Stolichnaya Vodka
Stolichnaya—or more popularly “Stoli”—is one of the most popular vodka brands on the market today. It’s a smooth, affordable Russian vodka that’s reliable.
You will have no problems finding a bottle of Stoli at the liquor store and the brand offers a variety of flavored vodkas which stand up to the quality of the original vodka. Whether mixed into your favorite vodka cocktails or served well-chilled on its own, a bottle of Stoli will not let you down.
Taste, price, and availability considered, Stolichnaya is one of the best everyday vodkas available. It’s a gentle sipper and a wonderful cocktail base, all in one. The red label bottle is the flagship of the brand, the clear vodka that forms the foundation for the entire portfolio, and it is available almost anywhere.
Launched in 1938, this Russian vodka is distilled four times from wheat and rye. It is filtered through quartz sand and birch activated charcoal, and blended with artesian water before bottling at 40 percent alcohol by volume (ABV; 80 proof).
This bottle of Stolichnaya is a great example of what to expect from good Russian vodka and, for around $25 a bottle, it’s still affordable.
Tasting Notes
Stolichnaya has a typical vodka aroma—a touch of alcohol backed by notes of warm grain. The entry is bright and airy, leading to a silky palate with an initial tolerable bite that melts into a warm vodka taste, complete with a citrus peel kiss. It finishes smooth, with nearly no vodka burn and the taste fades relatively quickly.
