Vodka Snob - part II

In my never-ending search for the best vodkas I found myself at Trump Hotel & Tower's Rebar. After ordering a Stoli Elit martini I was urged by the bartender that I should try Jewel of Russia. Jewel of Russia? What the hell was that...I politely declined. Again he urged me to "give it a taste" to which I smiled, let out a little chuckle and said no thanks. Shortly after the bartender reappeared complete with my Stoli Elit martini and another glass...he said that he was determined to have me try Jewel of Russia whether I liked it or not. He was a pushy one...I gave in and took a sip.

Cool. Crisp. Clean.

Much to my delight the liquid that made its way past my lips, tongue and slowly down my throat was nothing short of a remarkable vodka! It was a tinge smoother than Stoli Elit but honestly, they're kissing cousins. I would recommend either of these vodkas if you're looking for a knockout martini. Since these vodkas are so smooth you wouldn't want to ruin them by mixing with anything...possibly even opting to hold the olive.

Dubbed "The Drink of the Czars", Jewel of Russia comes in 3 flavors and can be found at select bars, restaurants and liquor stores ($70-$80/bottle). By viewing the site you can get a list of places close to you. I urge everyone to get in touch with their inner vodka snob this holiday season and treat your taste buds to a delightful martini!

Classic

Ultra
Berry

Vodka Snob

This term was recently introduced to me by a friend who proudly proclaimed himself a "vodka snob" and touted that he only drank Stoli Elit. After a little coercion, I ordered myself the ultra premium "vodka snob" vodka of choice...a little while later and I was staring at the bottom of my martini glass. I had been transformed. I crossed over to the dark side - - the snob side! Please understand, I am not a fan of martinis. After a few bad experiences with apple martinis I swore off all martinis of any kind. After tasting the smoothness that is Stoli Elit I started doing a little research. This vodka is well-known and though pricey, worth the money. If the average cost of a premium vodka martini (i.e. Grey Goose) costs you around $13...expect that a Stoli Elit martini (ultra premium) may run you closer to $20-$25. If a bottle is what you're craving, expect to shell out $65-$75. If you're looking to get wasted on the cheap, this is not your vodka. If your goal is to sit in a swank locale and sip on something that's truly remarkable this is for you!

A little history on Stoli Elit:

The first "ultra-premium" vodka to be imported to the States, Stoli Elit is refined via a patented freeze-filtration process that's basically a high-tech update of traditional methods: Russian proles once poured vodka into wooden barrels and stuck them outdoors in the frigid winter. This caused the contents to freeze, with only the purest vodka remaining liquid at its center. That part is known as the "alpha," and is what's used for Elit.

This vodka was featured on the Men's Style website and was not only on their Top 10 list of Vodkas...but also landed itself as an Editor's pick!