| Product: |
Smirnoff Vodka |
| Date: |
20/03/08 (485 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Fun for nights out, nice when mixed properly...
Disadvantages: Foul tasting by itself, not the cheapest...
Now, I doubt there are many of us who actually drink Vodka for its taste; it's not the nicest tasting (or smelling) thing in the world, but if you shop around, you can at least discover some tolerable Vodka drinks. My favourite Vodka is Russian standard, but as far as fairly affordable, readily available counterparts go, Smirnoff is the middle-ground marriage between quality product and affordability.
It is worth mentioning the alcoholic volume of Smirnoff first and foremost; it is 37.5%, and so is fairly strong (much stronger than beer, and don't trick yourself into thinking you're drinking Smirnoff Ice, for Christ's sake!:P). Dependent on the size of the bottle (from 1 litre to 1.5 litres) the unit count of the bottle can range from approximately 28 units to 40 units. I have managed to drink an entire 28-unit bottle in a sitting before (accompanied by mixers), although I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to feel INCREDIBLY drunk, and due to the nature of this site I shouldn't condone such activity anyway...
Sure, one can drink Vodka on its own, although I find that most Vodkas tend to leave a burning sensation that is akin to that of Whiskey, but not as warm or satisfying going down. Smirnoff, to its credit, does this to a lesser extent, although again, I wouldn't recommend drinking this neat.
Probably the most popular mix is Smirnoff and Coke; I'm normally a JD and Coke type of guy, but I tried this recently and the mix is spectacular to say the least! It is rare that any sort of drink; alcoholic or not, when mixed with Vodka is able to mask the taste, yet Coke, miraculously, appears to mask the taste almost entirely. Whilst it is no doubt not sensible to use Dooyoo as a platform to encourage heavy drinking, I attest that if you're planning on consuming lots of alcohol, buying a bottle of Smirnoff and then a 2-litre bottle of Coke (or two if you're drinking with a friend) is a highly advisable avenue to explore!
Needless to say, Smirnoff can also be paired with a wire variety of other drinks, although I can't attest to have ventured much further than Lemonade. Lemonade mixes fairly well with Smirnoff, although I must say that I find Coke to mask the Vodka-ish taste far more successfully.
Having given a mixing recommendation, I must now provide an atmospheric, environmental recommendation; I see Smirnoff as nothing but a party drink, shared between a few friends before going out to party and whatnot. My personal opinion is that there are generally more agreeable and cost-effective drinks out there (such as a decent whiskey), yet when mixed with coke, this is certainly a decent drink. My local corner shop (establishments which tend to be extortionate) charges £12.99 for a 1-litre bottle the last time I looked, although when home from University, I have found bottles ranging from £10-15. At least in my strange corner of the world (Essex), there appears to be a huge range in prices on this drink.
I wouldn't attest Smirnoff to be a drink recommended for those new to drinking, or those who don't drink much, although for those who drink in moderation (or excess), Smirnoff Vodka is an enjoyable beverage that by its sheer nature is best served mixed with whatever your taste buds agree with. As mentioned above, it is a middling drink as it is fairly well-priced and of good quality; thus it is acceptable to say that if you don't enjoy Smirnoff, it is unlikely that you will enjoy any Vodkas. I can only recommend Russian Standard above Smirnoff, although that will tend to be expensive, and Smirnoff is certainly a cut above the supermarket and corner shop brand Vodkas you will find everywhere, even if it is a few pounds more out of your pocket.
In the several house parties my flatmates and I have held at our house, Smirnoff has gone down a treat when supplied with coke, lemonade, various juices, as well as when poured in a cocktail of most of the above. It is one of the quintessential party beverages, and as such it is difficult to decry it; at our most recent party, a 1.5-litre bottle didn't last much longer than two hours!
In closing, Smirnoff is as sublime as cost-effective Vodka drinks come, and thus it must be recommended if that is your poison. I would recommend in closing that if you intend to mix with coke and lemonade, either ensure that you are used to how much to pour into one glass (as in you can approximate a shot or two), or use shot glasses to make your measurements. I know people who had no idea of measurements and were sleepy very quickly!
Summary: A generally well-priced and agreeable drink...
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