Review: Russian Standard (Original) Vodka

Review: Russian Standard (Original) Vodka

Review: Russian Standard (Original) Vodka

Does price matter? Russian Standard offers an “original” version of its vodka in addition to a “Platinum” bottling and its vaunted “Imperia,” which I’ve previously reviewed. All are made in basically the same way, with a few differences, namely in the filtration systems they employ. But Russian Standard “Original” is just $22 a bottle, while Imperia is $34 (though I can find it on sale for $29 right now. Is it worth $12 more? Or even $7?

Russian Standard (Original) Vodka Review

I put a shot of Imperia side by side with Original Russian Standard, and to tell the truth, any difference was extremely slight. Imperia was a tiny bit smoother, while Original had a stronger tone of wheat to it (or what is commonly referred to as “bread”). The Imperia was faintly sweeter than Original, too.

But on the whole, unless I was drinking these straight and competitively, I’d never be able to tell the difference. Add a mixer, and you can forget about noticing a difference at all.

So there you have it: Russian Standard’s cheapest and priciest vodkas are, for all intents and purposes, pretty much identical.

80 proof.

B+ / $22 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

Russian Standard (Original) Vodka

USD22
8.5

Rating

8.5/10

A veteran journalist, the author of four books, a published poet, and an award-winning winemaker, Christopher Null has more than 25 years of experience writing about wine and spirits. He founded Drinkhacker in 2007. He also writes regularly about the science of booze for WIRED and is an occasional contributor to ADI's Distiller magazine. He has been a judge for both the American Distilling Institute Judging of Craft Spirits and Whiskies of the World spirits competitions and often works as a consultant, developing formal tasting notes for spirits brands around the world.

10 Comments

  1. sandrar on September 10, 2009 at 1:38 pm

    Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.

  2. julia clarke on October 16, 2009 at 12:11 am

    I think you should have me as an advocat or marketing guru. Bought 2 bottles of your vodka and converted many. The best vodka ever tried. Very smooth, exceptional quality and the best yet!

  3. Karl on January 12, 2010 at 8:04 am

    This Vodka is very shitty! It gave me food poisoning

  4. ryan on March 13, 2010 at 2:12 am

    the new platinum bottel is great but still grey goose is the best….and for the record we get the original bottle in lebanon for 10$ and the platinum for 13$

  5. celebrity fuck you on August 24, 2010 at 11:28 am

    Sign: zdbrw Hello!!! peqpb and 7825brpsxfefnd and 643 : Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post! nice! I just came across your blog and wanted to say that Ive really enjoyed it.

  6. seth on April 19, 2011 at 8:02 am

    karl, i believe what you call food poisoning, most others would call a hangover…

  7. Amanda Sturgis on April 19, 2011 at 8:09 am

    I love your blog. I’ll be looking for this vodka. Check out our liquor blog http://www.hahler.com/?p=171

  8. jas on July 6, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    we drank this this weekend , shots- chilled over ice ..the smoothest vodka ever, we tried a shot of Grey Goose,and it was like night and day.
    I now have a new favorite vodka

  9. Mohammad 2M on July 20, 2011 at 9:36 am

    Hello.Ilove your blog.your blog is the best.thanks

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