The Brand:
Smirnoff is by far and away the biggest producer of vodka in the world today. It outstrips the nearest competitor (Absolut) by 50%.
The Smirnoff brand is owned by Diageo, a British multinational company formed in 1997 from the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan. Smirnoff sell in excess of 25 million cases per year, this includes all grades and every weird and wonderful flavour available.
Smirnoff is a triple distilled neutral grain spirit purified by filtering through charcoal. It is a ubiquitous spirit that sits on the shelves of millions if not billions of supermarkets, bars, restaurants, pubs, clubs, cafes and homes across the globe.
The Types:
The standard and most common type of Smirnoff is Smirnoff 21, also known as Smirnoff Red. It is between 37.5% and 40% ABV depending on location and varies between 70 and 100° proof. Also available are Blue Label (Smirnoff 57) and Black Label. The Blue Label has a slightly higher alcohol content than the Red, between 45% and 50% ABV, and the Black Label variant is the premium version of Smirnoff that is both charcoal and pot-distilled to make for a high quality purest of pure product.
The Taste:
There is no denying that if you drink the standard Smirnoff Red vodka as a neat shot it burns with a good degree of eye-watering to boot! The premium variety, Black Smirnoff, is far smoother and more palatable and can be enjoyed in its neat form; it seems a shame to drown it in other spirits and juices (Smirnoff 21 is a perfect choice for this). The variety of infused flavours on offer is unparalleled and certainly come in handy if you’re into a bit of mixology.
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Smirnoff
The Brand:
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