Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka

Vodka is challenging enough to review since it's meant to be a neutral, blank slate. This particular brand is even harder to review because it's not only so common, but it's also a leader among inexpensive vodkas. Should it be reviewed in comparison to other budget vodkas or, due to its widespread availability, against all vodkas? That's a tough question, especially considering this is genuinely one of the most characterless vodkas available. Given vodka's lack of distinct flavor, its texture stands out. This spirit has virtually no texture. You might even mistake it for water. There's a hint of sweetness at the end, suggesting it's made from corn. I didn't realize its origin until I tasted it, and the slightest hint of corn caught my attention. However, it's remarkably neutral, especially for the cost. There's also some bitterness at the end, with a medium lingering burn, the only clues that this is alcohol and not just sweetened water. Overall, this isn't a bad vodka. It just struggles to distinguish itself or offer anything unique. That might not be a negative, though. After all, vodka is intended to be neutral. Chill this bottle, and you can take shots endlessly. At this point, spending more money depends solely on how much you want to reduce the burn as you swallow.

Last year, between other drinks, I compared popular vodkas to see which I favored and if they were distinct enough to matter. I recorded the general character—which surprised me with its variety—and a separate "smoothness" score (as it's the only characteristic worth considering for this spirit). Starting with the least engaging vodka, the party standard: Smirnoff No. 21. Inexpensive grain and vanilla notes, some alcohol but not harsh. Sweeter than recalled, with minimal flavor. An odd muted sensory experience, as if your nose were pinched, yet the vanilla persists. A faint salinity concludes it. Nothing remarkable here; it's vodka. Combine it with anything and consume to get drunk. This serves as a baseline against more interesting finds. Character: salty vanilla Smoothness: 3.25, Overall: 2.5

Back in college, I thought this was just a cheap, bottom-shelf vodka. As I got older, I moved away from vodka towards bourbon and other whiskies, and now I'm revisiting Smirnoff. It's not as terrible as I recall, though I prefer Ketel One and Sobieski. It’s smooth enough for ice, but you need it very cold if you're having it straight. I mostly use vodka for cocktails. With Smirnoff, I make Vodka Martinis and Vesper Martinis using Sutler's Gin and Cocchi Americano Bianco. For those purposes, Smirnoff is perfectly adequate. I don't expect deep flavors or long finishes from vodka; that's what whiskies are for. It's a dependable choice for my collection, and the price is quite reasonable. Cheers.

Nose: Dry grain, hints of vanilla, faint herbal and pepper notes, with a mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste: Sweet grain, vanilla, grapefruit zest, dry ginger or black pepper, a mild to moderate alcohol bite. The finish is quick and clean, with notes of dry vanilla, sweet grain, and pepper. Wow, this seems even more neutral than the Skyy I sampled yesterday. They are generally quite similar, but this one has less fumes and appears to have even less character. It's not bad, just extremely bland. It's twenty bucks for a handle, so the price is at least right. I enjoy this more than Tito's and slightly less than Skyy. I would still prefer Jim Beam Original, though.

As many of you know. Most have tried it. It's as simple as any spirit can get. The aroma is very neutral, with just a faint sweet grain scent. The taste is even more neutral. It has a slight sweetness and is a bit oily. Unsurprisingly, this is a prime choice for mixing, and for a budget vodka, it sits right in the middle.

About as neutral and characterless as they come. There's no reason to drink it neat. That being said, lacking flavor is preferable to having a bad flavor, which other inexpensive vodkas possess. When preparing large batches of Bloody Marys for many people, this fits the budget nicely without compromising our homemade mix.