My two fav's are Pravda and Ketel One.
Costco sells its own vodka under the infamous Kirkland label and my friend says that its pretty darn close in taste to Grey Goose. While Costco usually does sell good things, I couldn't bring myself to buy it when stocking for an upcoming house party, what would my guests think?
I was told the same by a friend and bought it to try. It is pretty good. The label says it is distilled in France - maybe Grey Goose makes it for them. LOL.
Effen is good stuff. they make a black cherry flavored vodka that is mixed with 7Up, sprite, etc...very popular with the ladies
Ketel One is good stuff, and Tito's. For a cheap vodka, it is surprisingly good, and made here in Texas! I had a buddy of mine recommend Snow Queen, but I haven't tried it yet. Has anyone else tried it? Opinions?
Hanger One, Ketel One and Crop are my personal favorites. I'll drink any of these 3 straight up and chilled and be happy. Hammer and Sickle is another pretty decent one that I don't mind.
I like Van Gogh vodka better than any other vodka that I've tasted. Very smooth, and it comes in every flavor under the sun, so you can mix just about anything with Van Gogh.
I've been waiting years to play this one-upmanship card: If ever you find yourself in Ulaan Bator, pick up a bottle of Jenghiz Khan vodka. Bourbon is my preference, so I don't know vodkas, but JK gets the job done. I swilled a good deal of it during toasts at banquets. The story is that if you follow it with airag (fermented mare's milk), you won't have a hangover the next day. The story is right; you won't be hung over because you'll still be drunk. By the way, airag tastes like alcoholic buttermilk.
Boomerang - Oz vodka - not the New Jersey bottling of same name. http://www.boomerang-vodka.com/home.aspx
Try Black Death vodka. It's Belgium, beet based and really good. However, I haven't been able to find it in years.
Here's a list of most of the vodkas I've tried that I compiled for another Forum that I'm a member of:
Hmmm... I recently tried Tito's Handmade Vodka. It was OK, but slightly harsh and I don't think I'll partake again. I've excoriated Grey Goose in the past, but I fear I must have either had a bad bottle, or a friend had swapped the contents. I agree that it is over-hyped and over-priced, but I can't for a moment understand where someone would label it as having "a rather harsh taste". I find the Goose to have an excellent flavor with a nice creamy mouth feel & prefer to drink it straight.
Ironically, with Grey Goose, it's all about the bottle. 95% to the marketing with a meager 5% to the taste!
I think in comparison to some of the other vodkas I listed Grey Goose has an extremely harsh taste whilst going down. I wouldn't put it on the level of Dubra or Popov any day of the week, though I certainly wouldn't drink it if I had a choice for others. Absolutely.
I don't care for Grey Goose at all. Belvedere is somewhat better, but given the choice I'll take Ketel One. There is a local distillery here (Great Lakes Distillery) that makes Rehorst vodka, it's good, not quite as good as K1 but close. It's distilled from wheat like K1 so the taste is similar.
My roommate in college went through a Vodka kick and after drinking 3 bottles of Tito's (obviously not at once, lol) and having hangover after hangover, where he could drink other brands of equal amounts and have no hangover he realized Tito's was crap.
I will occasionally drink Vodka, however I am more of a whiskey drinker. That said I do have ones that I like and dislike. I find Grey Goose somewhat repulsive, but it is definitely not the worst out there. VOX and Kettle One are a couple of one's that I'll drink on occasion; Hangar One is always a treat. I recently bought a bottle of 45th Parallel (made in Wisconsin). I had never heard of it but they were giving away free samples at the liquor store. Made from Corn, I found it very clean with a good sweetness to it. I think it was around 25 a bottle. Anyone else familiar? I might have to find some of this "Crop" Vodka to try next!
It has been a long time since I had it last. Might as well at that to the list and go on a vodka binge this weekend