Russian Standard Vodka

Alright but not great

#2 in the vodka lineup. The nose is both peppery and a little sweet, a little more "brooding" than a typical vodka, if that makes sense. The palate is surprisingly full, with a pleasantly oily mouthfeel, punctuated with vanilla and wheat flavors. After a moment, the initial flavor subsides and becomes more neutral. A creaminess comes through at the end with a sharp note (probably wheat related), and a little dryness and heat. This placed #2 on my list because it really is the "standard" of vodka: neutral enough to pair with anything, and interesting enough to taste, yet not eccentric. It is also under $20, and doesn't pretend to be something that only nobles should drink. You can clean a flask with this stuff without feeling guilty. Have I ever used it to sterilize a wound? Of course I have. Who hasn't? It is highly-distilled "nothing" juice, further matured in absolutely nothing. But it does its job well WHILE exemplifying what typical notes found in vodka should be, and that makes it successful in my opinion. It does help to propagate that annoying (and completely false) anecdote about Dmitri Mendeleev "inventing" 80 proof liquor, but I'll let that one slide if it means that more vodka drinkers will Google "Dmitri Mendeleev". Character: Vanilla and pepper Smoothness: 2, Overall: 3.5

One of my true favourites. Classic, smooth, clean vodka as it's supposed to be.