Smirnoff Red Triple Distilled Premium Vodka 70 cl 37,5%

No other spirits bottle has been poured this many times. The red label stands behind a bar in Tokyo, in a kitchen cupboard in Jutland and on a shelf in a ferry kiosk somewhere in the Baltic. Seventy centilitres of something made as neutral as it can possibly be, which is exactly why it fits in everywhere.

Expert description

Smirnoff Red Triple Distilled Premium Vodka 70 cl is a British Vodka made from grain, triple distilled and bottled at 37.5%.

This is the best-selling vodka in the world and the largest premium spirits brand on the planet. The recipe carries the number 21, and the distillate is filtered ten times through charcoal before it reaches the bottle. All of that work is about removal: fusel oils, heavier alcohols and any other residue that might hand the contents a personality.

Neutrality is rarely something you praise a spirit for, but here it is the design. The 70 cl bottle is the one the rest of the vodka shelf gets measured against, and it is also the one a large share of the classic vodka drinks were originally built around. It pushes back at neither tomato juice, coffee liqueur nor tonic.

Tasting notes

Nose

Very reserved. A cool chalk impression and a suggestion of charcoal if you give it time in the glass.

Palate

Mineral and light. Cracked black pepper through the middle and a flick of peppermint freshness that leaves as fast as it arrived.

Finish

Dry and peppery with a trace of chargrilled pepper. Short, but broader than you would expect.

Specifications

Name: Smirnoff Red Triple Distilled Premium Vodka 70 cl
Producer: Smirnoff
Region/Country: United Kingdom
Type: British Vodka
ABV: 37.5%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Triple distilled and charcoal filtered
EAN no.: 5011013400157
Serving suggestion: A Vodka Tonic with lime, or ice cold in a classic Vodka Martini.

Flavour profile

Clean · Mineral · Lightly peppery · Neutral

Did you know?

When the Bolsheviks seized the family distillery in Moscow in 1917, Vladimir Smirnov escaped the firing squad and fled through Constantinople to France. Outside Paris he built a new, small distillery and gave the family name a French twist. That is why the label reads Smirnoff and not Smirnov.

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Frequently asked questions about Smirnoff Red Triple Distilled Premium Vodka 70 cl

Why does Smirnoff Red taste of so little?

Because it was built that way. Ten passes through charcoal remove almost anything you could call character, leaving alcohol, water and a dry peppery note. In a cocktail that is an advantage: you get the strength without the base starting to make decisions.

What is the difference between 37.5% and 40% vodka?

Only the strength, and it shows mostly in texture. At 37.5% the mouthfeel is a shade lighter and the warmth gentler, which makes it easier to drink in long serves. In the EU, 37.5% is also the legal minimum for anything calling itself vodka.

Can I cook with it?

Yes, and it is a sound choice for it. Vodka pulls out aroma compounds that neither water nor fat can reach, and because this one is so neutral it adds no flavour of its own. The classic use is a tomato sauce with a splash of vodka and cream.

How do I drink it neat?

Ice cold and in small glasses. Leave the bottle in the freezer for a few hours, pour modest measures and do not fill the glass. Neat vodka works best alongside food, usually something salty or fatty such as herring, rye bread or smoked fish.

Why is there an eagle on the label?

It is taken from the coat of arms of Imperial Russia and points back to the brand's Moscow origins. Together with the red and silver logo it is the clearest surviving trace of that Russian past on a bottle now made in Britain.

Does it suit a home cocktail bar?

Yes, it is the obvious place to start. Because it is so neutral you can learn recipes and ratios without the base interfering. After that, try more characterful bottles from our Vodka brands and the difference becomes very clear.

Where is it made?

In the United Kingdom. The brand has Russian roots, but production of European Smirnoff has sat in the British Isles since the 1950s. There is production in several other countries as well, since the brand sells globally.