The intelligent investor's guide to spirits

Money asked top connoisseurs to identify their favorite undervalued spirits. These hidden gems will set you back less than the standard labels and impress your friends more. Bottoms up!

4 of 4
BACKNEXT
Vodka
Vodka
These days, liquor store shelves are crowded with "super-premium" vodkas costing up to $70 a bottle. These tout multiple distillations and, often, unusual bases - maple, grapes, soy and so on. Ignore this hype, says Dushan Zaric, co-owner of New York City hot spot Employees Only. Distillation numbers are bunk. (Unlike with Scotch, there's no standard definition.) Also, you'll notice a difference in bases only if you drink vodka straight - which Americans rarely do, says Zaric. As a result, you'll find the picks below hold their own against the $70 bottles.

Our picks:

Ketel One, $25: Technically a super-premium vodka, it sells for far less than others in the category.

Charbay Distillers, $28: Produced in California, it's twice been Spirit Journal's No. 1 vodka in the world.

Russian Standard, $21: It's just as good as the company's $35 super-premium Imperia.

More galleries
Last updated December 19 2008: 10:43 AM ET
More Galleries
8 great summer vacation deals Want the perfect summer getaway? MONEY searched for destinations with balmy weather, unique attractions, fun stuff to do, and great deals from four different categories: beach, mountain, culture and city. More
Best ways to catch up on your retirement savings Even the most financially responsible people make a few mistakes or run into obstacles along the way. These tips -- from cutting taxes to selling securities -- can preserve a safe retirement. More
Nearing retirement? Fortify your finances Your financial goals are within reach. Here are tips and tools to make sure you achieve them. More

Special Offer

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.