If you already have a government agency performing inspections and granting licenses in very regulated manufacturing industries sometimes it makes more sense to give them one more industry than to invent a new agency. Therefore Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Alternatively, they are combined so you can do all your weekend shopping at one place.
@@BehindtheBar, to be serious though. Their primary intention was investigating organized crime. So providing licenses and regulations on how alcohol was being manufactured and sold ensured only legitimate groups were making and distributing it, keeping the distributors honest as far as what was in an alcohol and tobacco product was a big problem during their early days pre-WWII. Firearms was just added because again it had to do with tracking organized crime.
Also worth adding, they were originally part of the Department of the Treasury (under the name "Revenue Laboratory") as a group tasked with testing a "sin tax" (not the official term) on Alcohol and Tobacco. During prohibition they were transferred to the Department of Justice - as making alcohol illegal meant that enforcing alcohol laws would now require more policing and less accounting (although still quite a bit of accounting, as Al Capone will attest to). Post-Prohibition they were transferred back to the Department of the Treasury and named the "Alcohol Tax Unit." Later in the 40s it was determined it would be worth having a specific group to regulate firearms, and for the reasons Carl Rice mentioned, the ATU seemed like a good candidate rather than starting a whole new agency - and the ATF was born.
Some of my local offerings include corn in the mash which I find makes for a particularly sweet vodka, and it tends to cover up almost all of the ethanol notes.
I've only had direct experience with Reyka and Luksusowa vodkas. Reyka is interesting from the technical standpoint because they use a Carter-Head still and, iirc, use the still's basket to filter the vapors through chunks of lava rock. It's very neutral, with a faint mineral hint. Luksusowa is a Polish Vodka made from potatoes. I haven't noticed the heavyness, but it has a definite peppery nose. Vodka is definitely one of the least-used spirits in my cabinet. It's primary purpose is to fuel the occasional Bloody Mary, and provide a few teaspoons to rinse out syrup bottles after they've been treated with boiling water. Oh, and to ward off the inevitable question "What, no Vodka?".
Seriously, for me all these differences is placebo effect. As russian i can declare that all vodkas are same if we speak about taste. Better vodka is just milder and not so deadly in the morning. And we dont need to find some extra taste in it. It's tasteless, ok. it's just amplify the taste of snacks and therefore could be served with almost any snacks. it's the main feature here.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good freezer vodka and a blini but honestly, wrap your lips around a proper potato vodka if you haven’t - it’s entirely different from the grain based ones.
While vodka does have different discernible (and enjoyable) characteristics when consumed on its own or with water/ice, that disappears in cocktails with additional ingredients. I also believe that (almost) any vodka cocktail is improved by subbing light rum or gin, but that one’s admittedly personal preference.
I've tried about every vodka I've seen on a shelf, and I still haven't found a reason to go anywhere past Tito's in terms of price. They really do all taste the same, and as long as the price is right and there's not any off notes or an offensive ethanol punch you're basically splitting hairs to find much that distinguishes them. It is interesting that Tito's has won so many blind taste tests with bottles that are MUCH more expensive than it. I think the corn probably offers the tiniest bit of sweetness and helps cover up the yucky rubbing alcohol flavor/smell vodka tends to have.
The Archie Rose sounds the most interesting to me! Kind of an "almost gin." I always find it a little funny when people think brands like Grey Goose are way better because they're more expensive. I think a mid-range like Smirnoff works just as well, especially for mixing. If I'm just in the mood for something easy, and not feeling creative, I will have vodka and soda. Otherwise, I'll go for gin, whiskey, rum, etc., but I definitely don't have the hatred for vodka like some bartenders!
Right? I'm a brown spirit person, so not that great with gin and the juniper can be quite overpowering for me. So I'm definitely keen to give it a crack 😁😁
“Luxury vodka” brands are pretty much all markup! I personally like Polish rye or potato vodkas like Wyborowa and Luksusowa, which are cheaper than Grey Goose or Belvedere, they just come in less fancy bottles!
A bit surprised not to see Smirnoff (the higher proof Blue Label used to be one of my go-to spirits) or Stolichnaya. My favourite back in the day was Kremlyovskaya; my least favourite either Wyborowa from Poland or English 'industrial' ones like Cossack and Vladivar; Absolut, Russkii Standart and Ketel One somewhere in the middle. Blavod was a fun ingredient for dark cocktails. I was tempted by the Snow Queen bottle and advertising, but never took the plunge... For flavoured vodkas (depending on mood etc.) I would have to list Krupnik and Zubrowka. Some day I should really try Holy Grass!
I loved this deep dive into vodka!! i felt personally called out lol i’m definitely of the mindset that all vodkas are the same and so boring. but when i do drink it i find myself going for the corn or potato based for sure, i feel like they have a little bit more heft and meatiness to them. from experience working in hospitality in the states i can say that tito’s (corn based) is by far the most popular when people are ordering vodka
I like my corn based vodkas now and fine that a good pot still vodka easily out trumps a column still ones which may also have glycerin added back in to give it mouth feel. Great video as always 🤘
Do you know how many times you'd have to distill something in a pot still for it to come out neutral? Usually when making vodka you distill it to around 96% to make it neutral. I call BS on your comment.
It’s all about taxing the spirit at every level of production and distribution. From the farmer growing the grain to the distillery buying the grain, to the sale of the finished product by the distillery and the mixing of a cocktail in a restaurant or bar the spirit is taxed at every step.
My favourite is a relatively little known Polish vodka called Konik's Tail. I do like a smooth and neutral vodka and I have never tasted anything that beats it. For a funky tasting ones, Black Cow is a pretty interesting taste but in my experience the taste can vary significantly from one bottle to another so if you want consistency in your drinks, it wouldn't be my first choice.
I guess I'm not a vodka fan, because my favorites are the ones that taste least like vodka, if that makes any sense. I keep a bottle of Reyka vodka around just for the occasional White Russian or Moscow Mule.
I think that's the American way of defining vodka, as she stated. American sold vodka has typically been like watered down grain alcohol. Good vodka doesn't taste like "vodka" that Americans think of
I'm still wondering why we haven't had a "vodka boom" in Scotland yet, considering the number of new distilleries opening up. They all seem to produce gin first while waiting for the whiskies to age, but why not vodka too? Judging from descriptions of the whisky we used to make illegally in the hills, it seems to be much the same as poitín in Ireland, and people drank it much the same as vodka in Scandinavia now... of course I'm saying this and maybe the Scots distilleries are producing plenty vodka and it just hasn't taken off
That's a really interesting point! I haven't been back for too long to comment with much authority 😩 but I feel like gin has always been seen as such a quintessentially British product it might just seem like the obvious choice. Plus, craft vodka is more expensive than large volume stuff so maybe they just feel consumers won't see the value in spending more on a bottle, whereas they do with gin.
Vodkas are for drinking neat, so I appreciated this deep dive to highlight the differences in a very neutral base spirit! I feel the difference matters less in vodka cocktails, but I enjoy a neat vodka shot now and then.
As Anthony Bourdain once famously said, coming out from a bar in Cambodia, "Alcohol, tobacco and firearms are the trifecta of fun." Seems as good a rationale as any for creating a governmental body for oversight.
Amazing video as always. Btw i don't like potato base vodka they don't taste good they're very different and not as clean as others and they usually leaving you with a hangover.
That's interesting. Chopin has never left me feeling hungover. Tito's "premium" vodka left me with a brown liquor type hangover. Maybe because it's corn???
@@BehindtheBar No harm done!👍 I just found it funny that everytime someone says that, I go to check and it's never there. 😂 Thanks for a great, very informative and interesting video, as always! 😁
drank some Hellfire while in Tasmania at the Hobart markets. their gin selection is freaking delicious the Sole Gin they make is off the chain so God Dam good definitely worth the hunt if you can find it...
The BATF - now the TTB, it's complicated - is under the Treasury Department. It was originally instituted under a different name to make sure that taxes were paid on alcohol. Since a lot of this had to do with particular taxes paid depending on precisely what wines, beers, and spirits were being sold other regulations relating to the beverages fell under their purview. A bit later on the same thing led to them taxing tobacco and enforcing laws about tobacco growing allotments. Since the alcohol revenue people had experience in this sort of thing tobacco was fit in as well. Firearms were similar. The National Firearms Act defined weapons for which one had to obtain a special tax stamp such as sawn off shotguns and automatic weapons. It was easier for various legal and political reasons than an outright ban. Once again, it was the Treasury Department which was in charge of collecting the fee, issuing the stamp, and ensuring compliance. They also quite logically got tasked with ensuring Federal laws relating to who was permitted to sell firearms were followed.
If only you could try Hot Monkey Vodka! It’s from New Deal Distillery in Portland, Oregon. So good on it’s own as a sipper or fantastic in a Bloody Mary.
I know there’s so many great drops from other countries we just don’t get here. Will visit at some point I’m sure! Used to live in Vancouver so love the Pacific Northwest
Me? Mate, I work full time plus do the channel and am a regular contributor to Bartender Magazine, on top of plenty of other commitments. I don’t have time to be hungover.
Vodka is, for the most part, a great waste of time. There are a few stand-outs: Chopin, the 100 proof Belvedere, Ciroc, for example, as well as those that have “additives” like buffalo or bison grass (I think it’s a Polish vodka). Sometimes it’s a mouth feel (Chopin), sometimes it’s a rye spice), but vodka can in no way compete with gin, rum, tequila or, especially, whiskey.
Not everything has to be a competition 😉 haha but I think the point of the video is that it’s cool the category is moving back away from overly filtered and distilled and allowing some character to shine through!
@@joewas2225 to each his own. Definitely, drink what you like, however you like it. And, if by versatile, you mean flavorless, then yes, I agree. The only thing that vodka (most vodkas, not all, I must admit, there are a few exceptions) adds to a cocktail is alcohol.
'English still isn't common in many parts of the world. It hasn't been spoken in America for years' Given the vague, broken derision of the English language spoken by most younger 'mericans, it's not surprising they tip over verbiage & definitions of words...
@@BehindtheBar Most younger 'mericans can barely speak English correctly. Wrong your/you're, to/too, their/there/they're, lose/loose, miss-spelling 'colour', 'flavour', 'tyre', 'aluminium', the list is endless. Listen to young 'mericans talk - every 2nd word out of their mouth is 'like' 'totally', bro, dude, etc. Ending questions with prepositions. 'Where are your shoes *at* ?'
@@BehindtheBar P.S. This is saying nothing of the language garbled in the 'deep south. Many Brits says 'merican English today is so far removed from British English (ie. Correct original English) that it's not even right to say 'mericans speak English, but rather that they speak 'merican. That's what many of them believe anyway...
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If you already have a government agency performing inspections and granting licenses in very regulated manufacturing industries sometimes it makes more sense to give them one more industry than to invent a new agency. Therefore Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Alternatively, they are combined so you can do all your weekend shopping at one place.
😂
@@BehindtheBar, to be serious though. Their primary intention was investigating organized crime. So providing licenses and regulations on how alcohol was being manufactured and sold ensured only legitimate groups were making and distributing it, keeping the distributors honest as far as what was in an alcohol and tobacco product was a big problem during their early days pre-WWII. Firearms was just added because again it had to do with tracking organized crime.
Also worth adding, they were originally part of the Department of the Treasury (under the name "Revenue Laboratory") as a group tasked with testing a "sin tax" (not the official term) on Alcohol and Tobacco. During prohibition they were transferred to the Department of Justice - as making alcohol illegal meant that enforcing alcohol laws would now require more policing and less accounting (although still quite a bit of accounting, as Al Capone will attest to). Post-Prohibition they were transferred back to the Department of the Treasury and named the "Alcohol Tax Unit." Later in the 40s it was determined it would be worth having a specific group to regulate firearms, and for the reasons Carl Rice mentioned, the ATU seemed like a good candidate rather than starting a whole new agency - and the ATF was born.
😂
Some of my local offerings include corn in the mash which I find makes for a particularly sweet vodka, and it tends to cover up almost all of the ethanol notes.
ATF are combined because the Treasury Department originally collected excise taxes on all 3.
It’s all about collecting that $$
Always about the money haha
And going after organized crime post prohibition
I've only had direct experience with Reyka and Luksusowa vodkas. Reyka is interesting from the technical standpoint because they use a Carter-Head still and, iirc, use the still's basket to filter the vapors through chunks of lava rock. It's very neutral, with a faint mineral hint.
Luksusowa is a Polish Vodka made from potatoes. I haven't noticed the heavyness, but it has a definite peppery nose.
Vodka is definitely one of the least-used spirits in my cabinet. It's primary purpose is to fuel the occasional Bloody Mary, and provide a few teaspoons to rinse out syrup bottles after they've been treated with boiling water. Oh, and to ward off the inevitable question "What, no Vodka?".
Basically, gin is vodka flavored with juniper. Only imagination is the limit as to how many flavors there can be. Dill is one of my favorites
Seriously, for me all these differences is placebo effect. As russian i can declare that all vodkas are same if we speak about taste. Better vodka is just milder and not so deadly in the morning. And we dont need to find some extra taste in it. It's tasteless, ok. it's just amplify the taste of snacks and therefore could be served with almost any snacks. it's the main feature here.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good freezer vodka and a blini but honestly, wrap your lips around a proper potato vodka if you haven’t - it’s entirely different from the grain based ones.
While vodka does have different discernible (and enjoyable) characteristics when consumed on its own or with water/ice, that disappears in cocktails with additional ingredients.
I also believe that (almost) any vodka cocktail is improved by subbing light rum or gin, but that one’s admittedly personal preference.
I've tried about every vodka I've seen on a shelf, and I still haven't found a reason to go anywhere past Tito's in terms of price. They really do all taste the same, and as long as the price is right and there's not any off notes or an offensive ethanol punch you're basically splitting hairs to find much that distinguishes them. It is interesting that Tito's has won so many blind taste tests with bottles that are MUCH more expensive than it. I think the corn probably offers the tiniest bit of sweetness and helps cover up the yucky rubbing alcohol flavor/smell vodka tends to have.
The Archie Rose sounds the most interesting to me! Kind of an "almost gin."
I always find it a little funny when people think brands like Grey Goose are way better because they're more expensive. I think a mid-range like Smirnoff works just as well, especially for mixing. If I'm just in the mood for something easy, and not feeling creative, I will have vodka and soda. Otherwise, I'll go for gin, whiskey, rum, etc., but I definitely don't have the hatred for vodka like some bartenders!
Right? I'm a brown spirit person, so not that great with gin and the juniper can be quite overpowering for me. So I'm definitely keen to give it a crack 😁😁
Grey Goose is HIGHLY overrated. Absolut & Stoli are my go to Vodka.
“Luxury vodka” brands are pretty much all markup! I personally like Polish rye or potato vodkas like Wyborowa and Luksusowa, which are cheaper than Grey Goose or Belvedere, they just come in less fancy bottles!
A bit surprised not to see Smirnoff (the higher proof Blue Label used to be one of my go-to spirits) or Stolichnaya.
My favourite back in the day was Kremlyovskaya; my least favourite either Wyborowa from Poland or English 'industrial' ones like Cossack and Vladivar; Absolut, Russkii Standart and Ketel One somewhere in the middle. Blavod was a fun ingredient for dark cocktails.
I was tempted by the Snow Queen bottle and advertising, but never took the plunge...
For flavoured vodkas (depending on mood etc.) I would have to list Krupnik and Zubrowka. Some day I should really try Holy Grass!
For regularly drinking Normally I just get a cheaper bottle like a Smirnoff or Absolut
Excellent video. I’m not sure I would have been able to detect a difference once I got to the last sip lol.
😂
I loved this deep dive into vodka!! i felt personally called out lol i’m definitely of the mindset that all vodkas are the same and so boring. but when i do drink it i find myself going for the corn or potato based for sure, i feel like they have a little bit more heft and meatiness to them.
from experience working in hospitality in the states i can say that tito’s (corn based) is by far the most popular when people are ordering vodka
"Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms" is actually America's favorite store. The government agency came later.
😂
I like my corn based vodkas now and fine that a good pot still vodka easily out trumps a column still ones which may also have glycerin added back in to give it mouth feel.
Great video as always 🤘
Do you know how many times you'd have to distill something in a pot still for it to come out neutral? Usually when making vodka you distill it to around 96% to make it neutral. I call BS on your comment.
ATF is basically a national vice squad. In most countries, that would refer to just alcohol and tobacco, but since it’s the US, it includes firearms 😜
Right on, thank you.
It’s all about taxing the spirit at every level of production and distribution. From the farmer growing the grain to the distillery buying the grain, to the sale of the finished product by the distillery and the mixing of a cocktail in a restaurant or bar the spirit is taxed at every step.
My favourite is a relatively little known Polish vodka called Konik's Tail. I do like a smooth and neutral vodka and I have never tasted anything that beats it.
For a funky tasting ones, Black Cow is a pretty interesting taste but in my experience the taste can vary significantly from one bottle to another so if you want consistency in your drinks, it wouldn't be my first choice.
Oh I tried Konik’s Tail back in the UK, delicious!
Tito's in the US uses MGP grain spirit, and is very neutral
Never really delved into vodka, but you definitely made me curious!
Chopin. Hands down best.
That's my go to. Black Label Polish potato vodka. Their wheat vodka with the red label is quite good too
Not the biggest fan of Vodka but when bartenders get all snooty about it, it becomes my favorite spirit out of spite.
Haha love this!
I have just recently found a CA vodka, King St, that is corn based!!! that is wonderful just on ice!!!
I guess I'm not a vodka fan, because my favorites are the ones that taste least like vodka, if that makes any sense. I keep a bottle of Reyka vodka around just for the occasional White Russian or Moscow Mule.
"Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms" should be the name of a convenience store.
Thanks for the video. I still can‘t help but feel that the less like Vodka the Vodka tastes the better the Vodka is.
Haha maybe true…
I think that's the American way of defining vodka, as she stated. American sold vodka has typically been like watered down grain alcohol. Good vodka doesn't taste like "vodka" that Americans think of
Oh, finally drink from my homeland is getting some love 💫
which one? and where from?
@@Blueroseproject354
Vodka
Russia
😀
@@HYDRARMOR oh hahahaha I thought like a specific brand hahaha 🤣 nice.
Do you have a favourite?
@@BehindtheBar yes! Here in Russia we have wide range of choices, but my favorite is Morosha
No headaches, tastes very light, great in cocktails 👌
I'm still wondering why we haven't had a "vodka boom" in Scotland yet, considering the number of new distilleries opening up. They all seem to produce gin first while waiting for the whiskies to age, but why not vodka too? Judging from descriptions of the whisky we used to make illegally in the hills, it seems to be much the same as poitín in Ireland, and people drank it much the same as vodka in Scandinavia now... of course I'm saying this and maybe the Scots distilleries are producing plenty vodka and it just hasn't taken off
That's a really interesting point! I haven't been back for too long to comment with much authority 😩 but I feel like gin has always been seen as such a quintessentially British product it might just seem like the obvious choice. Plus, craft vodka is more expensive than large volume stuff so maybe they just feel consumers won't see the value in spending more on a bottle, whereas they do with gin.
From Maui, Hawaii is a vodka called Ocean Vodka, made from sugar cane and deep ocean mineral water.
Vodkas are for drinking neat, so I appreciated this deep dive to highlight the differences in a very neutral base spirit! I feel the difference matters less in vodka cocktails, but I enjoy a neat vodka shot now and then.
I’m not a huge vodka drinker but Chopin is very good
As Anthony Bourdain once famously said, coming out from a bar in Cambodia, "Alcohol, tobacco and firearms are the trifecta of fun." Seems as good a rationale as any for creating a governmental body for oversight.
😂
Amazing video as always. Btw i don't like potato base vodka they don't taste good they're very different and not as clean as others and they usually leaving you with a hangover.
I am obsessed with that one haha, each to their own! Although I haven’t drank enough of it to test the hangover theory 🤔
@@BehindtheBar maybe it's just me🤷 but I find that potato base They are usually less qualitative then grain base.
That's interesting. Chopin has never left me feeling hungover. Tito's "premium" vodka left me with a brown liquor type hangover. Maybe because it's corn???
RUclipsrs never put what they say they will in the description! 😂
Oh dang!! Thanks for reminding me, I did actually check - they have a small column still 😊
@@BehindtheBar No harm done!👍 I just found it funny that everytime someone says that, I go to check and it's never there. 😂 Thanks for a great, very informative and interesting video, as always! 😁
drank some Hellfire while in Tasmania at the Hobart markets. their gin selection is freaking delicious the Sole Gin they make is off the chain so God Dam good definitely worth the hunt if you can find it...
Beluga is my favorite
Have you tried Coconut Vodka, from the Philippines? Lambanog.
I have not but I want to!
It should be a convenience store.
The BATF - now the TTB, it's complicated - is under the Treasury Department. It was originally instituted under a different name to make sure that taxes were paid on alcohol. Since a lot of this had to do with particular taxes paid depending on precisely what wines, beers, and spirits were being sold other regulations relating to the beverages fell under their purview. A bit later on the same thing led to them taxing tobacco and enforcing laws about tobacco growing allotments. Since the alcohol revenue people had experience in this sort of thing tobacco was fit in as well.
Firearms were similar. The National Firearms Act defined weapons for which one had to obtain a special tax stamp such as sawn off shotguns and automatic weapons. It was easier for various legal and political reasons than an outright ban. Once again, it was the Treasury Department which was in charge of collecting the fee, issuing the stamp, and ensuring compliance. They also quite logically got tasked with ensuring Federal laws relating to who was permitted to sell firearms were followed.
Thank you!
If only you could try Hot Monkey Vodka! It’s from New Deal Distillery in Portland, Oregon. So good on it’s own as a sipper or fantastic in a Bloody Mary.
I know there’s so many great drops from other countries we just don’t get here. Will visit at some point I’m sure! Used to live in Vancouver so love the Pacific Northwest
I quite liked a potato vodka & gin(!) I tried in PEI :-) (PEI is famous for potatoes)
For a proper deep dive to vodkas, do get some proper stuff from eastern and northern Europe. Here only Belvedere is "proper stuff".
If you mix enough alcohol and tobacco, you're sure to add firearms to the mix at some point!! 😂
😂
Don’t hate Russia: Vodka, Messer Chups(surf punk)!!! My friend she love 💕 vodka & Gin!!
Interesting! Grey Goose is my first choice, then Bellevedre 🍸but I'm certainly up for trying the others! Thanks Cara 🌹
Can you do a blind taste test?
Good idea!
I feel like something's missing here...🤔
😂
Does it all really taste the same?
No. They all taste different.
A wee bit hungover these days. Hmm
Me? Mate, I work full time plus do the channel and am a regular contributor to Bartender Magazine, on top of plenty of other commitments. I don’t have time to be hungover.
Vodka is, for the most part, a great waste of time. There are a few stand-outs: Chopin, the 100 proof Belvedere, Ciroc, for example, as well as those that have “additives” like buffalo or bison grass (I think it’s a Polish vodka). Sometimes it’s a mouth feel (Chopin), sometimes it’s a rye spice), but vodka can in no way compete with gin, rum, tequila or, especially, whiskey.
Not everything has to be a competition 😉 haha but I think the point of the video is that it’s cool the category is moving back away from overly filtered and distilled and allowing some character to shine through!
Vodka is not a waste of time. It's literally the most versatile spirit.
@@joewas2225 to each his own. Definitely, drink what you like, however you like it. And, if by versatile, you mean flavorless, then yes, I agree. The only thing that vodka (most vodkas, not all, I must admit, there are a few exceptions) adds to a cocktail is alcohol.
'English still isn't common in many parts of the world.
It hasn't been spoken in America for years'
Given the vague, broken derision of the English language spoken by most younger 'mericans, it's not surprising they tip over verbiage & definitions of words...
?
@@BehindtheBar Most younger 'mericans can barely speak English correctly. Wrong your/you're, to/too, their/there/they're, lose/loose, miss-spelling 'colour', 'flavour', 'tyre', 'aluminium', the list is endless.
Listen to young 'mericans talk - every 2nd word out of their mouth is 'like' 'totally', bro, dude, etc.
Ending questions with prepositions.
'Where are your shoes *at* ?'
@@BehindtheBar P.S. This is saying nothing of the language garbled in the 'deep south.
Many Brits says 'merican English today is so far removed from British English (ie. Correct original English) that it's not even right to say 'mericans speak English, but rather that they speak 'merican. That's what many of them believe anyway...