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Booze on a Budget: Svedka, anyone?
November 3rd, 2009, 2:00 pm · 22 Comments · posted by PAUL HODGINS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
I’ve paid too much over the years for my favorite mixing spirit, vodka. (Fly away, Grey Goose!)
A few weeks ago, somebody introduced me to Sweden’s Svedka, one of the best bang-for-the-buck vodkas on the market. It’s a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy and frequent contest winner. I find it’s as smooth and balanced as many vodka brands costing much more.
I know, I know, it’s been marketed for years as the drink of the tragically hip. Svedka landed the gig as the official sponsor for Lindsay Lohan’s 21st birthday bash in Vegas a couple of years back – just days before she was arrested for a DUI. Oops!
Since then, Svedka has settled down and is now being marketed to budget-conscious types like me. It’s already incredibly affordable – $14.99 for a one-liter bottle at BevMo stores. In Costa Mesa, Hi-Time Wine Cellars boasts a good price ($10.99) for 750 ml., including the flavored varieties. Or if you’re close to Tustin’s Total Wine & More , they’re selling the 750 ml. unflavored Svedka for $8.99 and the mighty 1.75 liter bottle for $15.49. Anybody know where it’s selling for less?
As grandpa used to say, you can’t beat that with a stick.
Other Booze on a Budget stories:
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wow, i’m going to have to try it, I always had Kettle One from Costco great deal but I’m willing to try a new Vodka for $8.99 at Total Wine & More.
Ketel One. get it right
I have had a few hangovers from it, My guess is it isn’t filtered well. Kirkland is grey goose I hear.
I have to agree with you on this one. I love the Svedka and it’s sooooo much more economical!!
Svedka is delicious! Mix with the Grenadine, sweet and sour mix, and a dash of club soda. YUM cherry vodka sour!
Svedka is great! First came across it in a NYC bar about 4 years ago and was amazed at its smooth flavor. Total Wine seems to be the best deal. Costco occassionally carries it at $16.99 as does BevMo!
Usually always on sale at CVS! Great Vodka for the price.
Shaken, not stirred…
007 approves.
The best Vodka is Safeway store brand…. on the rocks!
Can’t seem to turn around without something Swedish & low price affecting my life; IKEA, The Pirate Bay, NOKIA and now swedish vodka? Hip hip hooray…
I know this is going to sound strange but Tito’s Vodka is great. It’s better than the Goose and I love me some Goose. When it first came out at Traders it was like $15 bucks. I just saw it Ralphs the other day for almost $30. It’s creeped up there with the rest of them. If you can find it under $20 bucks give it a shot you won’t be disappointed.
Double the price and Svedka is still and outstanding buy. I switched from overpriced Grey Goose a couple years ago and will never go back.
I think Svedka is swill. Don’t believe the hype. I would compare it to Smirnoff or Wolfschmidt, yuck. For premium at bargain prices try Six. It’s distilled six times (hence the name) like all the top dollar premiums and makes a delicious martini. I would compare it to Belvedere for half the price (frequently on sale at Albertson’s for 19.99 for 1.75 liter).
@joobi Do you work at Albertson’s? Six vodka is lousy…
Psssssst………..you might want to read the story I posted further down from this post showing Smirnoff beat all the real swill as the best in a blind taste test of those believing themselves to be Vodka snobs.
Seems you might know the type.
Absolut goes down smooth. I use no mixers.
Have you tried Kirkland? People claim it is Grey Goose in Costco packaging. We had a tasting party and put it between Kettle One and Grey Goose. $27.99 for 1.75 Liter.
The best vodka Ive ever had is Smirnoff. Those Soviets know their stuff.
Cowboy wins the prize. In a published blind taste test I read about maybe less than a year ago of self annointed vodka swilling “hipsters”, Smirnoff beat all the snob vodkas
My parents always had/have Smirnoff on their bar ready to use for any visitor and now they can rest assured they were serving their guests the best without breaking their budget. I myself believed Abslut was the best in my drinks but I now just buy Smirnoff for my mixers. This apple did not fall far from the tree.
Found the original NYT vodka taste test story ca. 2005 (I read about it more recently):
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/dining/26wine.html?ex=1264482000&en=5913ec916f1ca33c&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland
My favorite excerpt:
That being said, at the end of our tasting it was Smirnoff at the top of our list, ahead of many other names that are no doubt of higher status in stylish bars and lounges. Some of those names did not even make our Top 10. Grey Goose from France, one of the most popular vodkas, was felt to lack balance and seemed to have more than a touch of sweetness. Ketel One from the Netherlands, another top name, was felt to be routine and sharp
***Vodka snobs need to crawl back into their fronting expensive shells after reading this.
Just goes to show you how important and effective marketing is.