Glen's Vodka is a personal favourite of mine and my friends. It seems to be an average tasting vodka with a less than average price tag - a contrast to the rest of the vodka market. It's cheap for what it is, basically. Glennifer, Glenartra, and simply Glen, we have devised many a name for Glen's Vodka over the few years we've been drinking it. Let's just call it Glen for purposes of this review.

Take a whiff of Glen and it'll smell like any other vodka - unequivocally disgusting, a nasty, nostril splintering heat of a smell (a head-ache starter). Take a sip of it pure / neat and the same scenario is realised - this time with taste-bud discomfort. Mix it, and the taste subsides, the crispness remains, but the mixer dominates and the better parts of the spirits taste shine through - it's heavy warmth and piercing bite (which a lot of people enjoy). I'd say the best mixer would be either coke or lemonade - There aren't really any better alternatives, besides Lilt (the limey lemonade) which in my opinion works best. Anything sugary will hide the bitterness of the vodka, something best done.

The vodka works well it Cocktails because it seems to blend well with multiple spirits, soft-drinks and juices. It doesn't matter what you put with it, the vodka will provide the back-bone, the high percentage alcoholic content (37.5% ABV) that all cocktails are required to have (rather, requested to have by the consumer). I wouldn't pore the vodka at any greater than a ratio of 1:2 (1 part vodka, 2 part mixer), because the taste will come across too strong!

The vodka's packaging is nice enough, slightly classier than the usual bland fonts and colours, but it's trying to create an 'oldy' feel completely contrast to the vodkas history. Some people find this irritating, some people don't care.

This is an average vodka with an average taste at a cheap price. It's the best of the cheap bunch - better than Imperial and all the others of similar name I have forgotten. Recommended in small quantities - this is strong stuff!

RATING: 3.6/5
PRICE: £12-14 (per 70Cl bottle).
AVAILABILITY: Sainsbury's in-store (£12.19).