Frankly I’m not the guy to talk about Vodka. My take on vodka is that it is what people drink when they don’t want to know they are drinking. It's a chick drink. It has unfortunately been the whipping boy of every dilletante marketing firm in the world AND the bedrock of every drunken co-ed blog ever written. Are there nice vodkas? sure. And turkey can be a really nice entree.
Keep in mind that vodka, perfectly made, is absolutely tasteless. It is pure ethanol that is watered back. So any vodka that claims to any kind of taste has to have been made less perfectly. They are in a bind. That's why vodkas are hyped so much. Having said that, search out vodkas based on source product: potato, wheat, rye, wheat, quinoa, grapes, apples, maple syrup, molasses . . . . . The nuances affect your drink.
Finally, they do act as a very admirable cutter, I must say. A number of liqueurs have a fabulous taste, but it is only accessible if cut down to size. Think Black Russian. Without Vodka, Kahlua wouldn’t sell a case a year. For you people in Seattle think Starbucks Coffee without the dairy industry. A strong dose of your favorite cloying liqueur and a shot of vodka over ice can be quite refreshing.
For this category
[1]s are all you need, [in fact Boyd & Blair is all the vodka you need period]
[2]s will satisfy the need of some friend you actually like, but the
[3]s will simply be pretentious. . . .
. . . not to say there aren't times when you need something pretentious to pull out, if just to shut up some even more over-bearing guest. But the one thing you will never need, unless you are some stuttering frat boy or some graduate TA on the prowl, is flavored vodka. I would explain myself further but I'm not worried that enough people will read this far.
Yes, yes - Pearl Plum and Subrosa Saffron are listed below. The irony, even hypocrisy, is not lost on me. But the Pearl Plum in combo with the Huckleberry Liqueur makes the most spectacular Lemon Drop variation you've ever had. (The Pau makes the best traditional Lemon Drop.) And the Saffron is simply the only viable entry into what has been referred to as the savory drink market. [There is a Saffron Gin, but it pales in comparison]. Pair the Saffron vodka with Domaine du Canton Ginger Liqueur and you'll win every drink contest you ever enter.