GREY GOOSE® FAQ

You have questions about GREY GOOSE®, vodka and cocktails? We have answers. Let's explore the world of vodka together.

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Vodka Knowledge

  • Vodka is made by fermenting potatoes or grains, and the process varies widely based on the brand. GREY GOOSE® perfects every step of the process to create the best vodka. From harvesting the finest French wheat, to our single distillation process, to the final tasting of every bottle, we ensure every last drop is smooth and naturally tasteful. Learn all about how we make vodka.

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  • As the "conception spirit", vodka can be thought of as the base for gin. Both are fermented from grain, but while vodka remains a versatile spirit that can play well with numerous flavours, gin is infused with herbal botanicals, including a dominant juniper flavour. Learn how to substitute vodka in for other spirits, including gin.

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  • More distillation does not mean a better vodka. In fact, we would say it’s the opposite. GREY GOOSE® Vodka uses ingredients so premium that we choose to distill only once to maintain their character. Our single distillation process lets the finest soft winter wheat and spring water from France shine through. Learn more about how GREY GOOSE® Vodka is made.

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  • A vodka spritz or vodka spritzer is a simple cocktail containing vodka, soda water (or something else bubbly) and fruit juice, typically served over ice. They can be a nice lower ABV option. For some of our favourite vodka spritz recipes, check out the Lemon & Ginger Spritz, Sparkler Spritz or Surf Spritzer.

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  • Vodka most likely was invented in either Poland in the eighth century or Russia in the ninth century. Learn more about the intriguing history of vodka, from its highly contested origins to its bright future.

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  • Vodka is made from fermented potatoes or grains, which can include corn. GREY GOOSE® uses the finest French wheat for a premium product for more aromatic taste notes and a more rounded finish.

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  • Vodka is made from fermented potatoes or grains, including wheat. GREY GOOSE® uses the finest French wheat from Picardie, the “breadbasket of France,” to produce the finest tasting vodka.

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  • The origins of the word “cocktail” are varied and highly debated. One theory posits that long ago, English sailors enjoyed mixed drinks in a Mexican tavern that contained a sort of stirrer made from a plant called cola de gallo, which means “cock’s tail” in English. They then brought that name back to England, which later made its way to America.

    Others say the word originated in America, where in New Orleans they served a mixed drink in a French egg cup called a coquetier, which was later pronounced by English speakers as “cocktail.”

    New York also lays claim to the origin story. There’s the theory that bartenders used to pour the leftovers of liquors into a barrel, where people could pour a cheap drink from the spigot, which is also known as a cock. So they drank the mixed dregs of alcohol cobbled together by the tail end of a cock.

    No matter the origin of the word, one thing we can all agree on is cocktails sure are delicious. Browse all of our cocktail recipes to find one you’ll love.

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  • Vodka is one of the most popular spirits in the world, and for good reason. Its delicate taste makes it a wonderful base for a wide variety of cocktails, from fruity Cosmopolitans to more bittersweet Espresso Martini Cocktails to spicy and savoury Bloody Marys. It’s especially popular in the classic, spirit-forward Vodka Martini Cocktail. We also believe premium vodka by itself has a smooth, nuanced taste that’s uniquely palate pleasing.

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  • The answer to this question is a little complicated. Gin can be classified as a botanically infused vodka. Vodka is called the “conception spirit” as it can be seen as the base from which other spirits are derived. So if you add traditional gin botanicals, like juniper, you can make gin from vodka.

    But not all botanically infused vodkas are gin. Take our GREY GOOSE® Essences, for example. Here we take vodka and infuse it with the real fruit and botanical essences in flavours of Strawberry & Lemongrass, Watermelon & Basil and White Peach & Rosemary. These flavours are a far cry from gin.

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  • You may have heard a rumour that the Kirkland Signature™ brand vodka sold at Costco is actually GREY GOOSE® Vodka, just in different packaging. We can definitively put this myth to rest. This viral claim is completely false, and GREY GOOSE® Vodka does not produce nor privately label Kirkland vodka.

    While both vodkas may use water from France’s Cognac region, the origin of the wheat in the Kirkland brand is undisclosed. GREY GOOSE® Vodka is only made from two ingredients: water from our own well in Gensac-la-Pallue and the finest French wheat. Every part of the production process is done in France.

    Furthermore, the Kirkland brand states that their product is distilled five times. GREY GOOSE® Vodka is distilled only once to preserve the naturally tasteful qualities of our signature winter wheat.

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  • GREY GOOSE® Vodka is made from just two ingredients: soft single-origin winter wheat from Picardy, France, and spring water from Gensac-La-Pallue in France. Only GREY GOOSE® Vodka ever touches the inside of a GREY GOOSE® bottle. Learn more about the story of GREY GOOSE® from crop to cork, and how to taste vodka to truly sharpen your vodka knowledge.

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  • GREY GOOSE® Vodka comes in a wide variety of sizes with the biggest bottle being 3L. In the UK, our bottles are available in volume options of 50ml, 350ml, 700ml, 1.5L, 1.75L and 3L. You can buy GREY GOOSE® Vodka online or find it at a store near you. Bottles sizes may vary depending on location and availability.

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  • Vodka does freeze, you just may never see it happen. Take this at-home experiment, for example. You may have put vodka in the freezer and noticed something—it doesn’t freeze, no matter how long you leave it in there. That’s because its freezing point is much lower than that of water. Because vodka contains 40% alcohol, it won’t freeze over until around -23 degrees Celsius, much lower than your typical freezer, which is around -18 degrees Celsius.

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  • Whether vodka goes off or goes bad will depend on a variety of factors, including proper storage. Most alcohol will not expire and will remain drinkable indefinitely if it is unopened. It’s also unlikely that opened alcohol will “go bad” or be unsafe to drink as its high alcohol content protects it from germs. That said, its taste can definitely be altered. Light, temperature and air can change the way vodka tastes. Keep vodka in a cool, dark place to help preserve its flavour for as long as possible. To go a step further, we recommend storing GREY GOOSE® in the fridge to keep it beautifully refrigerated, ready to mix and perfectly preserved. Flavoured vodkas have a shorter shelf life due to the added flavours. It’s best to enjoy these within 90 days of opening. If you notice a strange smell to your vodka, you don’t want to not drink it. If in doubt, throw it out.

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  • Vodka, like most straight spirits, has sufficient alcohol to make it very shelf stable. But keep in mind that extended exposure to high temperatures or sunlight can impact taste, and you should always make sure to seal opened bottles properly after use. To keep your bottle at its best, we recommend storing GREY GOOSE® Vodka in a cool, dark place.

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  • In a standard 700ml bottle of vodka, there are approximately 28 servings, with each serving measured at 25ml. And of course GREY GOOSE® Vodka comes in many different bottle sizes.

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  • In the UK, a standard shot of vodka is considered to be 25ml. Of course, different units of measure may be called a shot as well, such as a double shot. It may vary from bar to bar and country to country.

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  • A fifth of vodka is a bottle size of 750ml, a standard measurement most commonly used in the US. For a standard bottle in the UK measured at 700ml, there are approximately 28 shots, with each serving measured at 25ml.

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  • Many vodkas are known for having a neutral taste. We take pride in crafting a premium vodka with distinctive characteristics. GREY GOOSE® Vodka has a subtle lemon zest and baked bread aroma, with notes of almond, apple and citrus. See our tasting notes for a guide.

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  • Technically, bitters last indefinitely. Their taste may change over time — for example, five years or more — especially if they’ve been opened. But as a shelf stable product that is typically 70-90 proof alcohol, they can be stored in your bar, rather than in the refrigerator.

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  • A well drink, also known as a rail or house drink, is a cocktail typically made with lower-tier alcohol, chosen at the bartender’s discretion and usually within easy reach. The only way to ensure you’ll get the premium taste of GREY GOOSE® Vodka is to ask for it by name.

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  • Aldi brand vodka is not the same as GREY GOOSE® Vodka. While rumours suggesting that GREY GOOSE® is packaged under other brand labels may be popular, they’re not true. GREY GOOSE® Vodka does not produce nor privately label Aldi vodka or Kirkland vodka.

    Only GREY GOOSE® Vodka uses 100% French ingredients and is distilled just once to maintain the character of the ingredients.

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  • Vodka has an ABV, or Alcohol By Volume, of 40%, making it the same strength as many other spirits. You can learn more about ABV and how to calculate the ABV of cocktails for yourself.

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  • The Bloody Mary was invented in 1921, most likely in a Parisian bar for American expats. It started simply as tomato juice and vodka, but shortly after it was spiced up with salt, pepper, lemon and Worcestershire sauce. After Prohibition, the drink made it back to New York and the rest was history as it took its place as one of the most popular brunch drinks.

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Cocktails

GREY GOOSE® Altius

  • Bottle service refers to a VIP service offered at bars, nightclubs or restaurants where customers can reserve and purchase an entire bottle of liquor for their table. This service may include mixers, garnishes, a reserved space and a dedicated server. GREY GOOSE® Altius bottle service may also include exclusive serving accoutrements, such as an obelisk parader, light flute, snow box and snow spoon.

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  • GREY GOOSE® Altius may be purchased in high-end clubs and global airport retail locations.

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  • Our co-founder and Cellar Master François Thibault was inspired by the French Alps themselves. He set out to use the same principles found in nature within the mountain range and studied how high altitude affects the taste of the soft winter wheat notes of GREY GOOSE®. He and his team set out to replicate the effects of the low-temperature crystallisation that takes place in the highest peaks of the French Alps by filtering GREY GOOSE® Altius with this unique low pressure and at -24°C. He also looked at one of the most essential ingredients in a vodka — the water — and looked to push boundaries by using an extremely unique alpine water from a natural spring well.

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  • GREY GOOSE® Altius is made from the same unique and single-origin wheat as GREY GOOSE® Vodka to protect our signature quintessential wheat notes. Our water is drawn from a natural spring well at 1000 m elevation in the French Alps. We use a glacial filtration process which partially crystallises the vodka as it passes through, giving it a unique purity. This dramatically slows down the filtration process — GREY GOOSE® Altius is filtered 30 times slower than GREY GOOSE® Vodka.

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  • Yes, GREY GOOSE® Altius tastes different from GREY GOOSE® Vodka. GREY GOOSE® Altius is best described as complex with delicate minerality. It’s refreshing tasting with soft green apple notes and a unique earthy undertone. The taste of GREY GOOSE® Vodka can be described as rich, round and full-bodied, elegant with subtle lemon zest notes and a warm baked bread accent.

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