When I started thinking about which liquor to review for my final spirits review for 2000, I was in a bit of a dilemma...I couldn't choose just one. So, I decided to go to the liquor store and grab whatever struck me at the time, whichever one seemed to be calling my name. I walked past the gins, the whiskeys, the rums...even passing by the liqueurs without so much as a glance. Then my eyes focused on the vodka aisle, and there it was...the tall, beautiful blue bottle of Skyy Vodka! This liquor practically jumped into my hand...the color of the bottle, the slightly lighter blue label with thick gold letters that said SKYY...This was to be my final spirits review for 2000, there was no doubt in my mind!
"Ahh, but LadyCynic" I said to myself, "you have no story to go with this vodka. Won't your friends have a fit if you don't end the year with one of your wonderful stories?" With that question in my mind (and several people around me staring because I hadn't realized I was talking to myself out loud), I started looking again. "Hmm, how can I connect a story to a liquor when I haven't one?" (making sure not to actually talk to myself out loud this time...I mean c'mon, I can't have people thinkin I'm a bag lady or somethin...smile)
Then I saw it, the Smirnoff Vodka! That's it, I can do a comparison review of the two vodkas...I have a couple of interesting stories connected to Smirnoff, so in this way...my story will relate! Brilliant eh? Heh Heh
So here you have it, a comparison review of Skyy Vodka and Smirnoff Red Label Vodka...
Skyy Vodka is an 80 proof vodka. The bottle is a beautiful blue color, with a very plain, though still very pretty lighter blue label. The label states clearly that its distilled in America from American grain...so those of you who prefer to buy American products, this seems to be directed at you.
Smirnoff Red Label Vodka is also an 80 proof vodka, and the reason I decided on the red label rather than the 100 proof blue label that I normally drink. All Smirnoff bottles have the same look to them, with the exception of the label color for the different proofs. Clear bottles, with the original date of 1818 stamped into the glass at the top of the label. Smirnoff's origins are of course Russian, but the bottle states...produced in Stamford, CT. Yes, we Americans are into just about everything now aren't we?
The look...
Skyy Vodka...on the pour, I see very little viscosity. A bit of a cling to the glass but more like water. I'm a little disappointed to see that this vodka is clear, and not the pretty blue of the bottle...that woulda been pretty cool actually. (smile)
Smirnoff Red Label Vodka...the Smirnoff has a bit more viscosity to it...more like a very thin syrup, rather than the watery look the Skyy seems to have. Though every bit as clear...the viscosity would be the only help in deciding which one was which in the glasses.
The smell...
Skyy Vodka...light and fragrant, I can barely catch a scent from this...hmm...sort of an extremely watered down shot of rubbing alcohol with something very faintly sweet or perhaps floral, though I can't really think of what.
Smirnoff Red Label Vodka...Again...a very light scent, the watered down rubbing alcohol smell again, but something else also...not sweet though...sort of a pepper scent, very mild.
The taste...
Skyy Vodka...the first thing to hit me is a burn...not the bad kind as with a rough bourbon...quite pleasant actually...there's something slightly sweet here, but I still can't place it...the aftertaste isn't bad at all, though I'm getting that rubbing alcohol flavor through my nose as I breath out...still...a small sip of soda water washes it completely away.
Smirnoff Red Label Vodka...not as much burn, hardly any at all actually...I'm getting a definite pepper flavor...very nice. The aftertaste doesn't seem to have as heavy a rubbing alcohol flavor...it goes away on its own without the soda water rinse.
My recommendations...
Skyy Vodka...though definitely different from the Smirnoff, I think this is a tasty vodka. Skyy would give a wonderful flavor change in a vodka martini, and it's every bit as smooth as the Smirnoff even with the heat of the first sip...which actually, adds to the vodka with a nice warming sensation. The sweetness seems to be what makes this vodka appealing, though it's a very low key type of sweet...if you prefer a slight sweetness...Skyy Vodka is the one for you.
Smirnoff Red Label Vodka...I've always been partial to Smirnoff, and I believe it's that spicy pepper flavor that comes out for me...spicing up my screwdrivers in a very tasty way. Something I've never found with other vodkas. If you prefer a bit of spicy pepper...Smirnoff Vodka is the one for you.
Now, some recipes that would work well with either of these vodkas...
*Fuzzy Butt 1oz vodka 1/2oz peach schnapps 1/2oz Triple sec Mix in a tall or stem glass over ice with equal parts Sour mix and Orange Juice
*CrackWhore (A Screwdriver with emotional problems) 1oz vodka 1oz amaretto 1/2oz Triple sec Mix in a plastic cup with ice and Orange Tang breakfast drink!
Red Death 1/2oz amaretto 1/2oz peach schnapps 1/2oz Sloe gin 1/2oz Southern Comfort 1/2oz vodka Mix and strain through ice into a shooter or short rocks glass
Climax 1/2oz amaretto 1/2oz banana liqueur 1/2oz vodka 1/2oz Triple sec 1/2oz white Creme de cacao Mix in a tall or stem glass over ice with Half & Half
Aussie Screamer 1oz Cointreau 1oz Baileys' 1oz vodka Mix and strain through ice into a shooter or short rocks glass
Okay...the story? Well, I thought a bit on this and finally decided that my stories are more for entertainment and of course...my own selfish bid for as much attention as possible...Heh Heh. Since I don't feel that they add much more than what I've just mentioned, I've decided not to repost that story here. So, if you're interested in reading that...head on over to my Skyy vodka review. I certainly have no intention of deleting any of my precious stories, so you'll be sure to find it over there if you'd like to read it. (smile)
I will add a couple more recipes here for you though, I did notice that this review doesn't include very many...
Southern Screw 1oz vodka 1oz Southern Comfort Mixed with orange juice over ice, and served in a tall or stem glass.
I add this second extra one for two reasons. One is that the note in my rolodex reminds me that about twelve years ago we put this drink on special at the bar, and several folks did order it mainly due to the low price. I remember that quite a few came back for more, and told us that they actually liked it. I didn't taste this one, but just the thought with these ingredients makes me go...blech!
The other reason I'm throwing this one in is for my close friend Mel, who has a Texas Chainsaw Massacre obsession...have one on me girlfriend...(smile)
Chainsaw Massacre 1/2oz vodka 1oz Wild Turkey 101 whiskey 1/2oz Jagermeister Shake these ingredients with ice and strain into a large rocks or shooter glass, then fill to the top with your favorite beer.
Final thought...never drink and drive! Only a complete idiot would drive impaired and risk so many lives, don't be an idiot! If you must go out to drink, do what I always do...take a taxi!
Once again...Yes, I have this same review posted under Skyy Vodka . However, before ya'll start screaming duplicate reviews at me...I accidentally came across something in the site faq with this topic...When submitting content to Epinions whether in the form of reviews, editorials, comments, ratings or your profile page the following are inappropriate:. At the very bottom it says this...Publishing the same review more than once. The only exception to this policy is that if the review compares products, it may be listed on two products.
I have been wanting to have this review under both products since I wrote it, so that anyone looking up either of these would have access to it. So here it is, I'm very pleased to show ya'll my comparison review of these two liquors.
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