texas vodka reviews

tower vodka: 6.9

Tower Vodka is made in Pilot Point, Texas and bottled in Houston, so it is an entirely Texas-made vodka. It is corn-based, following in the footsteps of Tito’s.

coolness: Aside from being made in Texas, which I do enjoy, this doesn’t really do it for me. Tower is largely branded as a more affordable alternative to Tito’s; it’s label and bottles are purposefully designed to be similar in style. I already don’t care for the Tito’s brand, so I’m not impressed by Tower’s branding, either. I do love when a handle of vodka has a handle, though, and for that I give Tower Vodka a +1 to coolness.

coolness: 3.8

cost: Tower is currently $25 for a 1.75L bottle. That’s hard to beat, which is exactly why I bought the bottle in the first place. That’s $5 cheaper than Tito’s, and ranges between 5-10 dollars cheaper than brands like Stoli, Chopin, or Ketel One in the same size. I’ve mostly used Tower for cocktails when entertaining guests, and for that, I feel like I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth.

cost: 8.9

flavor: This is a tasty vodka. It’s pretty neutral, which is a big positive, and it has what I would describe as a “round mouthfeel.” It doesn’t hit you hard when you sip it, and there are no off tastes or smells to be had.

flavor: 8.9

burn: When you sip it, Tower isn’t harsh whatsoever. Shooting it, though, is another story. There is a bit of an uncomfortable sting that comes with taking a shot of this stuff that isn’t present in some higher end potato and wheat vodkas. Maybe that’s a symptom of it being corn-based, or maybe I have no idea what I am talking about. Regardless, shots of this stuff can be tough. If you’re shooting it, maybe have some juice or a snack nearby.

burn: 5.8

Overall, Tower is a pretty good vodka for the money. Tito’s just isn’t worth your cash if you ask me, especially if you’re just mixing the stuff. There are other distilleries making quality products at competitive price points. Why not reward them?

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21 june 2023

tito’s handmade vodka: 5.7

Tito’s is supposedly made in Texas, though that is disputed. At the very least, I’m confident it’s bottled in Austin, Texas. It’s distilled from corn, and is now one of the most popular vodka’s in the US.

coolness: In case you didn’t know, vodka is nearly always gluten-free. Tito’s started the bullshit marketing strategy of labeling there’s as such, and it worked. It worked big time. Outside of the pretentious scheme of the gluten-free label, I just don’t like the way this bottle looks. Lame colors, lame label, lame ploys. +1 for the handle having a handle, though.

coolness: 2.1

cost: Tito’s used to be a really cheap bottle. It was actually my first vodka purchase because I had heard it was good and cheap. Now it’s debatably one of those things. It’s not that Tito’s is expensive, but at $30 or above for 1.75L, it’s not the most affordable corn vodka. Still, for a major brand, that’s not horrible.

cost: 7.4

flavor: This is really isn’t bad. There’s a sweetness, presumably from the corn, that I really enjoy. When shooting it’s reasonably smooth (see below), but when sipping there are some interesting, distasteful notes on the backend. Not bad at all, but not amazing either.

flavor: 7.9

burn: Yeah… this vodka bit me. At the end, especially after shooting it, there’s a shocking amount of alcohol burn here. I’m certain that mixed it wouldn’t be an issue, but at this price? C’mon now.

burn: 5.5

I gotta say: I didn’t hate this. I thought I would, but I didn’t. It’s still way overrated, in my opinion, and I wouldn’t reach for it personally. Tower is better and cheaper if you’re looking for a Texas vodka. Go for that.