Russian Standard Vodka is made with wheat like Grey Goose, it hails from Russia, and is distilled four times. As the original is the entry level vodka, you can expect more purification steps and distillations as you go up their line. Despite their story, this brand has only been around since 1998. They also use vodka.com as their website. So you have to think with that sort of branding that it’s going to have to be good vodka, right?
Russian Standard Vodka
Sight: Clear
Smell: A sweet cereal note comes out with a touch of vanillin to start. A hint of earthiness and fruitiness also comes through. The nose is clean smelling and with little alcohol burn.
Sip: The body is smooth and full, with just a bit of heat at the end. Subtle notes of cereal grain and charcoal minerality come out. There’s a slight touch of alcohol and bitterness.
Savor: The finish has a slightly charcoal and winter wheat note.
Russian Standard Vodka is clean, simple, and flavored in a way that is enjoyable and inoffensive. The flavor profile has just the subtlest touches of wheat and charcoal, but ultimately the flavor comes across as smooth and near flavorless. These characteristics are nice, and could offer some solid sippability.
In Cocktails
In a Kangaroo is works wonderfully, smoothly conveying its own character while displaying harmony with the vermouth. The notes of vanillin and the minerality amplify, giving a nice backbone to the herbal and bright notes that begin to flow into drink. There’s even room for a nice touch of spice that pops out. Overall, the general cohesiveness of the vodka is impressive.
In Review – Russian Standard Vodka
Russian Standard Vodka performed admirably on both the straight sipping and cocktail side of things. The make up of this vodka is similar to competitors like Grey Goose and Summum. The fact that it undercuts them on price, and delivers a similar level of quality means that Russian Standard is deserving of consideration. Given all of the positives, we recommend that you consider adding a bottle of Russian Standard Vodka to your bar whether you’re starting or looking to replace your current standard. It just works.