Does filtering cheap vodka help?

[supercheap]

Just tried it and the answer is Yes Yes and OMG Yes. By using activated carbon you can smooth vodka the same way the liquor companies. And it works. Took a bottle of Taaka (about $8.00) and turn it into a vodka that chilled down you can now drink straight. Yeah it's better not to drink but, this is going to save me a ton of money this year. Anyone else try this before?

update:

The key to making this work is getting an Activated Carbon with the chemical and physical properties suited for the filtration of alcohol. A brita filter will help the taste of a cheap liquor but not nearly as well as the right activated carbon. I know, I tried it. Brita's and other water filters are made to filter water. Plus some of the plastics used in the water filters can break down when alcohol is run though them. Not good. I got the activated carbon that I'm using now from Home Page It was cheap. Less than $10.00. If you filter 12 bottles it's less than a $1 per bottle. I have also tried a filter from a company called Gray Kangaroo. It works but the cost was a bit more about $35.00. So is it worth the trouble to filter your own liquor? For me yes. Not only do I save money doing it, I enjoy it. Try it yourself and then get a group of people to do taste tests and hear the reactions, it's a lot of fun.

[disneysteve]

I've seen two different trials on TV about this. I think one was on Mythbusters. Both times they agreed that filtering cheap vodka made a difference. You can also use the Brita water filters, though that would be more costly than charcoal. It won't turn swill into ultrapremium but it will make it more drinkable.

[boosami]

If only I could devise a way to do this with scotch I'd be happy...

[GREENBACK]

I've never heard of this. I better take that bottle of Grey Goose back and see if I can do an exchange....lol. I think I'll try this just for kicks.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I've never heard of this. I better take that bottle of Grey Goose back and see if I can do an exchange....lol. I think I'll try this just for kicks.

It really isn't surprising. Look at the premium vodkas. They say that they are distilled 4 or 5 times. Each distillation (filtering) removes some impurities, but it takes time and costs money to do that. The cheaper vodkas might only go through one filtration.

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

It really isn't surprising. Look at the premium vodkas. They say that they are distilled 4 or 5 times. Each distillation (filtering) removes some impurities, but it takes time and costs money to do that. The cheaper vodkas might only go through one filtration.

Yeah, that makes sense but I just never thought of doing it at home.

[supercheap]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

Yeah, that makes sense but I just never thought of doing it at home.

Can't tell you how amazed I was with the differences this made. Let the vodka soak overnight in the Carbon and you can drink it straight. Only down side is that you may drink more than you should. Upside, You do forget about your bad day.

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by supercheap

Can't tell you how amazed I was with the differences this made. Let the vodka soak overnight in the Carbon and you can drink it straight. Only down side is that you may drink more than you should. Upside, You do forget about your bad day.

I usually stick to the good stuff or at least middle of the road so hopefully this won't be an issue

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by boosami

If only I could devise a way to do this with scotch I'd be happy...

Actually, extra filtration may help scotch also, but scotch is more complex than vodka. "Good" scotch is more determined by what goes into and how long it has aged than in than how it is filtered. That's not true of vodka.

[GREENBACK]

I was going to ask about bourbon but the scotch answer exploains that.

[supercheap]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I was going to ask about bourbon but the scotch answer exploains that.

Tried a little bit of bourbon in the filter. Took the burn out, also the color and the taste. Got it down to almost a pure clear alcohol. It will help on real cheap bourbon but you have to taste it as you filter so that you don't over filter.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by supercheap

Tried a little bit of bourbon in the filter. Took the burn out, also the color and the taste. Got it down to almost a pure clear alcohol. It will help on real cheap bourbon but you have to taste it as you filter so that you don't over filter.

Makes sense. Filtering removes impurities. However, with whiskey, you want the impurities, like stuff that gets absorbed from the aging barrels. That's what gives it taste and color. You want vodka to be as pure as possible and not have taste (and certainly not color).

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

You all made me go running to wikipedia, where I found the article on activated carbon interesting.

Activated carbon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[GREENBACK]

Activated carbon is used in a variety of ways as you learned in the article. It has a use, or formally did, by the military as a chemical suppresent. This has gained popularity in the civilian world as a way to fool the noses of wild animals(hunting). Never thought of it as making booze taste better but probably should have.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

Activated carbon is used in a variety of ways as you learned in the article. It has a use, or formally did, by the military as a scent suppresant.

We're all familiar with using baking soda in the fridge or freezer to reduce odors. Activated charcoal is actually far more effective for that job. It just isn't as readily available.

[SavingCash]

I don't drink Vodka, but I buy $2.99 bottles of wine at Aldi. I love Aldi!

[cptacek]

how much activated charcoal did you use, how much does it cost, and can you use it over again?

[supercheap]

Originally Posted by cptacek

how much activated charcoal did you use, how much does it cost, and can you use it over again?

I used about one cup with one liter of vodka and let it sit overnight. It was 7.95 from a company called A.P.E. I haven't got enough posts yet to list the web site. If you look up buyape you should be able to find it. check net not com. And yes you can use it over 12 times. Tried a brita filter first. It did help but not as well as this stuff. The carbon in the brita is gear for h2o not alcohol. hope this helps

[cptacek]

well, wow, that really is cheap then! congrats on finding that jewel!

Some Myths of Air Travel

You are on your way to the airport, and notice that traffic is lighter than usual. After an easy check-in, you nearly float through security - the airport screeners are so friendly, ask you about your day, want to know all about your trip. You are sorry about the 3 slightly large carry on pieces of luggage but you didn't feel like checking any luggage in. Smiles all around...no problem.

And even better, your flight leaves out of the first gate after the security screening. No need to drag the carry-ons across moving sidewalks clogged with people. Your flight boards when the gate agent says 'you know what, I have an extra seat in business class, how would you like it?' After a lovely glass of Chardonnay, and a turbulence-free flight, you arrive at your destination 10 minutes early!

OK...stop...this scenario will never happen and there are other things that just don't happen at an airport, like if you call an airline and tell them you are running late, the plane will be held for you. It won't. Some of the myths of air travel that I have encountered are discussed in greater detail, in my Top 10 Air Travel Myths.