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Tomato Picks
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The Three Tomatoes Reviewers do a blind tasting test of vodkas
"I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade...
And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party."
Comic Ron White
You know The Three Tomatoes love our martinis and we have the standard “Grey Goose Dirty Martini” order at restaurants, but do we really know which vodka we like best? Thanks to the small airline bottles that our local liquor shop carries, our very unscientific panel of six testers did a blind tasting. We’ll share the results with you and this little tip: smuggle some of those little bottles in your bra to take to places where vodka may not be readily available, like to a beer swilling Mets game, so you too can imbibe with your friends.
We tested Absolut, Ciroc, Grey Goose, IDÔL, Ketel One, Level (by Absolut), Skyy, and Smirnoff. And one connoisseur tested Ultimat, which doesn’t come in those little airline size bottles yet..
Absolut
CircocGrey Goose IDÔL Ketel One
CircocGrey Goose IDÔL Ketel One 750 ml $19.99750 ml . $29.99750 ml $27.99 750 ml. $24.99 750 ml . $24.99
750 ml . $29.99750 ml $27.99 750 ml. $24.99 750 ml . $24.99Level (by Absolut) Skyy Smirnoff Ultimat (Patron)
750 ml . $24.99 750 ml $11.99750 ml $11.99 750 ml $44.99
750 ml $11.99750 ml $11.99 750 ml $44.99The middle category
Among our testers, most vodka seemed to fall in the middle category where the testers didn’t love it, but didn’t hate it either. This included Level, Ketel One, IDÔL, and Absolut.
The Bottom of the list
At the bottom of the list was Skyy vodka, known as the bang for the buck mixer vodka, as dead last among 4 testers, but 1 reviewer really liked it and thought it was smooth. But, she was on pain meds, so she didn’t know what she was talking about anyway (please don’t write us—we are kidding). Meanwhile, one taster described it as “having burned my nose hairs off- so much for not being able to smell vodka.” Smirnoff didn’t fare much better. This was a blind taste test, but maybe you do get what you pay for among vodkas. Since most people tend to mix vodka, you might be better off with an Absolut, which one reviewer described as “having no smell, and smooth". We always shunned it as one of those mass brands, but we’ve become converts. Especially, if we’re mixing it. This is our new bloody mary vodka. ”
Those French Vodkas
Two of our vodkas, IDÔL and Ciroc are French vodkas made from French grapes using the same techniques found in winemaking. And yes, you can taste the difference. Our entire group ranked Ciroc as the King of Vodkas. “Smooth, tastes fruity. ” “Great, not harsh at all.”
IDÔL also has a distinct smell and taste, but did not rank as high as Ciroc. Ciroc has an ad campaign featuring Diddy in a Rat Pack-esque TV spot. We agree with Diddy-- and we would party with him anytime.
Ultimat. From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave Us Tequila Patron
And this review came from one tomato husband tester who is a true vodka drinker. Unfortunately, he missed our taste test, but wanted to share his latest fav with this review below. We can’t wait to try. But then again at $44.95 a bottle, maybe we can wait.
It ain't cheap but it tastes great. Imported from Poland, the potato and grain based brain cell killer comes in an extraordinary deep blue and clear glass 750ML display worthy container. For those of you who like to keep your libations out in the open, this is a real conversation starter. Attached to the bottle's neck, an unusual structure in itself, is a hang tag which outlines two drink recipes that will keep the folks intrigued-the "Altimat Martini" and the Ultimat Blue Persuasion." Give this baby a try! If your favorite liquor store doesn't have it, get nasty! Don't take no for an answer.
And The Three Tomatoes #1 vodka is...
Ciroc. Now Grey Goose, you know we will always love you. We just found a new BFF (Best French Friend) that we’ve been hanging out with these days. You and Ciroc both come from the Cognac region in France, but the grapes are just different than the wheat you are made with. You are still good and handsome enough. I hope we can still be friends. It’s not you, it’s me.
