I never used to be much of a vodka flavour drinker, apart from when you buy racks of shots from places like Revolution which was always fun. A good few years ago I tried vanilla vodka, and since then I love it!

I usually keep it simple, with just a vanilla vodka and Coke, and it is really good. I am actually surprised that when I go out most bars have the vanilla flavour, and over the years I’ve bought or drank a few different brands of the stuff, but the question is, which is the best?

As with all vodkas they are around 37-40% in alcohol, but the price differs quite a bit depending on what brand you go for.

Absolut Vanilia

Absolut Vanilla “Vanilia” vodka is most well known and loved vanilla flavoured vodka out there. It was the first one I had, and I have to say, it is the best. Absolut is known for making high quality vodkas, and this is yet another.

The scent is alluring, and the taste is very pleasant and sweet, but strong enough to know you’re still drinking a vodka and not a non-alcoholic drink.

The price varies around £20 – £30, and it’s worth the money. You can get Absolut Vanilla in 70cl and a larger 1L bottle, which is worth the investment.

Ciroc French Vanilla

One of the newest vanilla vodkas on the market is Ciroc French Vanilla, and it’s one which I got back in 2017. Ciroc is famous for it’s premium vodka, and this one is no different. The taste is very smooth, and it is a really nice vodka.

If you’re looking to create a wow factor with friends or at a party, this is possibly the one to go for. A standard 70cl bottle will set you back around £26, and it is a good vodka, but not necessarily better than the rest.

Grey Goose Vanilla

With the Grey Goose label, you know this is going to be a premium price. I got a bottle for around £45, however this was a 1L bottle rather than the standard 70cl. Having said that, it’s still the most expensive, around 3x more than the Absolut Vanilia. It has quite a nice taste to it, but is less sweet and “candy like” than the rest, and the taste of vodka does come through quite a bit.

Smirnoff Vanilla

Probably the most known brand name for plain vodka, Smirnoff do a vanilla but it can be hard to find. I did find some, tried it, and yes, it’s pretty nice. You can pick this up for around £18, so it’s a good price for a well known brand.

Stolichnaya Vanilla

I have had Stil Vanil quite a few times, but never bought a bottle. A few bars I go to used this as their standard vanilla vodka, and I have to say it’s really nice. It’s probably the most sweetest “vanilla tasting” of the four, and there’s no unpleasant aftertaste. You should be able to pick up a bottle for under £20.

The best vanilla vodka

I have to give this to Absolut. It is that much better than the rest, and at less than half the price of the premium Grey Goose brand too. The Stoli and Smirnoff come in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

As mentioned, my drink, is the simple but lovely Absolut Vanilia vodka with Coke. There are quite a few cocktails you can make with this flavour vodka, such as a Cookie Monster, Absolut Monster, Absolut Vanilia Passion and a lot more.

Simple, but it tastes really good! 😉

Bring On The Girls!

It’s 2014 and the start of a new year, and everyone’s favourite dating show is back on ITV! Warm up to your Saturday night with the flirty 30 in your living room along with the man with the catchphrases, Paddy McGuiness.

Once again it’s a case of no likey no lighty, but this year there is a brand new twist to the show. If a guy has 1 or two girls left after the end of the final round, he’ll be asked if he’s feeling frisky or risky, with the option of choosing a 3rd, mysterious girl instead, based solely off the sound of her voice. The lad will have to choose what to do, he won’t be able to see her and she will be hidden in the love lift, is there a boy who will take the risk?

Who is your favourite? Here are the pics and bios of all the 30 girls who will be kicking off TMO this Saturday night!

Check out the Take Me Out 2015 Girls Photos here.

Take Me Out 2016 Series 8 Girls Photos

Check out Take Me Out Series 9 photos for 2017 here!

UPDATE: Check out the Take Me Out 2019 Girls for Series 11.

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If you read my blog or know me you’ll know that I support Spain and always have done since I was a kid, and I always buy the Spain kits, usually the home and away, and then the goalkeeper’s home and away too. Usually I get the home shirt first, this was unveiled a few months ago on my blog, and have been available to buy for a while. I have not got that yet, but I have got the brand new Spain home goalkeeper shirt ready for the 2014 World Cup, with official Casillas printing 😀

The goalie shirts are usually hard to get, but Adidas have discovered people outside Spain actually want them, so are selling them. This is direct from Adidas, and they printed the official name and number, but you may notice something missing…No front number! I have spoken to them and they insist that they do not print the front number. This is odd because you’ll know that all international shirts have a small number printed on the front as well as the back. It’s actually a FIFA rule in the World Cup.

The shirt is a combination of blues, with gold trimming, and I really like it. It’s finished off with a two tone Spain crest, something they’re doing on all the shirts and training gear, this being blue and gold, the home shirt being all gold and red.

The away shirt and GK away top are yet to be unveiled, with some suggesting black for the away top, with a yellow stripe through the middle.

The shirts come complete with the FIFA World Cup Winners 2010 badge 🙂