I usually buy Smirnoff because it is reasonably priced and it has a reasonably smooth taste, I think.. I never drink it straight, always with a sweet mixer of some sort. I think the higher priced vodkas like grey goose and belvedere are overrated, especially if you need to consume enough booze every night to completely forget your past mistakes and numb the pain caused from old injuries. For the price, I think Smirnoff does the trick just fine and guarantees that I will not remember posting this review tomorrow.

I’ve decided to rate Smirnoff today because I have got into many debates with my Bartending buddies about quality when it comes to vodka. I myself am a bartender an have used Smirnoff in a few cocktail competitions around the U.S. and England. Smirnoff in essence is the standard at which the the vodka balance beam sits. On one end is high quality vodkas like Ketel One and Chopin and on the other you have Aristocrat and Burnetts/Pinnnacle etc. Most Americans are off put by the bite and astringent introduction that Smirnoff presents. The truth is there is a difference in burns and initial flavors. Smirnoff is unique in its consistency all the way through. No awkward mouth feel or even soft calm notes. It’s a medium burn all the way through which means your first shot will taste like your last. Smirnoff is is more appropriate in mixed drinks involving fresh fruits. The strength of the vodka helps expedite the infusion of the fruit in most decent mixed drinks. Smirnoff works well in Martinis that use vermouth but not as well in ones that don’t. The truth is Smirnoff is a victim of the designer vodka movement of the early 2000’s. Brands like Grey Goose and Belvedere relied heavily on aristocratic word of mouth and packaging. Don’t get me wrong I believe them to still be exceptional vodkas but they have definitely muddled the impact of Smirnoff and even Stoli as being exceptional vodkas.

I wasn’t surprised at all when I saw the “2” rating on this vodka. The ratings on this site are always diametrically opposed to my own opinions, with the justifications nonsensical to me.

I don’t understand the point to reviewing/rating vodka or, really, anything that is subjective. People just want to be heard, I guess. That’s why I’m posting my own review. I still find it interesting how people state opinions as if they are fact. But just like aggressive driving, I never used to do it, yet will resort to it now because everyone else does:

Smirnoff “Red Label” is a much cleaner, less nasty-tasting of Sobieski. If you took a shot of Smirnoff and added about 7 drops of public toilet water and a couple drops of week-old coffee, you’d have Sobieski.

I don’t find any problematic burn or aftertaste with Smirnoff. And as always, I take my vodka neat 99% of the time, because I actually like vodka and want to taste it.

I like this vodka.

I’m with the reviewer on this one. Smirnoff Red is OK and perfectly drinkable, but the grades above it (Blue and Black) are significantly tastier.

On the opposing view point, although Smirnoff is a low priced vodka it actually always gets ranked highly in blind taste testing. I feel the reason that people decide not to “desire” the taste is because they feel it is cheap so it must be a “low-end” vodka… In reality Smirnoff is a cheap vodka because they sell so much of it therefore giving them the ability to keep prices low and consumers happy. Many “high-end” restaurants and bars use this as their well vodka to keep consumers satisfied and let them know they are getting quality. If you decide to go otherwise because some think price = quality hit up some Ciroc which is one of my favs… easy to drink on the rocks with a lime

Smirnoff is simply your run-of-the-mill vodka. It’s not bad; it’s not good. Shooting Smirnoff requires a chaser. I rarely chase with vodka but Smirnoff burns pretty damn bad. If mixing cocktails, Smirnoff is great! In summation, buy Smirnoff if you don’t have even money for top shelf, but you don’t want cheap vodka. I give it a C- for shooting and a B for mixing.

It’s vodka. Nothing more, nothing less. It has the typical burn of vodka, with the taste if nothing (except ethanol). The burn is more harsh than other vodka’s, and the ethanol ‘taste’ is of very pooor quality. Other vodka’s have a smooth burn with a taste that imparts a more fox outfit mouthfeel. This vodka does what vodka needs to do. Taste like nothing and get you a buzz, but just like water, some taste better than others despite it being water. I would drink this when available and for nostalgia (14 years old stealing Grandpa’s vodka), but I buy other brands for my daily consumption.

I agree. Smirnoff is definitely not as bad as McCormick vodka but not much better. Smirnoff is about 95% hype and 5% quality in my opinion. For years now I’ve drank Grey Goose (best I’ve found) when feeling rich and Svedka when I’m feeling poor. Svedka is very affordable and seems to be very decent quality. Two other cheap vodkas have impressed me: New Amsterdam and Skyy. When I’m shooting for the middle I go with Tanqueray Sterling. Kettle One seems pretty good but not worth the price. Just as good of a vodka can be had for much less money. As for Smirnoff… it must be filled with contaminants because every time I try it, the taste is harsh and I ALWAYS have a hangover and headache the next day when I almost never get that from anything else I drink. (Wine/Gin/Vodka/Whiskey). I consider Smirnoff to be like Dodge… all hype and no substance.

Drank Smirnoff last night, I don’t know if my palette was just spiced up after dinner or what, but it burnt like hell. Cheaper vodka should definitely be drunk chilled.

I don’t think this should be considered from Russia, what is sold here is made in America.

The Smirnoff available in North America is just OK. Unfortunately for those of us who live there, a member of the Smirnoff family sold the North American rights to the Smirnoff name to Heublein back in the 1930s, and so you have to go elsewhere to get the good stuff. Black Label Smirnoff can hold its own against any premium vodka that I’ve tried, and that’s quite a few of them. If you’re lucky enough to find some, I definitely recommend it.

I’m just now getting into vodka and so far the only ones that have been the best are stoli sobeski and Smirnoff. With that being said Smirnoff is a good vodka I like it on the rocks and I like the burn that comes with it not bad in tast or price

Smirnoff is the lowest I can go.. I get sick off every bottom shelf vodka I’ve tried. I only sort of feel queasy the next morning after Smirnoff.

Smirnoff is only a small step above the cheap vodkas. The finish has an unpleasant, almost overwhelming alcoholic taste and burn.

Very clean on the nose, not much else to detect. It has a slightly sweet mineral flavor, with some medicinal alcohol kicking in later. By no means my favorite, but it does represent a respectable value.

I thought it would be good because of the name is one of the most famous. Wow I took a shot at my gf’s house and it burned horrible, tasted like you would think rubbing alcohol would taste like. I am glad vodkabuzz doesnt care for it either cause most people say it is pretty good, it is really bad.

started drinking a few months ago. Tried Svedka the bought some Smirnoff, Smirnoff def. had me feeling queasy the next day.

Sobieski is much better for about the same price. Smirnoff is like drinking water.

I make my friends do blind taste tests of beer and booze; it is amazing how biased one’s taste buds can get by believing marketing hype or admiring a nice bottle. Smirnoff is one that constantly surprises, beating lots of boutique and far more expensive brands of vodkas consistently, such as Belvedere, Absolut, Skyy, and plenty more. For reference, I put Stoli Elit at the top of my list, with Goose up there too. Kettel One I also love. But as another reviewer put it, Smirnoff is the lowest you should accept at a bar or club, and it should almost always be on the shelf (it is actually, or was recently, the best selling spirit in the western world). It has also won many awards over the years…so I kinda have to laugh at some of these folks talking about the ‘burn’ and hangover symptoms they experienced. It easily earns a 4 for me. Do some blind tests before forming a snobbish opinion! ;-)

When it comes to vodka, what are you really looking for? The aftertaste, or burn? I rarely buy anything more expensive than smirnoff. I will shell out for stoli sometimes. Smirnoff is about as good as vodka gets. No upfront flavors, aftertaste is alcoholic and grainy. The nose is nonexistant, which when compared to borski (5 bucks for a fifth) is a good thing. The burn is medium and stays on the tongue. All in all, smirnoff is vodka, a good vodka. when you buy grey goose, belvedere, or ciroc your paying for less burn and smoothness…….way to take all the fun out of it!!!

I have a question regarding Smirnoff. In the US it is made in the US, in Europe it is made in UK or Italy. Why is this? Could someone bring some clarity to this please? From what I have understood they only do own distilling in the UK, otherwise they only buy already rectified alcohol, is this correct?

What I’d like to know is how was Smirnoff favored over other vodkas like Grey Goose and Ketel One in The New York Times taste test?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/dining/26wine.html

What a wonderful example of how proper advertising can sell absolute garbage. Svedka is cheaper and miles better. Get some class and donate this to the homeless guy down the street.