Vodka Review: Sobieski by Robert
- Rating
- out of 5 shots
- Bang For The Buck
- 5 out of 5 shots
- User Rating
-
4.4848 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
- Rye
- Produced By
- Destylarmia Sobieski S.A.
- Imported By
- Imperial Brands, Inc.
- Website
- Sobieski
- Cap Type
- Metal Screw On
Identifying Features
The bottle has a similar stately look to Smirnoff Red Label, but with a more antique, traditional, (dare I say) gothic Carpathian feel. I thought it was notable that the metal screw on top was much higher quality than Smirnoff in that it didn't strip if tightened.
Written on the Bottle
Sobieski Vodka. Distilled from 100% pure Dankowskt rye. Imported from Poland.
Review
Sobieski has an interesting marketing campaign. That is, they don't really have one. They tout the lack of celebs, babes, and fancy stuff. Sobieski wants to be known for their vodka, and they also want the world to know their Polish heritage. Maybe most importantly, they want the world to know vodka's Polish heritage. All of these are laudable goals.
I won't pretend that I haven't had most vodkas I review. Sobieski is an interesting case, however, as it hasn't been widely released in America. So, I get the interesting chance to make up my mind about a new premium vodka in a public space.
The Shot
I let the first shot be an introduction. Like shaking someone's hand the first time, you pay attention to the details of how they grasp your hand. It always feels foreign. The second time is more familiar. You know what to expect and you start to pick up the finer points. Vodka is no different.
Sobieski has a bitter-sweet flavor. It reminds me of what Belvedere (a widely known Polish rye vodka) wanted to be. Belvedere came across as just bitter. Sobieski has sweet tones that Belvedere lacks. In fact, the sweetness that Belvedere lacks is exactly what makes Sobieski a good shooter. It goes down smooth with only a mild burn and doesn't need a chaser. The sweet tones stick around after the swallow.
The Mixed Drink
I mixed Sobieski in a tried-and-true screw driver. Sobieski is a great mixer. The sweet tones from the shot really mesh well with the Simply Orange Juice. The screwdriver is easy to drink and enjoy.
Opinions
Given the fact that I got an early release of Sobieski, I really felt that it was my duty to see what the general American public felt about the vodka. I happened to be at a pool party. So, I sampled as many people as I could with Sobieski screw drivers.
- Donielle was taken aback by the great taste of the vodka. It sounded like she was used to lesser quality vodkas, and was surprised by how smooth Sobieski is.
- Heather said it didn't have a bitter taste and it wasn't too sweet. She said it was smooth and you could gulp it if you wanted.
- Erin said Sobieski was good. You could barely taste it in the mixer and it didn't have an aftertaste.
Historically, this is a great response to a vodka from tasters. Typically, people point out the short comings instead of positives. So, this is a unique response. As far as I'm concerned, Sobieski is a great addition to the American vodka market and easily beats many widely known "ultra premium" vodkas. Pick up a bottle as soon as you can.
If you see the following form, please ignore it.
Comments On Sobieski
Jerry Ambrose said on Aug 28, 2008 at 3:45 pm...
The best deal also. Taste is great. Only purchased Stoli in the past.
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Jerry Ambrose said on Aug 28, 2008 at 3:45 pm...
The best deal also. Taste is great. Only purchased Stoli in the past.
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jusdit said on Sep 05, 2008 at 5:59 pm...
I will save my excellent, but as a voka drinker, it beats most"premium" vodka. I had a lot of vodka's. The best way to measure a vodka is to have it straight....it passed with high marks. I can give this vodka anyone or put it in any bottle and people would think they were drinking their brand. jusdit
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Debbie Alonso said on Jan 05, 2009 at 5:42 pm...
WE JUST LAUNCHED SOBIESKI IN PUERTO RICO. IT'S THE TALK OF THE TOWN. BETTER THAN GREY GOOSE BY FAR.
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Robert said on Jan 12, 2009 at 2:53 pm...
@Debbie I'm glad to hear Sobieski is doing so well. It definitely deserves to be heard about. And you can read my review on Grey Goose to see what we think about it here at VodkaBuzz.
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Ben said on Mar 17, 2009 at 10:08 am...
Your review is spot on. I've been testing vodkas lately for fun. After trying Stoli, Smirnoff, Absolut, and Skyy... I saw this review. After a little more searching on the net, Sobieski seemed like the next big thing. So I ponied up the massive $11 (cheapest I paid for a 750mL up to that point) and danced a little jig after trying it. I feel like I'm robbing a bank when I drink this stuff, because it tasted equal or better than the other 4 vodkas, whilst being much cheaper. I found my drink. It's the yardstick I judge other Vodkas by now.
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bobthewelder said on Mar 17, 2009 at 9:22 pm...
I like this one, it is a toss up between this one and Svedka for us. I buy whickever is cheaper that day.
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"Three Martinis In and Counting" said on Mar 29, 2009 at 10:17 pm...
My wife's family is from Poland. When I went in 2005, I was amazed at how good Sobieski was. Much better than the top-shelf stuff we had over here. So, I brought back as much as I legally could, and last year was pleased when I saw a billboard advertising that it was available in the States. For the money, it is incredible. Even regardless of the money, it is incredible. Better than Chopin, better than Belvedere, better than Ketel, better than just about any of the frou-frou labels.
I'd write more, but there's an olive about the size of a baby's fist at the bottom of my glass, and that sucker is calling my name.
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james.errico said on May 16, 2009 at 8:42 pm...
Sobieski is a great entry-level Polish vodka. Having said that, an entry level Polish vodka is still a pretty good place to start. Sobieski is a great deal, and a very easy drink when chilled. Recommended, and the bang for the buck is probably impossible to beat.
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Robert said on May 17, 2009 at 11:36 am...
@James, Chopin is my favorite Polish vodka (and potato vodka, too). Sobieski, though, is a great vodka hands down, though. I get it more frequently than any other vodka recently because, as you said, the bang for the buck is impossible to beat.
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Rich said on Jul 24, 2009 at 11:24 pm...
I was introduced to Sobieski when the guy who ran the local liquor store near my college recommended it after I had complained most of the vodkas I enjoyed put too much of a drain on my wallet (ah, I miss college already). Upon trying it later that day after freezing it for a bit I was immediately impressed. At the price point ($20 a handle in Troy, NY) it obliterated the other vodkas I had been trying. While my standard vodka has now become Tito's and/or 360 with some Russian Standard for shooting I still enjoy Sobieski from time to time. It's a great vodka, and in my opinion almost impossible to beat at that price.
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Wodkaenthoosiast said on Jul 29, 2009 at 8:44 pm...
I have tried Sobiesk...now two bottles worth. It is a premium tasting vodka, at a price that is more than reasonable. The folks marketing this stuff should be able to make a killing: a smooth, great tasting vodka, that mixes well...and without the pretentiousness of certain other brands - however "fowl" they may be - let me say that I will take Sobieski anytime over the over priced brands. This is a damned good spirit. Try it as soon as you can find it.
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Robert said on Aug 05, 2009 at 2:32 pm...
I think they've gone back on it now, but they were touting that the lack of advertising allowed them to keep the price down. Even if they are advertising more, the price for a bottle here in Alabama has dropped since I first saw it in stores. I like that, for sure.
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Kelvin said on Aug 23, 2009 at 12:26 pm...
I have been drinking Sobieski for about 6 months now. You cannot beat the price/quality of this vodka. I just bought a fifth for $9.79 at Meijer in Grand Rapids. It makes one helluva gimlet! Try it!!
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David said on Sep 01, 2009 at 2:33 pm...
I just read that Sobieski was released by the same company as Belvedere. #1: What does "released" mean? is it the production or merely the marketing arm? & #2: How do you reckon they mixed up their vodka prices, I see you mention Sobi is what Belvedere wanted to be?
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Robert said on Sep 02, 2009 at 8:25 am...
As far as I've heard, Sobieski and Belvedere only have the same country of origin (Poland). I've not heard anything else. There are constant rumors that Grey Goose and Pinnacle are "the same" but I've found no evidence of that either. You are right, though, to question what "released" means. There are a lot of steps between growing grain and waking up with a hangover that Sobieski and Belvedere could share. Almost all of them would have little or no effect on either product.
For example, Sidney Frank sold the manufacturing rights for Grey Goose to Bacardi in 2004, and Goose still tastes the same. In 2006, Bacardi bought 42 Below. 42 Below is a better vodka than Goose and it's cheaper. They are in no way the same. Bacardi would have made a mistake to change the pricing though, because that is part of Grey Goose's brand identity. That's what helps it keep the luxury appeal and it's marketed that way.
Likewise, if Belvedere and Sobieski somehow came under the same roof (and as far as I know, they have not), it'd be a mistake to change the price scheme because Belvedere is a luxury vodka with a lot of brand cachet, where Sobieski is an every-man vodka that is still making a name for itself.
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rruszala620 said on Sep 30, 2009 at 2:24 pm...
I was shocked when I purchased this bottle! I went in on a budget, saw Sobieski on the shelf just above the bottom shelf and for some reason the bottle intriged me. When I got home I opened it and was taken back that it actually tasted great, not with an overpowering after taste and nasty burn down to your stomache. I hope that Sobieski does not sell out on the price because they truly have a quality vodka going here that is top self quality for a very reasonable price!
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Vodkologist said on Oct 03, 2009 at 4:52 pm...
I was trapped in the "How many times distilled" hype and shopping at my local spirits store for a good vodka. I was reading labels, "triple distilled", "distilled five times", then I ran across a bottle with an interesting collar ad that simply said "Distilled Enough". It was a Polish vodka (that's a plus in my opinion). The low price kind of scared me ( I hate most budget vodkas) but what the heck, I decided to give it a try. WOW!.. To my surprise this is some of the best vodka I've had at any price. Ive been a Sobieski advocate now for the past 6 months.
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TheBeerLady said on Nov 15, 2009 at 7:51 pm...
I have to admit, I was skeptical when I prepared to try Sobieski for the first time. While I'm the first to say that many 'premium' brands are overpriced and overhyped, I found it hard to believe that this could really be good vodka at that price point. I was a convert with the first drink. The new Vanilia and Cytron releases are also excellent - if you haven't tried them, you definitely should.
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Robert said on Nov 16, 2009 at 8:09 am...
Unfortunately, it's been a long time since I've seen Sobieski on the shelves around here. If I can find them, I'll give them a shot, though. I'm glad you found Sobieski! It's great stuff for the price.
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viacombusta said on Dec 18, 2009 at 2:38 pm...
Best vodka around, best price around. In a blind taste test, Sobieski was my favorite. It beat out Ketel One, Tito's, Chopin, and many others hands down.
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Jason said on Jan 07, 2010 at 10:39 am...
Very cheap, but great. It has some initial bite, but finishes smooth with no horrible aftertaste. I would not hesitate to buy this one again, especially if I'm wanting to save some money.
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taffyg2003 said on Jan 10, 2010 at 11:09 pm...
I have already posted about my recent quest to compare some of the higher rated vodkas, and have compiled the following list from best to worst (though this is relative since I like all of them):
1) Crystal Head 2) Tito's Handmade 3) Ketel One 4) Stolichnaya 5) Grey Goose
Several months before this taste test comparison, I tasted a small shot of Sobieski at a wine tasting function. My only recent reference at that time had been Grey Goose in a martini, straight up with olives, but I recall thinking that I liked the Sobieski and would have probably preferred it to Grey Goose. I remember the shot demonstrated a vodka that was very smooth, a little bittersweet, somewhat crisp, and had very little alcohol burn. Though I am rating Sobieski from a somewhat distant memory, and from a shot instead of a martini like the other vodkas, I would be inclined to say that it reminded me of a more refined version of Stoli, and would slot just in front of it in my list of vodka ratings. So, here's my updated list:
1) Crystal Head 2) Tito's Handmade 3) Ketel One 4) Sobieski 5) Stolichnaya 6) Grey Goose
Till next time. Cheers!
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Robert said on Jan 13, 2010 at 8:19 am...
@taffyg2003, I had fun reading your chronicles of vodka discovery. I'm so glad that we could help you find stuff you liked better. Rather than reply to every post, I'll just say here that I more-or-less agree with you on your findings. I, too, wish Crystal Head was around the $25 - $30 range so I could buy it more often. Until then, like you said, it'll be Tito's in my freezer (unless I get something else for a review, of course).
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taffyg2003 said on Jan 26, 2010 at 8:23 pm...
@Robert, thanks for your reply to this relative vodka novice.
I would like to add that I was surprised to find Crystal Head on the menu at Houlihan's (a chain of Friday's-like restaurants, but a bit higher end and classier). I had already ordered a Ketel One martini from the bar while waiting for our table, but when I saw the menu at the table I ordered another one with Crystal Head and enjoyed a side-by-side comparison. There was no comparison; Ketel One was good, but had a mild burn when swallowed and slightly peppery aftertaste, while Crystal Head was so smooth all the way through and had a slightly sweet flavor. Crystal Head is absolutely in another league!
As a side note, I decided to "borrow" my father-in-law's Beefeater London Dry Gin to try a gin martini at home a couple of days ago, since gin is the "official" primary component in a martini. I did not like the strong juniper flavor it added to the cocktail, but it was very smooth and provided a very crisp and cooling effect to the experience, almost in the manor of wintergreen candy, which i would like try to find in a vodka martini. Tito's and Crystal Head are incredibly smooth, and Crystal Head does have a very mild talc-like cooling effect, but they do not come close to the crisp experience of the gin martini. In contrast, these unassertive vodkas (especially Tito's) allow the oily pickled sensation of the vermouth to come through, which I find less desirable. Perhaps, I should try a more assertive vodka like Russian Standard, Sobieski, or even the cooling sweetness of 360 to see if I can find the best of both worlds.
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Robert said on Jan 29, 2010 at 7:27 am...
@taffyg2003 If you don't like the taste of vermouth, a Russian vodka would probably help tone down the flavor. Stoli comes to mind, but you could go up market with one of the Russian Standard varieties (Imperia is their upper tier). Gin, by nature, has a lot going on, which explains why it's the original. Are you using sweet or dry vermouth? I'm not sure how much of a difference there is since I'm not a martini drinker but you may get different results with a different type of vermouth.
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taffyg2003 said on Jan 29, 2010 at 7:55 pm...
@Robert, I have been drinking martinis sporadically for about five or six years as a way to break up the beer and wine scene along with the occasional rum on the rocks. My first martini was a Grey Goose at the recommendation of a friend, and I enjoyed it. Since then, I had stuck to Grey Goose martinis. My wife and I went to the Bacardi Rum Factory in PR about 15 years ago, and got a bottle of Bacardi Reserve. When we finally opened it recently, we were disappointed. That prompted me to research rum ratings and reviews, which enlightened me that Bacardi is not generally well regarded. With that, I decided to look up vodka ratings, and stumbled on to this website amongst others. Again, I was enlightened about Grey Goose's overrating and learned a lot about vodkas that I had never heard about. That is when my vodka martini quest began, and has led me to the discovery of vodkas like Tito's and Crystal Head, and most recently to try a gin martini with my father in-law's much enjoyed Beefeater.
As I have stated, the juniper flavor of the gin was not my cup of tea, but the gin's refreshing crispness and cover up of the pickled vermouth flavor was something that none of the vodkas have matched (though the incredibly smooth Crystal Head's refreshing talc-like sweetness comes the closest). In retrospect, while I found the Stoli martini that I had a few weeks ago to bite a bit, it had more flavor than the other vodkas, and this flavor was crisp and masked the vermouth fairly well in a manner that reminds me somewhat like what gin accomplishes. I agree with you that going with more upscale Russian vodkas might be what I am looking for. I am hoping to try Russian Standard Vodka soon. Regardless, I am also curious about 360, Jean-Marc XO and also trying Sobieski again in a martini. I have also read at Tastings.com that the Beverage Testing Institute not only rates Americana Luxury Vodka very highly, but also recommend it for its "subtle fruity flavor that will excel in martinis".
Let the quest continue. Cheers.
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Jason said on Feb 01, 2010 at 7:22 am...
That's it, after trying another bottle of Sobieski, I will always be keeping a bottle stocked. This is now officially my favorite cheap vodka, over Svedka too. I have yet to try Tito's though, it's really hard to find down here. I only saw it at my local liquor store right before New Year's, should have grabbed a bottle then. Haven't seen it since.
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Robert said on Feb 04, 2010 at 12:09 am...
@Jason Tito's isn't always easy to find around here, though I think our ABC (in Alabama) has recently started making sure enough product makes it into stores to keep up demand. Hopefully your stores will pick up more. It never hurts to ask the clerk to start carrying it, either. That said, I haven't seen Sobieski on shelves around here in six months or more, and I've been missing it. Maybe I should take my own advice!
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Dr. Frank McCormish said on Feb 12, 2010 at 5:54 pm...
I purchased a bottle of your vodak & was impressed enough to make it my favorite. Then I went into my liquor store & they only had glass bottles of 1.75liter. I was dissapointed but bought it. Then I opened it & it had no little plastic spout to control the "pour". It is bad enough to make me buy Smirnoff again. The plastic bottle is easier to travel with & is easier to use. Sorry--you lose a customer. If you return to the plastic container withthe controlled pour spout I will return. Love your juice, hate the container. Bye, Frank
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Robert said on Feb 12, 2010 at 6:00 pm...
@Frank, I'm sorry to hear the container was a deal breaker. For the record, VodkaBuzz isn't affiliated with Sobieski or any vodka maker, but we are Sobieski fans. I hope they make packaging that's more like what you're after in the future. I know some types of packaging can be a pain.
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Chris said on Feb 22, 2010 at 10:25 pm...
I tried a bottle of this a few months ago. Contrary to reviews, however, I found it to be quite disgusting at room temperature (I test all vodka like this). Perhaps I got a bad batch? I want to retry this to reaffirm myself, however, has anyone else had an experience where this particular vodka tasted sub-par?
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Jason said on Feb 25, 2010 at 2:59 pm...
@Dr. Frank: Wow, going back to a much inferior vodka just because of the container and spout? Ever heard of a pourer?
@Chris: Bad batch may be a possibility, or the fact that people just have different palates. My experience was that it is one of the best vodkas I've ever tried at any price, at room temperature, which is how I also evaluate all new vodkas initially.
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taffyg2003 said on Apr 18, 2010 at 2:49 pm...
I finally had a chance to try Sobieski in a martini. I was very impressed with both its nice bittersweet flavor and its relative smoothness. Also, it had little burn when swallowed and no bad aftertaste. At this point, I am re-ranking Sobieski at fifth place with 4 stars just behind 360 and Tito's and just before Svedka. Additionally, it reaffirms its place as the leader for value followed by Svedka.
While I still enjoy American Luxury Vodka more a little than Sobieski in a martini, it is difficult to justify spending more than twice the price to stock as my regular vodka at home.
For anyone interested in my current martini vodka rankings, here is an updated list:
1) Crystal Head [5 stars], 2) Americana Luxury Vodka [5 stars], 3) Russian Standard Original [4 stars], 4) (tie) 360 [4 stars], 4) (tie) Tito's Handmade [4 stars], 6) Sobieski [4 stars], 7) Svedka [4 stars], 8) Chopin [4 stars], 9) Ketel One [4 stars], 10) Stolichnaya [3 stars], 11) Ciroc [3 stars], 12) Skyy [3 stars], 13) Belvedere [3 stars], 14) Grey Goose [3 stars], 15) Absolut [2 stars]
Till next time. Cheers.
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moosie said on May 04, 2010 at 5:15 pm...
Just enjoyed my first few sips, straight up and lightly chilled. Very nice. I am a Stoli, Pinnacle, and SKYY fan, and Sobieski has more character than those last two. Stoli will always be great, but isn't nearly as affordable. I agree that Sobieski has a nice, subtle balance of sweet and bitter flavors, as others have pointed out. Yet, it's very smooth & drinkable. Can't wait to make myself a nice, dirty martini with Sobi. Heh, there... it has it's nickname already. Great price, too!! Salud!
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rbdeli said on Jun 27, 2010 at 8:37 pm...
I tried really, really hard to get excited about this based on your score, comments and it's attractive $18.99 1.75L price.
I have to be honest. This simply is not a great vodka. In fact, it's bite is harder than some of the bargain priced vodkas. The vodka definitely has some very good flavor and interesting, complex tastes, but the after bite lasts long after you're ready for the next sip.
http://productreviewratings.com/2010/06/sobieski-vodka/
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suzy said on Jun 28, 2010 at 7:15 am...
I was introduced to Sobieski last year and, now, only vodka I buy.
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Red_Spartan said on Jun 30, 2010 at 2:48 pm...
I used to have two in the gang, Imperia and Titos, but wanted to try something new. Seen Sobieski and the name sounded familiar, obviously from here. Thought it was a little too inexpensive, $11.95/750mL, for anything I would ever put in my body, but I bought it anyhow. Until I got home and took a shot, wow! (I only drink liquor straight) Great vodka, just a notch below my other two favs. Recommend it to anyone to try something new, or dont got much money to spend. A-
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Greg said on Jul 07, 2010 at 5:25 pm...
Found it on vacation in Paris so bought it based on good reivews. Slightly smoother than Smirnoff but hardly distinguishable otherwise.
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maro said on Jul 09, 2010 at 6:37 am...
i am polish and believe me that sobieski sucks :P
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Robert said on Jul 09, 2010 at 7:25 am...
@maro What's your favorite Polish vodka? Bonus points if we can actually get it here in the US ;)
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SHawn said on Jul 10, 2010 at 1:21 am...
Great vodka. 18 bucks for 1.75 liters at Marty's in Dudley, Massachusetts. Very pleased. give it a shot
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Jessielou0330 said on Jul 11, 2010 at 4:21 pm...
I got a bottle of this as a birthday gift this year and loved it. Imagine my shock when I found out how cheap it was. Its one of my favorites (being the broke kiddo that I am).
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Scott Z. said on Jul 11, 2010 at 11:55 pm...
I FULLY agree with your review. I am Polish and have tried most all Vodka's available to me where I live, in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. When shopping at a regular supermarket the other day, I saw Sobieski priced at $10.08 a bottle!!! It was cheaper than any other Vodka, so a first I assumed it must be 'rough' & nasty. Upon reading the container (the bottle was attractively enclosed in a fancy cardboard tube package with a metal lid and bottom), I became very intrigued. How could something priced this low look so good and expensive?! I decided to go for it. (I mean, come on, $11.98??!!) Not expecting much, when I tried it straight, mixed with cranberry juice or, lemonade, as you said, I must say I literally shocked! How could it be this vodka is better in my opinion than any 'premium' high priced vodka?! I don't know, but now know I am a convert. Again, I fully agree with your well written review!
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James said on Jul 15, 2010 at 2:14 pm...
$14.44 on sale for 1.75L at Bob's Package Store in Knoxville, TN. Worth bootlegging for.
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Mitchell said on Aug 25, 2010 at 8:44 pm...
At 3 times the price, it would still be a good deal. This is a really good vodka. I got a first bottle to balance out my expensive stuff. When I finally tried it a few weeks later, I kept questioning my memory of it being cheap. The 2nd bottle confirmed it; it's cheap, and it's really good. It's now moved in to my #2 spot behind only Imperia.
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Robert said on Aug 26, 2010 at 8:08 am...
@Mitchell Don't give them any ideas! After the taste, the price is my favorite thing about this vodka ;)
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Tony Diggs said on Sep 06, 2010 at 11:22 pm...
I found this vodka in NW Iowa for the first time. Price vs. quality, this vodka is the real deal. Hopefully, the price won't go out of sight when everyone finds out how good this is. Great taste! Great value!
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richard_rodney said on Sep 08, 2010 at 5:27 pm...
A fine fine vodka that my staff member recommended and I tried. Mixes very well. So well you don't know it is there. That is either really good for you, really good for the bartender or really good for the state trooper who pulls you over. It is just all kinds of good, however please note I do not condone or promote driving while intoxicated. It is not bitter, goes down smooth and really is one of the finer vodkas I have tried.
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Jay_B said on Sep 08, 2010 at 7:34 pm...
You can literally buy 3 750s of Sobieski and still have money left over for the price of some Premium vodka brand 750s. Like others said, I feel like I stole this from a store when I drink it. It surpassed my expectations to say the least. I'm used to drinking Goose, Ultimat, Zyr, and Stoli. This is the best deal going for a premium vodka at a foot level shelf price.
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bigcor23 said on Sep 09, 2010 at 5:25 pm...
A slight btterness but very good. I would compare it Svedka. Mixes well and very affordable. I would recomend this to anyone who is just a casual vodka drinker looking good babg for the buck
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FotoGuy504 said on Sep 13, 2010 at 4:57 am...
I just found my new vodka!!! SOBIESKI is surprisingly smooth for the price.
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abenoseimei said on Sep 16, 2010 at 9:46 am...
Wifey and I just killed my 2nd bottle (I killed the 1st) in a Cape Codder marathon. She gave me hell for only buying the 750 mL when I foolishly told her that it was also available at our local packy in 1.75 L. We've been drinking Stoli for many, many years. Now we can drink twice as much. PS. I read about it here first.
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jmoore said on Sep 23, 2010 at 3:17 pm...
First time taster of Sobieski, the owner of a local spirits store convinced me to try over my usual Smirnoff. Sobieski is so smooth, I hardly notice the sting when enjoyed with my Vya vermouth. It was also 2 dollars less than my usual "cheap" stuff.
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Austijoe said 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.
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montmtg said on Nov 11, 2010 at 5:05 pm...
Sobieski is owned by the same company that makes Belvedere even though Sobieski is far above Belveder in taste. Bruce Willis is now the spokesman for Sobieski and the company sponsored and paid for a party for several hundred Veterans on board the USS Interpid on Nov. 10th. If you still need a reason to give it a try look at the price then compare the quality. This vodka is much better then the Grey Goose or would it be Geese of the world, and priced $7. to $8. less than the premium brands.
Only downside, it is so damn hard to find.
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Brad R said on Nov 12, 2010 at 8:59 pm...
The woman at my liqour store recommended Pinnacle over Vikingfjord, which I had been drinking. It was nmuch better, though still had somewhat of that rubbing alcohol odor, and too many bitter notes for me. I started reading review about Pinnacle, and came to this site, where I began reading rave reviews about Sobieski. I have seen it before, yet it is on the BOTTOM shelf at my liquor store, so I have always overlooked it. Mind you this store also seems to work from left to right as well, so It wasn't next to monarch or 5 star or anything ;)
I just opened the bottle and took my first shot. I was surprised at the lack of the odor when smelling it. It was more sweet smelling then sterilizing. The shot was nice, it was sweet and smooth, and had just enough burn. I only tasted the slightest bit of bitterness, that faded fast.
I'm a cheapo, and Pinnacle is 9.95 here, Sobieski 12.95 (on sale)
I suppose I will have to have a few more before I decide if it's that much better than pinnacle to change brands.
Appreciative for finding it nonetheless!! I like this site :)
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Sara said on Nov 13, 2010 at 8:26 pm...
I love Sobieski. Chopin is my favorite vodka, but it's still, for some reason, difficult to find in bars. I don't know why I brought that up, because so is Sobieski; bottom line, it't an excellent vokda for mixing or shooting, and I was happy to find it.
The thing that I'm worried about re: Sobieski is the fact that it is very reasonably priced. Why am I worried, you ask, when this is obviously a huge asset? It's because people who don't know anything about vodka (or any alcoholic beverage) resort to judging quality by price, which is why facial astringents like Ciroc even have a place on bar shelves. So in the end I am worried that Sobieski's fabulous price point and humble narrative will destroy it. Let's hope that doesn't happen.
This is why I am stockpiling this stuff.
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Robert said on Nov 15, 2010 at 5:33 pm...
@Brad I'm glad we could help! I'd definitely recommend Sobieski over Pennacle any day. You might also try Svedka. Sobieski and Svedka are around the same price but Svedka seems to have better distribution. Cheers!
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MikeA said on Nov 16, 2010 at 6:32 pm...
The patent company of Sobieski is called Belvedere but it has nothing to do with Belvedere vodka.
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MikeA said on Nov 16, 2010 at 9:22 pm...
You've got to be kidding me. I was told by the proprietor of a liquor store that Sobieski was Belvedere in a different bottle because Belvedere was loosing money and wanted to sell their Vodka without loosing the premium product. When I got home I did some research and it turns out that while the parent company of Sobieski is called Belvedere, it is not the same company and has nothing to do with Belvedere Vodka. However, after reading all the good reviews I tried Sobieski with an open mind and the hope that I would find a new favorite (my current favorite is Titon Glacier). I also found in Sobieski's website a picture that looked like stainless steel distillation columns, which I believe to be a superior method of distilling vodka. When I opened the bottle I also noticed that Sobieski has a clean nose, without any alcoholic, or medicinal smell. However, my optimism ended when I tasted Sobieski. I first tried it straight (a shot of 50mL). It tasted weak and watered down with very little burn, which I thought may not be such a bad thing when drinking straight vodka. A lot of people reviewed Sobieski as "smooth." Obviously, they don't know what smooth vodka is, and interpreted "weak" as "smooth". As bad as Sobieski was straight, it really failed as mixer. I made an 8 oz mixer of 50 mL Sobieski along with cranberry juice and spring water on the rocks and couldn't detect the vodka - it just tasted like cranberry juice and spring water with no burn. So I added another 50 mL of Sobieski (100 mL total) and again couldn't detect the Vodka - it just tasted like cranberry juice and spring water with no burn. My suspicion that this stuff was just weak with a watered down taste were confirmed when after having consumed 150 mL of the stuff (50 mL straight and 100 mL mixed) I had no buzz whatsoever. If you were to offer this stuff straight from the freezer to a natively born Russian he would laugh you out of the room.
Then bottom line is that with Sobieski, you get what you pay for. Like Grey Goose drinkers people that think Sobieski is a good vodka are people that don't know vodka,
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Red_Spartan said on Nov 28, 2010 at 10:22 am...
Wow, been 6 months now. And I am still buying Sobieski vodka on a regular basis. There is just nothing better in my opinion for the price, even when I have money to blow I still purchase this superb vodka. My favorite vodka being Imperia, which is very hard to get in pennsylvania right now, would be my first and only choice. So I goto my number 2 vodka Sobieski pretty much everytime. I dont know why anyone would not buy this vodka over something else, besides Imperia of course. The most smooth, best tasting vodka, least hangover potential for the price vodka in the world. I would consider myself arian, but those polish jewish people really know how to make a good vodka. Awesome those nazi bast**** didn't murder all the jews, cause they are some of the most brilliant, ingenuitive people in the world. (Einstein, Dmitri Mendeleev(created Imperia vodka in St. Petersburg!) and Adam Sandler to name a few) Thankyou god!
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AZWolverine said on Nov 29, 2010 at 12:15 am...
It's Polish, so I like it! :) I prefer potato vodkas from Poland (Luksusowa, Monopolowa), but I can't argue with the value that Sobieski represents.
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AZWolverine said on Dec 28, 2010 at 11:26 pm...
Because I spent 3 weeks of my life in Poland, and enjoyed ALL of it, I am pre-disposed to enjoy Polish vodka, of which I imbibed quite heavily in 1983. In terms of Polish vodka I generally prefer the potato variety, but Sobieski may be the best pure spirit vodka I've ever tried. Tito's Handmade is my favorite overall, but when it comes to basic vodka, Sobieski gets my vote!
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bob james said on Feb 10, 2011 at 10:03 am...
I was an "absolute" drinker until Sobieski was recommended to me. Couldn't believe, at the price, I liked it better than Absolute. The price dropped and I wondered if there were sacrifices in the process and that the taste would suffer. It doesn't seem to be a problem. 5-star recommendation.
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Mikael Rauch said on Feb 26, 2011 at 1:38 am...
This is a wonderful vodka. I normally have drank rye whisky since I have moved to Amerika, but have found myself drinking very much vodka lately. The vodkas in Amerika are mostly not very good . . . They tout Grey Goose as being the best, but even Platinum vodka is better than Grey Goose in my humble opinion. My new friends would drink such things as Monarch vodka in mixed drinks, but I decided that these friends needed to learn to love good alcohol. Since the only thing they don't mix with things is rye whisky, I found Sobieski . . . A rye vodka. This vodka makes me very reminiscent of my home, it is warm and smooth. This vodka makes the same feeling as rye whisky, it makes the warmth and coziness. Perfect for the cold winter nights!
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stilo said on Feb 28, 2011 at 7:16 pm...
Lots more bite & extraneous flavor than, say, Skyy or Stoli. Not as bad as I expected, but I wouldn't buy it.
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Carey said on Mar 04, 2011 at 5:13 pm...
I love this vodka I get it in the orange flavor I mix it with cranberry and orange juice it's so good and the price you can't beat $10 I'm hooked :•)
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Jason said on Mar 27, 2011 at 12:09 am...
Well that is quite the satire! Sobieski is an excellent vodka at a reasonable price. Vodka is cheap to make and shouldn't cost as much as a great aged scotch or rum.
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Lee said on Apr 18, 2011 at 10:59 pm...
To me, Sobieski is smoother than Svedka, which is comparably priced, and has less burn. Sobieski is my go-to vodka for this reason. It is the best of the bottom to mid-shelf vodkas and is better than the more expensive vodka! Overall my favorite, but I've only tried four vodkas. If you want the best bang for the buck though, I highly recommend Sobieski.
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Robert said on Apr 19, 2011 at 8:29 am...
@Lee we're big fans of Sobieski, but I haven't been able to find it locally recently. Even when it was readily available it was only in 750 mL bottles. Since I can get a 1.75 L of Svedka for around $20, I usually pick up Svedka for parties. I agree with you, though. I like Svedka, but I'd rather drink Sobieski. You might also like Tito's Handmade Vodka if you can find it.
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Lee said on Apr 19, 2011 at 8:08 pm...
@Robert Dang sorry to hear that! I must have some good selection here in NC then. I have had a few of the .75 liter bottles of Sobieski for around 13 a piece. The 1.75 liter was available too for 20. Can get the same sizes in Svedka for the same price. I definitely want to try Tito's next when I want to splurge a little more. That is also available here for $20 in the .75 liter and $30 for the 1.75 liter. I don't how it is in Alabama, but here you can only buy liquor at the ABC store and there are plenty around. Guess we are lucky! Also, this is a great site. It definitely helped me avoid spending more money for the more well known vodkas like Absolut, smirnoff etc that based on your reviews really aren't as good as stuff like sobieski and svedka. Thank ya very much! Time for a Sobieski nightcap now haha.
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Polish Rifle said on Apr 26, 2011 at 7:36 pm...
As a good Polish boy, and vodka martini drinker, I give it two thumbs up!!
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Dave said on Apr 27, 2011 at 1:28 am...
I picked it up on a whim. I usually buy stuff like Three Olives or Belvedere but was sick of the hole it was burning in my wallet.
It was $11 and the last time I bought a fifth that cheap it ended with me cuddling with my toilet and a hangover the size of Russia. So I was a little hesitant. But Polish vodkas have never failed me before and I just wanted to get a nice buzz going.
It's great. First shot instantly took me back to the first time I took had one in a Krakow bar. This is now my vodka of choice. And for $12 it's impossible to go wrong.
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Crozski said on Apr 27, 2011 at 2:37 pm...
Solid price performer. In Illinois $20 for a 1.75L bottle. I drink it on the rocks, smooth and limited flavor. I prefer Goose or F'in but my paycheck appreciates Sobieski. I doubt many would know the difference if you put it in a higher end bottle. I would say it's better than Sky or Smirnoff, less bite.
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edsmithusa said on May 03, 2011 at 8:29 am...
I'm in Florida and first got a glass handle with a metal screw-on lid at Publix Liquors. I was expecting something similar to Smirnoff because it was priced exactly the same or maybe a buck more. When I swigged it from the bottle it went down nice and smooth.
I finished that a week ago and just went to Norman's Liquors which is very good on price and stocks a lot of varying inventory. The difference was the bottle is plastic and has a plastic lid. The proce is 16.99 tax for the plastic handle. The taste, however, is the same from what I can tell.
Overall this is a good stock vodka. None of the russian "bite", just all smooth with little aftertaste or burn. I really enjoy it.
Give it a shot.
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taffyg2003 said on May 15, 2011 at 7:23 pm...
@Robert, I have been a fan of Sobieski and had made it my "freezer" vodka at home. However, for only a couple of dollars more per fifth, Luksusowa Vodka is even smoother, creamier (it's a potato vodka), and sweeter. It also avoids the slight bitter aftertaste that I find Sobieski presents. If you can find it, I would pick up a bottle to enjoy and review. ;)
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Robert said on May 19, 2011 at 6:14 pm...
I just found out the other day that one of the the ABC Stores here in Birmingham are carrying Sobieski again. I was pretty stoked, but they also have a gift set of 360 for $16 (comes with two sandstone coasters). So, it's a tough choice, and, of my "freezer vodkas", I can only get a 1.75 L of Svedka. So... It's a tough choice.
I've only heard great things about Luksusowa. Unfortunately, I haven't seen it around here. I'll keep an eye out next time I'm traveling. Hopefully going out to Austin before fall. Maybe I'll find it there!
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Neil said on May 21, 2011 at 11:06 pm...
Did a blind taste test with smirnoff. Not even close, Sobieski is smoother.
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Ethan said on Jun 04, 2011 at 8:57 pm...
Drinking a neat Sobeiski martini now. You write well.
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Elliott said on Jun 23, 2011 at 5:29 pm...
Did the same as Neil, blind taste test with Smirnoff and Sobieski.... Sobieski wins! I also did a blind taste test with Tito's and Sobiesk.... Sobieski wins! YTBMV (Your Taste Buds May Vary)
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sting.ruffoni said on Aug 02, 2011 at 1:52 am...
That's because it is better than GG.
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sting.ruffoni said on Aug 02, 2011 at 1:52 am...
That's because it is better than the over rated GG.
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sting.ruffoni said on Aug 02, 2011 at 2:11 am...
You probably should try it again, this vodka is great.
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sting.ruffoni said on Aug 02, 2011 at 2:13 am...
I can't believe you are saying this. Maybe you got a bad batch or something. Sobieski is one hell of a great vodka.
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Rob said on Aug 02, 2011 at 8:31 am...
Obviously, this many people's tastes cannot be wrong. I didn't think the Sobieski was bad, but thought it had a pretty harsh middle-bite to it. Went down relatively smooth and does have nice vanilla and pepper after tones.
For about the same price, I think I found one better than them all and it's not Belvedere which is grossly over-rated.
I discovered Russian Shot while looking for Belvedere one day. Tried them both. For half the price, the Russian Shot is at least as good if not better.
http://productreviewratings.com/2011/07/belvedere-vodka/
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sting.ruffoni said on Aug 03, 2011 at 3:23 am...
It not only tastes great but the aroma of Sobieski is incredible.
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Poloniaguy said on Aug 31, 2011 at 4:04 pm...
Sobieski in IL is 17.99 a 1.75L. For grain alcohol it is the best period for taste, value, and the the bottle looks top notch with the eagle godlo. For Potato vodka I drink Luksusowa for the same reason. But seriously if you have the money polish specialty vodkas blow any of these away. Medos which is honey rectified vodka or zubrowka bison grass vodka. One day when I make enough I might buy dembowa oak rectified vodka but at $35 for a 750 even though the bottle is wooden I can't justify that unless it is a ultra special occasion. Bottom line Sobieski wins by default.
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Edward said on Sep 14, 2011 at 9:13 am...
I have never heard of any of these vodkas (sobeski, titos, svedka, crystal head) before i found this website. I was at my local food 4 less and was about to spend $20 on svedka, i than remembered hearing about sobeski on here and saw the price. i instantly bought it. i have not drank vodka in a couple months, i have had it in the freezer for about 20 minutes and i am gonna shoot it on an empty stomach. i say this because i want you to understand im not in the mood to drink.
Just took the shot and i will say NO vodka is good on an empty stomach, but upon taking the shot, it was very easy to swallow. the bitterness was not over powering and i could taste the sweetness. overall i think its way under priced. i am gonna make a mix drink with cranberry cocktail and hopefully it comes out well.
thank you all from this site for bringing this brand to my attention.
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Robert said on Sep 14, 2011 at 10:00 am...
You're very welcome, Edward. Glad we could help! But, hey, underpriced is good! Enjoy it!
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Edward said on Sep 14, 2011 at 1:08 pm...
all i have to say is i mixed it with cranberry COCKTAIL, which sucks, and it still tatses amazing, SOBIESKIFOR LIFE, when society crashes and we're trading liquor for materials, ill have sobieski. im fucking drunk >.>
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kayuh said on Sep 28, 2011 at 9:18 pm...
Next one on my list to try. like someone else said, I've never paid that little for vodka. Cheapest I've bought was probably Finlandia for a mixer for a party. Glad to see this review.
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Mike said on Oct 05, 2011 at 9:14 am...
I've been a long time Ketel One fan, but all I can say is go buy a few dozen cases before the price goes up !! Only thing I've had better (and not much) is Chopin at more than double the price.
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sting.ruffoni said on Nov 20, 2011 at 3:11 am...
Wrong.......................
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smufanpratt said on Dec 02, 2011 at 6:02 pm...
Sobieski is the second best Vodka after Belvedere that I've tried. The price is wonderful and the Vodka is very smooth.Its wonderful if you're on a budget.
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taffyg2003 said on Dec 06, 2011 at 7:39 pm...
I would say that Sobieski is the best budget vodka that I know. In fact, I consider it to be one of the best vodkas regardless of price.
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Sara said on Dec 09, 2011 at 7:53 pm...
@MikeA: I wonder if you got a bad bottle, as absurd as this sounds, simply because your experience was so odd. I'm with you on the smoothness and the disappearing into the mixer (although I confess that Sobieski is not my go-to for a sipping vodka). But the fact that it didn't light you up? Baffled. I've definitely seen it sneak up on a couple of my friends who, like you, couldn't taste it in mixed drinks, assumed the drinks were weak, and started adding extra (only to find that they were smashed about 30 mins later), but you seem to be saying that it simply did not affect you. I must say that this is a problem I have never had or seen.
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mukky105 said on Jan 19, 2012 at 7:11 pm...
This is actually my 2nd favourite vodka. Great for mixing and pretty smooth for shots. My favourite is Luksusowa, be cool to see a review of that if you can get it where you are, it's another great bang for your buck vodka.
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Patrick said on Jan 21, 2012 at 9:20 am...
The best polish vodka is Sobieski, place 2-Gorzka żołądkowa, 3-Smirnoff. The best in the world is Sobieski and Absolut(from Sweden)
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taffyg2003 said on Jan 27, 2012 at 4:01 pm...
@mukky105, I agree that Sobieski is a terrific inexpensive vodka. I also agree that Luksosowa is even better, but a little less inexpensive. I have been shifting between the two as my affordable "house vodka" recently. ;)
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cjinsomniac said on Feb 02, 2012 at 3:11 am...
Drinking it right now. Sobi is a killer to even most high-dollar brands. I personally like it better than Tito's, less burn on the back end, and a sweetness which all but eclipses the bitter note. My only problem with Sobi is it's entirely too easy to drink, and too easy to afford, for my own good.
This is a great site and forum, and I tried Tito's and Sobi after reading reviews and comments here. Will try some others when my tax return gets here.
Thanks to Robert and all those whose comments steered me away from less deserving and more expensive liquors.
I was a Scotch drinker but have switched to vodka for its economy and lower level of hangover toxins.
Tito's and Sobi have given me a chance to appreciate fine liquors outside of my normal stomping grounds.
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cjinsomniac said on Feb 02, 2012 at 3:22 am...
This is better for sipping than Tito's IMHO, which is crazy to me, in that I never would have believed any vodka could be a sipping drink. Taking shots with unsweetened iced tea with lime, have also mixed with OJ and Xenergy, it's all good.
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