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Russian Standard Vodka $30 at Dan's and 1st Choice

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Yes, this vodka is not a premium brand in Australia and if you want to get a "nice" one then grab a Belvedere or Grey Goose. However, when I was in St. Petersburg about 10 years ago, this was the top shelf vodka… for Russians. They have since started exporting to Australia and are now in a lot of bars as the house vodka, go figure.

Stories aside, this is the lowest price I have seen for this bottle. If you haven't tried this one and don't mind a vodka every now and then, give it a go; it's actually very good. Google russian standard vodka review if you don't believe me.

1st Choice or Dan's (remember 5% cashrewards and C&C for Dan's.)

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closed Comments

  • +3

    Regular price is about $42-45 at Woolies or Coles.

    Its pretty good for the price. I prefer drinking this than Johnny Walker Red or other spirit at the same price level.

    • +7

      Comparing an average whisky to a vodka. You really have no Russian Standards do you.

  • I love Russian Standard, Nasdarovia!

  • +3

    without paying $100 a bottle this is by far the best

    • Belvedere is only $60 a bottle and that's the best vodka going in my opinion.

      • +1

        hahahahahahahahaha

      • I used to think that too. Got onto Russian Standard and Zubrowka as recommended from comments on OzB deals. Can't even go near Gray Goose or Belvedere now, they're horrible in comparison.

  • +6

    The russian standard gold is also quite nice. My preferred 'nice' vodka is zubrowka bison grass.
    Great price for half decent gut rot.

  • +1

    Was fine when it was 40%. No good now since I like to store my Vodka in the freezer and this actually freezes. For a cheap Vodka, I go Zytnia.

    • +1

      it freezes? You must have a cold freezer. 38% alcohol freezes at ~ -21oC, most freezers are -17oC.
      but yes 40% freezes at ~ -23oC

      • +1

        I just noticed they have dropped it to 38%.

        When did this happen?

        • 37.5 rounded up I think and it was years ago. Green label was dropped to. Says 40% on the website but not on the label. More rounding I guess.

          And yes it definitely freezes. Like my vodka syrupy, not solid.

        • I've still got a few bottles of the 40% around and didn't realise it had changed.

          I always thought it was a very good vodka for the price but my favourites Belvedere Intense. I've grabbed some Intense the other week overseas for $40 ltr with 250ml bonus bottle.

    • A common habit… but why? To mask poor-quality, generally.

      I'm actually quite surprised by Russian Standard. I find it decent for this price.

  • +1

    Easily better than rip off Smirnoff. Good deal

  • +1

    $29.95 at Dans - don't forget Cash Rewards

  • Honestly, Belvedere tastes like toilet cleaner to me. But Smirnoff is worse.

    • What's your point of reference? Though I agree it tastes like some floor cleaners smell.

      • Point of reference? This is just my opinion, lol. I don't mind Russian Standard. Should've been clearer about that.

  • This is a nice vodka IMHO, but yes, not the best.

    I was given a 1 ltr bottle from my bro when he came back from a OS trip.
    It was the middle spec/price point (Platinum - I think), as when I looked online at the time, they had 3 styles of it.
    If I recall correctly, only the base version was available in Aust at the time & in a standard 700ml(?).

    I always wanted to try their Gold/top shelf, but don't think it's available in Aus, well the last time I looked anyway.
    Yet to try GreyG/Bel/Bison grass.

    Thanks OP

  • +3

    I'm confused, there are people who drink vodka for the taste?

    • +6

      Personally, I think the quality is judged more about the LACK of flavour.

    • This vodka has what I would describe as a 'bready' flavour. It's not bland and tasteless. I personally like a bit of taste in my vodka and not five time distilled, carbon filtered water and ethanol.

    • Good vodkas actually are quite sweet.

  • For a light drinker, what would this vodka mix with best? ie Orange juice, cranberry, ginger ale etc? Don't think Coke is as sweet as adding rum, right?

    • +1

      Vodka cranberry
      Vodka lemonade (like Schweppes, not so-much sprite)
      Vodka lime & soda (mixed to personal taste)
      Vodka ginger beer (+ fresh squeezed lime/lemon)

      • Why not Sprite, too sweet? Haven't tried ginger beer, tho I think I did try ginger ale.

    • Vodka Red bull

  • +7

    it was $34-$38 for the longest time till recently when they jacked it up to $45. Much much nicer than Smirnoff.
    It has ever so slightly harsher after tones than belvedere( I consider this the smoothest i've tried ) and is about on par with grey goose / prarie, just a different taste.

    Mixes well with any juice i find, orange, pineapple, apple. They all work!

    If your experience is limited to Smirnoff give this a shot!

  • -1

    Just FYI - cost in Russia $10. Not the best value for money.

    • +12

      Did you get that price from SovBargain?

      • +1

        Kostya wanted to shirt front the Russian Standard but it wasn't Putin up with it.

    • +2

      Most of the price difference would be due to import duties and taxes.

      http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2014/03/25/much-tax-really-pa…

      On a $40 bottle of spirits more than half the price consists of taxes.

      Alcohol is cheap. Really cheap. In 2006, the cost of making 100% ethanol in Australia for blending into E85 was 70c/L. In more recent times I've heard it's around a dollar per liter. The taxes are there to help stop the population drinking itself to death.

      • I beg to differ, I went to philippines and a bottle of vodka was $3 and I'm still alive

    • The excise on a bottle of vodka (@38% ABV) is $20.90.

      For this bottle, that means the actual cost is $9.10. That includes 10% GST.

      So, the pre-tax price is actually $8.27.

      I don't think you'll find a cheaper vodka.

      • https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_904137/ruskov-vodka…

        Currently selling for $26.90 per 700ml. Made in France from sugar beets. Actually tastes not too bad unless you want a vodka with no flavour.

        • That's 37.5% ABV. So, that means the excise is $20.59.

          The actual pre-excise cost of the drink is $6.31. Subtract GST, and you get $5.74.

          So, it is indeed cheaper. But, obviously, once you get into the sub-$30 bracket, you get into a region of diminishing returns, where you are paying a higher and higher proportion of your money in tax, and a much lower proportion for the actual drink.

          I'd be quite happy to pay a few dollars more for a slightly better product, since the Government is going to be getting around $21 from me, whether I pay for cheap stuff that will send me blind, or a premium product.

        • +1

          @marlor:

          Agreed there, spend a little more and get a higher quality product. Russian Standard is quite nice.

      • Also factor in 5% cashrewards off $30 (the cashrewards site probably gets even more). That's another $1.50 off.
        There's likely card fees too.

    • +1

      Kostya 8 hours ago new ¶
      Just FYI - cost in Russia $10. Not the best value for money.

      And $1000 in airfares

  • Took out a Silver medal at the San Francisco Spirit Awards 2015, so certainly good value.

    • Ooooooooooh!

  • +1

    This stuff is much better than Smirnoff!

    • Quite how Smirnoff Red became so popular is beyond me. Great marketing and PR I guess. It tastes and smells unlike any other vodka. And that's not a good thing. Possibly the only worse spirit I ever had was some really cheap shochu in Japan (1000 yen per liter) from a 7-11 that smelled like kerosene and gave me a hang over from one shot.

      • Smirnoff Red smells like petrol. Though the worst vodka I've had was in Austria (but was distilled in Germany).
        It had a name like Rottenburg? So I presume it is from the town of the same name.
        Cost 8 EUR for 1 Litre.

      • I have a bottle from my last trip to Japan mine cost me 700 yen $9. Still unopenned i may use it to clean the sink.

  • this is my favourite vodka, might have to grab another bottle

  • Can confirm - have done a blind taste-testing between Smirnoff, Russian Standard, Stoli and Absolut and Russian Standard came out on top. I think

  • "They have since started exporting to Australia and are now in a lot of bars as the house vodka, go figure."

    This made and sold under license in Australia by Coca-Cola Amatil. It's not the same. As the true Russian one

    • Interesting, I was not aware they did this.

  • They also have stolichnaya for $30

    https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_44581/stolichnaya-v…

    Pretty much on par with russian standard

  • This used to be $30 at Dan's for quite a while and was my go-to Vodka.
    Since switched to Liquorland's 5x distilled cheap stuff for $27. (I can't stand Smirnoff)

  • thanks to the international date line I am celebrating the Russian religious holiday known as Tatiana Day.

    enjoying my Russian standard.

    quite smooth.

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