I’m sure every drinker has heard of Grey Goose vodka. If you drink and you haven’t, what the hell are you doing with your life? Where have you been? Are you still living in your mother’s basement? Why doesn’t she have a bottle? I digress. Before I fashioned myself a drinker, I knew of Grey Goose and Belvedere and heard tales of their premium quality. Flash forward a couple years (yes, I said a couple, are you calling me a liar?), and now that I am a bit seasoned, it’s only natural to question things I have been taught. Now that we started BoozeBasher, I get to share my self-indulgent findings with our unsuspecting readers.
Grey Goose is distilled in the famous Cognac region of France from wheat harvested south of Paris and is imported to the US by the Sidney Frank Importing Company. Goose is distilled in a continuous still and uses alpine spring water that has been filtered through the limestone plateaux of the Massif Central. Grey Goose was released as a competitor to Absolut, but it was placed at a higher price point to suggest high quality. Many actually attribute this vodka as being an inspiration for other high-priced vodka, as Absolut later released Level at a similar price, and other vodka brands began to appear more frequently at the higher price point. We at BoozeBasher don’t like anyone driving up our liquor prices, but if it really means higher quality, we might be able to let it slide.
The scent of Grey Goose is very much a classic vodka smell. It’s a faint rubbing alcohol-like odor that does wonders for clearing the sinuses, but there is actually a little more underneath. If your nose hairs survive repeat sniffings, you can pick up on the cooked grain scent with a slight smokiness and a hint of vanilla. On ice, the cooked grain smell really opens up and pairs with the alcohol scent to launch an assault on the senses that will drive the vodkaphile mad with anticipation.
Goose goes down smoothly, and it really warms the pallet after the finish. It’s a rather pleasant experience to sip over ice. The taste could prove to be a little harsh for the casual vodka drinker because there is a definite sting of alcohol, but the cooked grain flavor really provides an enjoyable taste. It’s nothing that is really going to knock your socks off and have you calling all your friends, but you will definitely be pleased. While it may not be as flashy and unique-tasting as Cîroc, a newer French vodka creation that really innovates in the area of sipping taste from using a blend of grapes, Grey Goose does well to set itself apart along the more traveled path of grain vodka. The aftertaste of this spirit is what makes it so satisfying. You can easily pick up on the vanilla in the aftertaste. It leaves a dry, warm, and inviting taste in your mouth. Drinking Goose with Sprite© subdues the flavor a good bit, but it almost completely cuts all of the sting and alcohol taste. Although the flavor is cut a good bit, you can still pick up on the cooked grain essence. Though it doesn’t seem to add anything out-of-this-world to mixed drinks, it certainly blends very well, which is an attribute that many look for in a vodka.
After consuming four shots worth of the 80-proof Goose, I had a good, smooth buzz. It wasn’t anything incredible, but it did give me a warm and almost content feeling that I rarely experience sober. Once I drank the four shots, I even managed to venture forth from my cave-like dwelling for a bar adventure. That’s a plus to reviewing Grey Goose; they tend to serve it pretty much everywhere. As I was consuming another stiff Goose drink, I noticed two attractive females at the bar giving me “the look.” It was so obvious that a drunken Wade even noticed and echoed my perceptions. I was intrigued. After Wade was greeted by the two with an uncharacteristically-positive response, I tapped into the liquid courage Goose gave me and approached the pack. Things went downhill shortly afterwards. I have no idea what happened, but it was obvious that they didn’t want to converse with me. Could they have been eyeing Wade the whole time? Surely not. That experience will remain a mystery to me until drinking graciously removes that memory from my mind. I’ll give Grey Goose a good mark for the drunkability simply for providing the social lubricant required for me to talk to unknown women.
The next morning didn’t give me too much trouble. I awoke in good spirits. I had some serious cotton mouth, but I was able to vanquish it with a little water. I did experience slight nausea after being awake for a few hours, but that didn’t last long at all. I don’t know if I can fault Grey Goose for that one; I might just blame my life pains for it.
At a little over $30 for a 750ml bottle, Grey Goose is certainly not the most expensive vodka on the shelf, but you aren’t likely to be purchasing it with spare change you find in your couch either. You can definitely find more interesting vodkas out there for that price. However, if you are looking for a high-quality classic taste, you can’t go wrong with a bottle of Goose. I guess my liquor “educators” knew a thing or two about vodka after all.
Sipability - 7.0
Mixability - 7.5
Drunkability - 7.0
Hangover-ability - 8.0
Bang for the Buck - 5.0
Overall - 7.5 
Comments
i think this stuff is overrated…esp. when for 18$, Three Olives blows this stuff away.
Very overrated. Don’t let the more expensive price and beautiful bottle sway your opinion. [If you’re trying to impress some @#$##$ OK]. Otherwise buy something else…especially if you just need to get drunk by yourself.
I’ve been sick on this stuff. Its “just” vodka. Nothing special. Tastes no different from other vodkas on the way up…and you just wasted $20.00 over a decent vodka! Might as well be flushing $20s down the toilet which is exact what you will be doing!
Vodkaman.
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