ago. Jeremy and I were at a hole-in-the-wall liquor store and bought a bottle at the clerk's suggestion. We were astounded by the quality and smoothness at such a low price point. In fact, I think reason I record a Bang For The Buck rating is because of Fris. That was over 6 years ago.Let's see what my palate thinks now.
For the record, this is probably the 5th time I've tried to review Fris. For whatever reason, the vodka keeps disappearing before I get a chance.
By the by, my first anniversary is tomorrow. So, happy anniversary to my wonderful wife, Erin. Not only has she happily put up with me for a year, she's also choked down quite a bit of vodka with me. She was there when I launched the site, and if it weren't for her input and support, the site certainly wouldn't where it is today. Happy anniversary, baby!
The Shot
Fris, like the claim on the bottle, has a great mouthfeel. It's mildly bitter in the mouth, but the bitterness gets more pronounced after the swallow. However, there is little-to-no burn at that point. My mouth is slightly numb on the tip of the tongue (try saying that three times fast after a shot of vodka), but there is nothing unpleasant about this vodka. I made it without a chaser, for what it's worth.
The Mixed Drink
When I mixed Fris with orange juice, I could taste the bitters of the vodka. The cocktail wasn't sweet at all, but it doesn't ruin the drink. It tastes better than a typical well vodka screwdriver. Isn't a brilliant mixer, but there is no bad aftertaste.
This time around, I opted to mix Fris with two parts Sugar Free Red Bull. The bitters actually work against the generally overbearing flavors of the Red Bull, and makes a really good cocktail.
Opinions
Daniel mixed Fris with Red Bull and thought it was not too overbearing or too strong for the mixer. He pointed out that it goes down well, no bad aftertaste. After his shot, he noted that Fris burns but is not bitter.
Even after all these years (and 5 attempted reviews), I still think Fris is a great vodka, especially considering the price. If you're not hooked on Tito's, Sobieski or Svedka, Fris is really worth trying. Even if you are, I'd still suggest it.
If you see the following form, please ignore it.
Comments On Fris
Fred said on Nov 02, 2009 at 5:23 pm...
I just bought a 1.75 Liter bottle for around 19 bucks, which seems to be a steal, I've never tried Fris before but recognized the name, and for the price, decided to give it a go. So-Far so good, I tried a mixed drink with it and love it so far, I'll write more after I try a shot.
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Robert said on Nov 02, 2009 at 5:40 pm...
Frïs is a great vodka for the dollar. It's not the best budget shooter (Svedka or Sobieski would be my recommendation) but it isn't bad. Let us know what you think!
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Sean said on Jan 06, 2010 at 4:14 pm...
I tied this stuff at your suggestion and I was blown away. I actually prefer it to the more premium stuff I've had. It burns for a second then that burn is replaced by a sort of happy warmth in my chest. This is the only vodka that's ever done that for me.
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Robert said on Jan 07, 2010 at 7:19 am...
Awesome! Glad we could help.
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Don said on Jan 14, 2010 at 5:22 pm...
I tried Fris and loved it. Will never purchase Kettle or Stoli again. Great vodka, great price.
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Rob said on May 19, 2010 at 9:13 am...
I really agree with your assessment on Fris. I bought a 1.75 Liter of this after proclaiming Svedka was my new favorite. There was no doubt that the Fris had a little more body (or bitterness) in the mouth, and I agree with your observation that it goes down smooth. I was not crazy with the idea that it's made from wheat. I don't think it's quite as clean and smooth as Svedka, yet it makes a very enjoyable martini. I can't get myself to admit that' I won't ever buy it again.
http://productreviewratings.com/2010/05/fris-vodka-best-vodkas/
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Eric said on Jul 23, 2010 at 1:03 pm...
After some careful research and beings that I work for a liquor store I found out why it is so smooth. Where as normal heat distillation heats the mash ( or wart ) to between 173 and 212 degrees and then collects the gas into liquid form as alcohol it leaves behind fusal alcohols ( that burn taste ), basically impurities...now Fris traps those fusal alcohols by freeze distillation, pulls them out leaving a pure spirit free of harsh impurities. I love this vodka...quite possibly my favorite.
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bigcor23 said on Oct 07, 2010 at 8:50 pm...
I recently had the opportunity to try Fris. Initially this vodka was fairly smooth. Some minor bitternes that faded quickly and a small amount of burn. It mixed well with cranberry and or orange juice (together or separate). Then I tried it in an appletini... The bitterness of the vodka was overpowering. I could easily taste the bitthernes of the vodka over the apple puker and the swet and sour. Fris is an alright vodka. for a simple mix, but I would not use it fot coctails.
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DroppedGT said on Nov 05, 2010 at 3:47 pm...
Being limited on my Vodka knowledge (thought smirnoff was excellent for who knows how many liters) I make a jump to Stoli and that changed my world. I don't think I will ever try it again after seeing Fris as a choice on the shelf. I have tried Popov and Aristocrat so I definitely know the bottom end vs Stoli. As for Fris I perfer to mix my vodka's 50/50 with white grape juice. Fris was so dirt cheap I was expecting the worst but after the first half of my glass it was clear this vodka was on par with above average players. I'm not sure what burn is being experienced by the reviewer but it was prevalent in SToli and smirnoff, this on the other hand does not burn me. It is insanely smooth but does leave some sort of aftertaste but compared to the $9 it cost me for 750ml I don't give a .....
Price is next to free
Taste is great
Try it.
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Misty said on Nov 06, 2010 at 7:21 pm...
Just bought a 1.75 liter bottle in Portland (Woodstock liquor) for $19.95. Great deal, very drinkable! I always mix my vodka (right now with sweet tea!) and this is awesome for that purpose.
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AS said on Nov 15, 2010 at 6:48 pm...
Ha, I just bought a bottle at the Woodstock liquor store too. :)
I'm no connoisseur, but I agree that this stuff is smooth.
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Matt in Denver said on Nov 15, 2010 at 9:48 pm...
One of the best tasting vodkas I've had for any price. Smooth, crisp, and yet you still know you are drinking a vodka. I tried this eight years ago after reading an article in United Airlines in flight magazine, and it was rated their #1 vodka regardless of price. I am NEVER disappointed with Fris. The price is just the icing on the cake!
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taffyg2003 said on Jan 19, 2011 at 8:49 pm...
I purchased a bottle of Fris recently to compare the martini it makes with the open bottle of Sobieski that I've been nursing for several weeks now. The vodka has a neutral and mellow aroma with little hint of alcohol.The martini it makes is quite good, with lots of sweet flavor that complements the vermouth very well. The martini is very smooth, and has virtually no bite or burn when swallowed. The only real flaw is a mild bitterness that grows and lingers in the aftertaste. Compared to Sobieski, Fris has a little more flavor, is a little smoother, and avoids its mild (though not unpleasant) bite. However, Sobieski avoids Fris' bitter and slightly unpleasant aftertaste, and makes a crisper and overall more enjoyable martini. Thought it has been a while since I've had Svedka, I think that Fris is very similar, but with a little sweeter flavor. In the end, I would give Fris 4 stars, and place it behind Sobieski and before Svedka. All in all, these three are very good vodkas, and are greats bargains.
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Jeremy said on Mar 08, 2011 at 4:16 pm...
I also enjoy Fris. My friends drink Taaka and since I introduced them to Fris, they have been buying it ever since. I would like to see more insight into the production process. It says Fris is freeze distilled and continually 6 colum processed. What exactly does this mean? and how does this affect the final product as compared to other vodkas? Email me directly if you like.
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Robert said on Mar 09, 2011 at 8:08 am...
@Jeremy, Based on what I've read, "freeze distilled" just means they make the vodka so cold that the impurities freeze. Presumably they either rise to the top or sink to the bottom and are removed. Traditionally distilling is done with heat. The alcohol boils at a lower temperature than the rest of the the solution, which allows for separating the alcohol. The "continual 6 column process" refers to continuous distillation. To quote Wikipedia, "Continuous distillation, a form of distillation, is an ongoing separation in which a mixture is continuously (without interruption) fed into the process and separated fractions are removed continuously as output streams."
I've been told that most modern distillation processes are more like continuous distillation, but I haven't corroborated that with anyone in the vodka industry. There are plenty of vodkas that are a result of continuous distillation, though. Either way, Fris believes that their freeze distilling and continuous distilling processes result in a better vodka with fewer impurities. For the dollar, Fris is a great vodka. So, they are doing something right. Does it make Fris better than other vodkas that use a different process? That's highly debatable.
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Dan said on Aug 12, 2011 at 2:17 pm...
I got a bottle of it and it has been a part of many fun times, for someone who really doesn't like the burn of alcohol this was very pleasant to drink, and well it gets you tipsy that's the idea right? lol
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artribak said on Oct 21, 2011 at 1:41 pm...
I tested several people including myself, couldn't tell the difference between Fris and Grey Goose
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Zip said on Oct 25, 2011 at 12:53 pm...
I like to think of myself as one who truly enjoys a good vodka. I'm sorry to say this, for the horribly irresponsible nature of it, but I believe the benchmark of a great vodka is how it affects one who has over-indulged. Now I will note that Fris was pleasantly smooth. And as has been previously commented, it's burn was quickly replaced by a comfortable burst of warmth in my body. I found that (as per the label) the mouthfeel was astonishingly mellow, another benchmark of a great vodka. I've observed over the years that if you can't easily hold it in your mouth, you can't easily hold it in your belly. Which leads me to my final point: over indulgence. Other vodkas in this same price range tend to sour my stomach for most of the next day after consuming a little too much. Fris is what you could call a weeknight liquor. If you're into that. So in summary and in conclusion, easy going down, fast, clean, and smooth. An amazing value.
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Bxb said on Nov 07, 2011 at 1:11 pm...
I have to agree with Zip about the "weeknight liquor" aspect of Fris. Actually was reading the review and comments wondering if anyone else experienced the same thing as we were experiencing from this lovely product. I have found that, as I get closer and closer to knocking on the backdoor of 50 y.o., even two or three drinks can result in a noticeable "green and fuzziness" the next morning - which is even more noticeable in the fast paced office environment I work in where any loss of edge can make for a long unpleasant day. Amazingly, my friends and I have noticed that even five or six shots of Fris do not produce any issues the following day aside from some mild dehydration. Obviously this product has a very low quantity of the congeners and other toxins normally present in most liquors. For that reason alone, I would be very happy to drink this stuff even if it didn't taste quite as good as some other products - but alas, it is IMHO smoother and more delicious than most of what you will find even on the top shelf, and all at one third the price.
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Rell said on Jan 05, 2012 at 5:37 pm...
*Fris* wow!! Definitely at the top of my list of vodkas! There's hardly no harshbess and the overall taste and quality is superb! Unlike many well known and expensive vodkas, Fris offers great taste, quality distillation and not to sound cliche, " THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK!" On a scale of 1-10, Fris is definitely an 8 or above in my book. So to all of the real vodka drinkers that haven't tried Fris, what are you waiting for? Hop on the boat and enjoy a great drinking experience!
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taffyg2003 said on Jan 25, 2012 at 4:13 pm...
I agree that Fris is a very good vodka and a great value,too. I think that it is as good or better than Svedka, but is not as popular due to a weak advertising campaign compared to Svedka. A distinction that Fris has is its unique filtering process which seems to do a superior job of removing impurities and possibly reducing hangovers.
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