Everyone always talks so bad about poor Popov, but, really, it’s a good drink. I’ve been drinking it for years. It was the first (and thus far only) vodka I found I actually enjoy drinking. It’s probably some of the cheapest alcohol you can come by that hasn’t been made in someone’s bathtub, and I’ve never gotten sick off it. Grey Goose, Sky, Absolut, all have made me sick and taste horrible.

Popov is kind of like that quiet guy that sits in the corner of the coffee shop. He’s a great conversationalist, has a great job, is totally loaded, and, all in all, is the perfect guy, but most people won’t give him a chance because he always orders the cheapest thing on the menu and doesn’t wear high dollar clothes. The price tag doesn’t necessitate the inside.

I love popov vodka. The taste and the drunk and next day are all very exceptional. I never get a hangover from this stuff. I like to take double shots with a chaser of water. Not because the taste is to rough, or to prevent a bad hangover, but to be able to drink much longer and have my liver less effected : ). Also the price is right. How can you beat 10 bucks a handle and be that drinkable? Treat the popov good and she will treat you good.

the f…ing best in usa so far and this comment comes from a a man who had a chance to grow up in Siberia. thank you all. very clear quality!!!!

Wow!!! I’m so surprised to hear that not a lot of people like popov its my favorite!!! And it does not taste like smirnoff… I guess I’m a tough chic because I like to drink it straight with a chaser… I usually buy mountain dew or red bull! I hardly ever get a hang over but than again a hangover is about mixing drinks and how much you drank not the liquor buts that’s my opinion. I love vodka!!

Perhaps many of the reviewers aren’t old enough to remember the New York Ties Magazine article on vodka that was published quite a few years ago. In it, Smirnoff executives admitted that Smirnoff and Popov came our of the same spigot, Popov being unadvertised and thus enabling Smirnoff to have an entry in the lower-cost market.

I drank Smirnoff for years. I mix … lemon / lime soda and a slice of lime. Drink more than my fair share. Tasted Popov for the first time at a cocktail reception at an old time Southern law firm. I asked for vodka at an after hours in the conference room and they had to dig out a dusty bottle from the back of a cabinet. I was the only guy in the room not drinking a Scotch or a wisky. At any rate I thought it tasted just like Smirnoff.

Being a cheapskate I bought a bottle the next time I was out and said I’d try it. Always liked Smirnoff. Have drank tons of other top brands at friends, relatives, parties, etc. but always enjoyed and bought Smirnoff.

Again Popov tasted just like Smirnoff to me, and like Smirnoff I could and can drink mass quantities without getting hungover.

As for drinking straight up … not my thing … my guess is it isn’t the best, nor would Smirnoff be. I think I actually enjoy mixing vodkas that are not so smooth. My parents prefer Stoli’s for instance and I think it lacks something in a drink.

Popov vodka is the diamond in the rough among the ‘bottom shelf’ liquors. I currently work full time as a bar tender and as a full-time father to six little ankle biters. My wife is a crab fisherman so she’s away on fishing trips regularly throughout the year. I don’t mean to bore you with my life story, but when I finish up a long hard day of work, and the little ones are finally fed and put to bed, nothing satisfies me more than draining the warm pint of popov waiting for me on my nightstand.

One of the best bottom shelf vodka’s available. Very neutral, in a good way. Not much of a burn, has kind of an oily quality to it. Not bad at all for the price. I really recommend it if you’re on a budget actually.

Me and my wife recently bought a pint of popov red label (820500). We just would like to let you know that it smelled like whisky and tasted like whisky, But it was clear like vodka. We were happy with the taste and were wanting to let you know our happiness with your product but this has never happened before.
Sincerely,
Terry Jackson

College students have been known to call this Russia’s Finest

Popov is a solid product for the price. Popov is by far the best bottoem shelf vodka on the market that I have ever had. For the quality, it should be higher priced, but my guess is that it wouldn’t sell due to the name and outdated packaging.

This is definitely the best economy vodka out there. Sure, it is no Svedka, Absolute, or Grey Goose, but when you are looking to drink on a budget, Popov is a great option to have. I usually mix it with soda of some kind or simply chase shots with soda. The taste isn’t great, but it’s bearable and gets the job done.

Did not give me a hangover, unlike sky and Smirnoff among others. Taste is bearable. Price is awesome.

doesn’t taste horrible but certainly isn’t the best i’ve had either. for some reason it tastes much worse in mixed drinks than it does straight. it’s cheap and drinkable and for a lot of people that’s all that matters so.

come on. vodka by definition is tasteless, colorless and odorless. has anyone ever done a blind taste test??? i recently switched from whiskey to vodka – mainly because of price…but the surprising thing is Popov doesn’t give me any hangover whatsoever. Even cheap vodka is probably healthier than whiskey because of the nominal amount of congeners.

For the price-$11.99 for a 1.75 liter Popov is at the top of its game.
Don’t get me wrong here-My ratings of the top three vodkas you can buy are #1) ZYR #2)Deneka and #3 Belvedere. and for about $20.00 you can purchase a 1.75 liter of Deneka for $20.00 no other Vodka in this price range can touch it.
I am 50 years young and with the exception of a special ocassion(New Years, July 4th, Wedding, not the Weekend my minimum is 2 shots in a standard 1.5oz shot glass and my maximum is the same.
Side by Side you pour a shot of Grey Goose and a shot of Popov and there is little if any difference.
But if you have the bucks, once you try ZYR that is it-smooth as silk and Deneka is right on its heels at 1/2 the price with no sacrafice of quality.

Popov is Distilled once and filtered once. Smirnoff is the same recipe as Popov, however Smirnoff is Distilled Three Times and Filtered Ten Times.
mk-

This sounds just like Crystal Palace (which seems to take Popov’s place up here as I’ve never seen it in stores).

All good reviews, all fine opinions. Over the years in my operation of two liquor stores and dealing with many salesmen, I have come to the conclusion that Popov and Smirnoff come from the same spigot. There are a lot worse vodkas than Popov. Now the Mad Men of the Avenue have just hyped these other vodkas to high heaven. Just another fine opinion. Thank You.

I just bought a large bottle of Popov for making a cherry liqueur. It will take about 3 months to complete. If you are going to drink Popov, I would suggest it come from the freezer or be mixed with something else. Do NOT just shoot it warm. I am old fashioned so I am still in the Stolichnaya camp. Grey Goose and others are smooth but not what I think vodka is about. I want to be toasting with icy shooters and declaring the eventual victory of Communism.

i like bloody marys and i have them at the bar. i got a bottle of popov to make my own at home and it tasted ok but after a few gave me a headache and i felt like i went on a bender. why.

I am 50 years old and have some of the worlds finest vodkas. I put ZYR as the best vodka I have ever tasted with Kettle One,Deneka, and Tito’s Handmade at the top in that order.
By the way ABC carries Deneka and this is a vodka that can be purchased in the less than $20.00 range for a 1.75 liter and blows away anything else at that price(of course my opinion)
For the price, I don’t think you will find a cleaner vodka than popov and a straight shot is fine with me. I really don’t find much difference between Popov and Grey Goose other than price.
Though for a Vodka you are not going to mix with Juice, I again defer to Deneka. And if you have the bucks, once you try ZYR you will drink nothing else if you are a true vodka aficiando.

My wife and I are Martini drinkers we have always enjoyed Popov Vodka. We do enjoy the Premium Vodkas with Guest but I personally like Popov. Now the reason for this comment I purchased a 1.75 Liters bottle UPS Code #8200010969 3 It was the worst tasting Alcohol I ever put in my mouth, both my wife and I dumped our Martini’s out. It tasted like rubbing Alcohol. Was this a bad batch and have you had other complaints..I bought another bottle since in a totally different area and it was what I usually enjoy. What happened…If I had this experience again I will have to change my brand choice.

Kamchatka is the cheapest and biggest seller I believe in Ohio, but the other month I saw Popov was competitively priced and gave it a try. I guess Diagio is going after mass market. I think it’s dandy. Far smoother than Kamchatka. For the price I’m sold.

I usually buy popov when I want to drink vodka and have for years but, twice in the last year or so, I have gotten popov that smells and tastes like turpentine!!! Yuk ! Today once again I am going to pour it out on the ground. I am not happy and would like my money back. The worst part of this is, I live in a dry county and its a 38 mile round trip to the liquor store. I am done with Popov

One of the worse vodkas Ive happened to come across. When I drink other vodkas with my friends and we come across a really bad one we judge it on if its worse than popov; if it is we declare it undrinkable. Also one of the worse hangovers I’ve ever had.

Popov has a really really bad rap and really, deservedly so taste-wise. But when you’re poor or unemployed or both there is nothing better to be had. It’s a shelf above the stuff like Gordon’s or Kamchatka so you don’t have to feel like SO much of a loser buying it (think the difference between buying MD 20/20 and Sutter Home). I agree Popov is NOT meant to be taken straight. Buy a 2-liter of 7-Up or some tonic or a canister of Country Time and you’re set. Sometimes vodka is not meant for sipping or savoring, sometimes you just want to get drunk. Popov burns all the way down so you know how much you’ve had and it makes you feel it so maybe you won’t go overboard. It’s definitely not the best you can buy but you can do worse.

Decent for the price. Does the job. Better than Country Club but not as good as Tito’s. Will purchase again when finances are a little tight.

First learned of Popov working as a bartender in Nathan’s in Washington DC. It was the rail vodka. Then I saw the results of a blind taste test in the Washingtonian magazine of a full range of vodkas available at the time, around 1990. Popov was second or third. Therefore why pay more? Put it in a Grey Goose bottle if your friends are snobs.

Read the labels on Smirnoff and Popov. Both are produced in the same plant in Connecticut. I read in an older A.B.C. monthly that Smirnoff wants to control all 3 vodka markets: Top shelf, middle, and bottom shelf vodkas. Therefore, they have Popov for their mid-line and Relska for their bottom line. They want to sell to buyers in all economic markets. And, being that it is much cheaper to distill and filter everything the same way, they can make more money by using the same product in all 3 brands!?
I have not tried a blind taste test between Popov and Smirnoff, but I will. I do know that Smirnoff beat all the top-shelf premium vodkas in blind taste tests. Grey Goose fared very poorly.

Popov and cheap liqueurs have their purpose. If you’re throwing a party and don’t feel like burning up thousands on pricy booze, then the cheap stuff is the way to go. Or if you want to make a few cocktails and need cheap stuff to mix, then take the low road. But buyer beware. If your intent is to get drunk and you get a 1.75 liter for $10.99, well you’re basically asking to get violently sick and be stuck nursing a hangover the next day. And we’ve all been there, even me. Standing in a liquor store with another with another week until payday debating if the 1.75 for $10.99 or $29.99 is the one to get, and we get the cheapest stuff for our money, only to be regretting the next morning. So, be wise, learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others.

Got me drunk, didn’t taste all that bad. Worst hangover of my life! I Probably had food poising – I hope.

No. Just no. I’ve had this. A couple times at college, and once out in the woods with travelin’ kids. It’s a few dollars more than bottom shelf and possibly less caustic than the most infamous of locals (e.g, Rubinoff, Mr. Boston’s, Poland Spring). I certainly purged my stomach linings. Every time. It was a bittersweet night. Every time. I do recall, the last time I had it, while coffee was no savior and food was not an option, I was half-human by noon. That’s a step above the gutter-tier. Regardless, solid, reasonable middle-class glass-bottled vodkas aren’t much more. Scrounge your couch cushions for a bit longer. Drink less. Compromise some how. Whatever the solution, it’s worth it, as Popov is plainly caustic going down, going up, and traveling throughout your body too.

I must note, I’ve only had it straight from the handle, no chaser in sight. I didn’t know people consumed fare such as Popov otherwise!

I actually liked this vodka. Sure, it wasn’t the best tasting, but it went done smooth when shooting. Mixing cocktails with Popov is great. It’s an inexpensive vodka that doesn’t hurt your wallet. In my opinion, it’s a tier below Smirnoff.

I tried Popov starting yesterday. I started feeling seriously ill almost immediately. Lots of heaving. I finally started looking up its reputation, which is how I got here.

Damn guys you just gotta take it straight. Man up and down it. But just a warning it hits you like a ton of bricks; I would say its a heavier hitter than a lot of other vodkas (Absolut, grey goose, smirnoff). It’s good to buy in a pinch, but smirnoff is definitely the better choice if you can cough up a few extra bucks.

This is the worst vodka I’ve ever had the misfortune to drink, and I drink a lot of vodka.

Jet fuel.

This vodka is awful and you’ll get a nasty hangover from it

What in Hell are all of you talking about! Popov is HORRIBLE! It smells just like rubbing alcohol, and tastes like I imagine RA would. Either your reviews are fake or you REEEEEALY don’t have much experience with vodkas. It’s brutally bad. I WILL NEVER BUY POPOV AGAIN!