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The best alcoholic beverage for every person can differ depending on personal preference. A famous incident taking place in 1998 sparked a competition between Belvedere vs. Grey Goose to decide which liquor was better.
In 1998 a few people were made to sample some vodka without knowing which brand it was, and people nominated Grey Goose as the better choice.
Belvedere was appalled and called this an unfair test which created some rivalry between the two brands. Although people thoroughly appreciate both vodka brands today, there is still some struggle to determine which has more edge.
Read the article below to get a grasp on Belvedere vs. Grey Goose comparison.
Origin and History
Belvedere
Belvedere Vodka traces its origin to Poland. The presidential palace in Poland, famously known as Belweder, inspired the name and the emblem on the bottle.
In 1910 the founders established the first distillery in Żyrardów, a small village in Poland. The production of vodka began here in 1993.
The vodka made its way to the USA in 1996 when Eddie Phillips, the owner of Phillips Distilling, imported it. He introduced it to the Americans as a luxury beverage and emphasized its marketing. Hence it received a favorable response.
In 2002, the Luxury Goods Group took 40% of Phillips Distilling, and by 2005 it had complete control of Belvedere in America.
Grey Goose
Grey Goose vodka had its inception in France under Sidney Frank Importing Co (SFIC). The owner of this company came up with the idea of preparing a luxurious beverage for sale in America in 1997.
Sydney Frank approached François Thibault, famous for developing premium cognac, for a partnership in this project.
They set up a distillery in France because of its rich culinary background and used freshwater from springs and French wheat of the highest quality to produce Grey Goose vodka.
This vodka was a tremendous success among alcohol consumers worldwide, and the Beverage Testing Institute chose it as the vodka with the best taste. In 2004 Sidney Frank gave ownership of the company to Bacardi.
Production Process
Belvedere
Belvedere uses the same process to produce vodka which the Polish founders first utilized, resulting in consistent quality and flavor.
The experts first filter the water to remove impurities and perform reverse osmosis to eliminate most minerals. Then they add the water to the vodka and distill the mixture four times.
To add more flavor and depth to its vodka, Belvedere abides by strict rules to maintain the purity of its products. It uses fruit or peels but first leaves them in water for at least 10 to 14 days.
Grey Goose
Grey Goose employs a very different distillation process. It traces its origin to the practices of Maître de Chai in France.
According to this unique tradition, the company distills vodka five times at the distillery in Picardy. Then experts add pure water from natural springs to the mix and package the vodka in Cognac.
Additionally, the company uses winter wheat to make its vodka, but experts first mill it four times in 24 hours. Then they use active enzymes to break down the wheat and ferment it in a collection of six tanks.
The liquid thus formed undergoes distillation in column stills at least five times. To eliminate any impurities and produce vodka, the manufacturers add a specific amount of water.
This water is rich in calcium since it passes along a natural spring that flows over limestone.
Raw Materials
Belvedere
Belvedere uses specific raw materials to produce its vodka, which gives it a distinct flavor and texture that others cannot imitate.
The experts use premium rye and freshwater, which they source locally. Polish rye is sturdy and resists cold temperatures. It also imparts a smooth and velvety feel to the spirit.
Moreover, Dankowskie Rye, which the company uses specifically to craft its vodka, has a natural sweetness. It is considered the choicest winter grain for making vegan vodka.
The company sources this grain from the same farmers that have lived up to its expectations since the beginning. This ensures consistent quality.
Moreover, Belvedere claims to have no additives, including sugar or glycerin, in its vodka. It also promises that its vodka is devoid of gluten and is kosher.
Grey Goose
Grey Goose also uses winter wheat as the primary raw material for its vodka. However, it sources this grain from the farms of Picardy in France. It also uses fresh water from natural springs to mix into the vodka.
This water comes from a spring bordered by limestone deposits near the Belvedere distillation facility in Cognac, approximately 500 feet underground.
Around one kilo of wheat and sufficient spring water is necessary to produce one vodka bottle. Grey Goose also claims that its vodka is gluten-free.
Flavor Profile
Belvedere
Many people carry the misconception that vodka is tasteless. On the contrary, Belvedere and Grey Goose sport unique flavors that set a distinction between them.
Belvedere vodka has a rich, velvety feel and a full, potent effect in the mouth. This vodka effortlessly balances savory and sweet flavors while giving subtle hints of vanilla and pepper.
Many people also observe that Belvedere carries the fresh aroma of grass and has a mild sweet flavor. It feels clean on the tongue and has a slightly spicy kick as well.
Grey Goose
Grey Goose takes pride in incorporating exclusive ingredients in its vodka, resulting in a distinct flavor profile.
This vodka has the spicy aroma of rye and black pepper. It has a bit of sweetness coming from the rye and a subtle taste of alcohol.
It has a creamy feel in the mouth and produces a slight tingling sensation when going down the throat.
Varieties
Belvedere
Belvedere vodka comes in many flavors so that there is something suitable for all its consumers.
The Maceration Line delivers eight unique flavors like Belvedere Mango Passion, Bloody Mary Vodka, and Ginger Zest. Other flavors include Belvedere Peach Nectar Vodka, Wild Berry Vodka, Pink Grapefruit Vodka, and Citrus Vodka.
Grey Goose
Grey Goose was the first of these two companies to introduce flavored vodka. It has several appealing varieties.
These include La Poire (pear), Le Citron (lemon), Strawberry & Lemongrass, L’Orange (orange), La Vanille (vanilla), Cherry Noir (black cherry), and Le Melon (melon).
Belvedere vs. Grey Goose – Alcohol Content
Generally, both Belvedere and Grey Goose have 40% alcohol by volume in most of their beverages. However, Belvedere Intense, which is a limited edition product, features 50% ABV, making it a more robust drink.
Likewise, Grey Goose’s Essences collection belonging to the category of flavored vodka contains only 30% ABV. This makes it a less potent drink.
Belvedere vs. Grey Goose – Proofing
Both companies developed many beverages over time, but Belvedere maintained the 80-proof alcohol standard for its classic vodka.
It even introduced the Belvedere Intense 23 with a 100-proof alcohol concentration making it the first-ever luxury drink with this degree of proofing.
On the contrary, Grey Goose released a collection of flavored vodka featuring only 60-proof alcohol. This low degree of proofing and fruity profile makes Grey Goose vodka perfect for incorporating into a sweet cocktail.
Belvedere vs. Grey Goose – Prices
Broadly speaking the price of Belvedere vodka differs in the process of manufacture. Usually, a bottle containing 750 ml of vodka ranges from $25.99 to $39.99.
Similarly, Grey Goose Vodka also varies in price depending on the flavor you want. A 750 ml bottle typically costs between $28.98 and$43.99.
To better understand the difference in the prices of the two, refer to the table below.
| Serial No | Type | Volume | Price in dollars |
| 1 | Belvedere Vodka | 750ml | 26 to 28 |
| 2 | Belvedere Pink Grapefruit | 750ml | 28 to 30 |
| 3 | Belvedere Mango Passion | 750ml | 28 to 30 |
| 4 | Grey Goose Vodka | 750ml | 29 to 44 |
| 5 | Grey Goose La Vanille | 750ml | 25 |
| 6 | Grey Goose Le Melon | 750ml | 20 to 36 |
| 7 | Grey Goose La Poire | 750ml | 27 to 37 |
Belvedere vs. Grey Goose – Conclusion
Many people question which of the two brands of vodka is better. Both Belvedere and Grey Goose are one of the most popular vodka brands worldwide, which many celebrities support and endorse.
Also, they both constitute one of the healthier alcoholic beverages worldwide because they have lesser calories compared to other brands.
However, some people argue that Grey Goose vodka is slightly better than Belvedere because it has a smoother feel on the palate because of its detailed and thorough distillation process.
