4w ago

Smirnoff vodka on European shelves is made in the US

I never buy vodka but went to today and just out of curiosity checked where it's made. Well, it turns out it's made in the US in my (Irish) supermarket at least so yours may be the same.

I bought Finlandia instead.

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- What would you recommend? I'm not a vodka person generally. Got Finlandia today.
  
  Finlandia is Coca Cola brand. I think Absolut is still European.
  https://www.coca-colahellenic.com/en/our-24-7-portfolio/premium-spirits
  
  Finlandia, Grey Goose, Ketel
  
  I always buy Iceberg Vodka but that might only be available in Canada, I’m not sure. If you do see it on your shelf though, it’s made in Canada.
  
  Belvedere
I mean even if it was still being made in Russia, you should be boycotting it for that reason.
- That's actually why I looked :D I thought Russia was unlikely (the sanctions are taken seriously here but I wanted to be certain). Never would have thought it was made in the US tbh.
- The brand is originally founded by an russian (1920ish) who fled to Poland after revolution and the brand is currently UK owned. So the current bottles you get doesn't have anything else from Russia than the 100 year old brand name.
  But Ukraine makes some damn good vodka too.
- Hardly any alc is made in Russia when you can buy it in supermarkets.
  
  I think Parliament is made in Russia. No clue if it's still sold though.
Thank you, i had never noticed that. Will source something better instead
It’s not even good Vodka.
Żubrówka or Żubrówka Biała if you aren’t into the bison grass (the bison grass is pretty good, though). They’re made in Poland, and the parent companies are Polish.
- You'll have to fill me in on what bison grass is bud :)
  
  It’s a grass used for flavour (and colour) which is slightly sweet/herbal. It makes for a really lovely vodka in my opinion, often you have it mixed with Apple Juice.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BBubr%C3%B3wka
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierochloe_odorata
Plenty of decent vodkas out there:
Żubrówka (Polish)
Korol (German; one of Lidl's brands)
Absolut (Swedish)
Cîroc (French; owned by Diageo)
I have also heard that poitín is easy enough to find in Ireland. Not sure how it compares flavour-wise; but some vodkas are technically poitíns, so I don't think it'll be too different.
- The "made in a shed" poitín is very difficult to lay your hands on. I've only had it once and it was grim. The government cracked down hard on it in the 80s.
  There is a legal variety that you can get now but it wouldn't be popular. I should maybe give that a whirl.
  
  Yeah, the latter is what I was talking about.
Absolut - Sweden
Nemiroff - Ukraine
Khortytsa - Ukraine
Zirkova - Ukraine
Hlibny Dar - Ukraine
Finlandia - Finland
Żubrówka - Poland
Belvedere - Poland
Wyborowa - Poland
Chopin - Poland
Ketel One - Netherlands
Grey Goose - France
Cîroc - France
42 Below - New Zealand
Stoli (only the SPI Group one) - Latvia
Moskovskaya (only the Amber Beverage Group one) - Latvia
About the last two, buy the specified ones only, otherwise you give money to Russian brands
wait till we get into the EU and all your vodka will be true Ukrainian.
- Can't wait tbh. Seriously.

28 comments