Exploring the realm of liquor can be intimidating and exhilarating. From premium treasures to notorious bin brands, the choices are endless. Just as we all dream of a top-shelf beverage, not all bottles contain the smooth, sophisticated flavor you desire. Some liquors are adored for their rich, velvety tastes and high-quality ingredients, and others are legendary for their gruff, coarse tastes and suspect ingredients.
Whether you are an old hand at liquor drinking or just beginning, an informed decision is necessary. An ill-chosen bottle can result in substandard drinking experiences and unpleasent morning-after effects. To steer clear of those bad decisions, we have created this guide to present to you spirits that are not worth adding to your drink. Armed with this information, you can shop with confidence at the liquor store and select drinks that provide quality and enjoyment.
1. Bacardi 151
Bacardi 151 appears on every “don’t even think about it” list with its rudely excessive alcohol content of 75.5% ABV. Although the high proof will be tempting to those looking for something strong, it tastes harsh and burning, which is certainly not pleasant. The overly high sugar content and bad distillation techniques involved in Bacardi 151 render it harsh and hard to swallow. If you want a rum with gentler, smoother tastes, then Bacardi 151 can remain in the shelf stock.
2. Everclear
Everclear is a higher-proof spirit that’s most commonly employed for mixing, but not something that you’ll have straight. Up to 95% alcohol, Everclear lacks the same sense of depth and maturity as well-made spirits. Its lack of flavor and resistance to aging make it more of a raw, unaged spirit that burns than an enjoyable beverage. While it can stand on its own as an added ingredient for cocktails, Everclear is not for those who desire a full-flavored, on-its-own beverage.
3. Popov Vodka
Popov Vodka is an economy brand vodka that is contaminated with bitter undertones and subpar filtering. It is widely condemned as coarse in taste and with an obnoxious aftertaste. It may be inexpensive, but the quality is not that high. If you like to drink vodka neat or on the rocks, Popov will not have any appeal to you. It performs well in cocktails where it can hide behind other tastes, but even so it can’t produce the crisp, silky flavor good vodka should be able to accomplish.
4. Christian Brothers Brandy
Christian Brothers Brandy will usually rest on the lower shelf, and that is reflected in the taste. This brandy is famous for its excessively sweet, syrupy taste, without subtlety and smoothness of a quality brandy. The lack of aging and substandard distillation techniques don’t allow this brandy to mature into the rich, deep tastes you want from a high-end product. If you’re looking for a high-end, multi-layered brandy experience, Christian Brothers should be avoided in favor of a more expensive alternative.
5. McDowell’s Scotch
McDowell’s is an affordable Scotch whiskey that can’t offer the rich, mellow taste for which Scotch is famous. Without good ingredients and careful aging, this Scotch tastes coarse and unrefined. Even at its low cost, McDowell’s can’t offer the full flavor of an outstanding Scotch. If you want a real Scotch experience, there are better, equally priced whiskies to be had.
6. Skyy Vodka
Skyy Vodka is hailed as a “premium” vodka, but quality does not match hype. It’s only ever palatable ice cold and, when warmed up, bitter and unfit for drinking. Even with four distillations, Skyy isn’t smooth and clear like an upper-end vodka. Though commonly used in cocktails, cheaper options such as Sobieski with a dramatically better taste without bitterness are available.
7. Grey Goose
Grey Goose is generally regarded as among the best vodkas, but it hardly justifies the outrageous cost. For $30 to $50 a proof, it cannot give you that smoothened, refined feel that hundreds of quality vodkas can give. The vodka itself is “tolerable” with a hidden bitterness that tastes in your mouth after consumption. Also, its single distillation leaves it less sophisticated than other more expensive brands. If you’re looking for a premium vodka that justifies its price, brands like Chopin offer a better overall experience.
8. Outskirts Vodka
Outskirts is a Texas-made vodka with an artisan brand, but it falls short. Despite being distilled six times, the vodka is marred by substandard water quality that imparts a “puddle water” taste to the liquor. It retails for $22 to $28 per 750ml, and it is not worth paying for given the bitter finish. For a more decent American vodka, try ones such as Woody Creek, which are smoother and more drinkable.
9. Absolut Vodka
Absolut Vodka is probably the largest name in the world due to its unique marketing. Although it’s a household name, it usually doesn’t live up to its hype. For about $18.99, it packs a bitter, strong flavor that is inferior to other mid-shelf vodkas. Although Absolut does have its premium lines, the regular version is a letdown. If a smoother, more elegant vodka is what you are after, perhaps you can find a better value somewhere else or from Absolut’s premium lines.
10. Beluga Gold Vodka
Beluga Gold is marketed as a luxury vodka, but its expensive label doesn’t reflect its quality. At $30 to $40 per bottle, or over $80 for the Gold line, Beluga fails to provide the complexity or distinction you’d be willing to pay that much money for. Although it’s smooth with a rich texture, its taste is forgettable, so it’s difficult to recommend at such a high cost. For consumers seeking a discerning vodka experience, alternatives like Ketel One provide a smoother finish for less money.
11. UV Vodka
UV Vodka is another inexpensive, bottom-shelf vodka that doesn’t meet expectations. Even after being distilled four times, it still isn’t smooth and doesn’t possess the quality that quality vodka should. The coarse flavors, along with the fact that it’s bottled in plastic with the possibility of transferring vile flavors, make UV a bad drink to enjoy neat or even mixed. Priced between $9 and $12, there are much better options in this range with a better drinking experience.
12. Burnett’s Vodka
Burnett’s Vodka tastes like “paint thinner” or “hand sanitizer,” and it’s no wonder. At a price of $7 to $11, Burnett’s is touted as the cheap alternative, but the bitterness and pungency make drinking it a chore. Even when mixed with other ingredients to create cocktails, Burnett’s refuses to be smooth and palatable. If you’re looking for better value at this price point, Svedka offers a more balanced and enjoyable option without the harsh aftertaste.
13. Deep Eddy Ruby Red Grapefruit Flavored Vodka
Deep Eddy Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka would seem like an appropriate choice for anyone looking for a fruity vodka. But it is too sweet and cloying with a long, bitter aftertaste that ruins the experience. Even at the discount price of $10 to $16, the flavor is mediocre and not worth paying for. A greater value is purchasing a nicer, neutral vodka and combining it with fresh grapefruit juice or soda for a more individualized, enjoyable beverage.
14. Ciroc
Ciroc, with its celebrity endorsement brand building via Sean “Diddy” Combs, created a positive brand image. But at $30 to $40 a bottle, the taste does not live up to the price. That the grains they use are grapes and not regular grains does make for a sweeter, fruitier vodka that will be a hit, but is too sweet overall to be applied to traditional cocktails. The price is more of a marketing issue than premium quality, so it’s difficult to defend it alongside other premium vodkas that are cleaner and better-balanced at a lower cost.
Selecting the appropriate liquor is not merely about grabbing the most expensive bottle or the one that’s the coolest to look at. It’s about selecting a spirit that provides quality, flavor, and smoothness. Knowing what we have learned here, you can steer clear of the low-quality bottles and have a better drinking experience. The next time you are shopping at the liquor store, keep in mind that your taste buds deserve the finest and now you know what bottles to steer clear of.
