For those who didn't know, I'm in the Navy. 18+ years now. During one of my tours a few years back I had the opportunity to travel to Vladivostok, Russia. While I was there I got tanked with a bunch of Russian Sailors on the beach. It was a really good time. One friend of mine traded an entire uniform, and we had to carry his drunk ass all the way back to the ship. Anyway, I knew I wanted to take a bunch of Russian vodka home with me, but I didn't know what was considered good so I thought I might try and get some valuable information from our drunken hosts. It was really funny because there was one of their comrades that was revered for speaking pretty good English and they were frantic to get in touch with him and get him down to the beach to translate the conversation. They were so eager to have their words fall on our ears. It was awesome. After many laughs and a shitload of arm wresting (damn those dudes likes to arm wrestle) we concluded the drinking needed to come to an end. I did get some good information. Anyway, everything they told me about Russian Vodka kinda boiled down to this........there are more expensive Russian vodkas out there, but Russians drink "Green Mark." It was explained that vodka distilling, at some point in their history, was government controlled and strictly produced. So, whoever it was that determined the purity of the distillation gave the batch the government stamp or "Green Mark" hence the name ........this company distilled the spirit in the same fashion which accounted for its supreme smoothness ...so on and so forth . So, upon leaving "Vlad" I took with me 12 bottles of the stuff (it was all the market had), but I still had a bunch of Russian money left over ....so I gestures to the AK-47 armed guard (in the grocery store ....WTF??)...now that the Green Mark was gone .......what else was good. I pointed to the Green Mark in my basket and gave it the thumbs up....then I gestures to the rest of the vodka on the shelves and shrugged my shoulders in the universal (What?) and then gave the thumbs up? What's good? He pointed out another brand .....I took 4 more bottles ....and then some smaller flavored brands. All in all I walked away with 19 bottles. I have a few bottles left.
Now, I'm not above sharing. Most of my vodka that is gone has been given away anyway...but if anyone is interested in savoring the elixir I've toted around the world ....I may be so inclined to share. Unfortunately, I'm on the east coast and I'm traveling to Massachusetts for the holidays. If anyone wants to give it a taste, I would be more than happy to oblige.
I know it is off topic a little .......with that rant, but to get back on topic....Green Mark is some of the smoothest vodka I have ever tasted. However, it is not readily available (except maybe in England or Australia). I thought I might also add...there is a little distillery in Maine .....called Cold River. It's potato vodka like most Russian vodkas and it's pretty damned good. It's available in greater New England, and I could also accommodate some people trying it if they were so inclined.
Anyway .....that's my piece. Get in touch with me if anyone wants to partake and I will do what I can. Cool. Thanks for listening (reading) P.S. I've been drinking all night which may account for my rambling, but my words are sincere. OK, I'm done.

Chopin vodka is the best in my opinion. It is made from potatoes. Safe for those of us who are allergic to wheat, and kicks the shit out of grey goose.

Try it out. You will be impressed.

Chopin vodka is the best in my opinion.