News

Apr 06, 2024

Does A Brita Actually Make Cheap Liquor Taste Better?

I tested it with vodka and tequila, and here's my take. The idea of filtering cheap vodka with a Brita to make it taste better is nothing new. I remember my dad telling me about it years ago, like an

I tested it with vodka and tequila, and here's my take.

The idea of filtering cheap vodka with a Brita to make it taste better is nothing new. I remember my dad telling me about it years ago, like an experiment he tried out in his youth. And lately, the practice has reached a new generation via viral TikToks.

In the world of TikTok hacks, users have been pouring vodka and tequila through water filters like Britas and claiming the filtered vodka "tastes like water" and the tequila tastes "watered down." I've admittedly had my fair share of cheap clear spirits in my day (mostly in college!), so I was more than a little skeptical that a Brita could actually diminish a vapor so pungent and a taste so vile.

I set out to do a test of my own and ordered a brand new Brita and went to the liquor store. I explained my experiment to the clerk, who pointed out the cheapest vodka and tequila they had. Here are the surprising results.

While the vodka was very cheap for a such a large bottle, it wasn't the worst or most pungent vodka I've had by far. I poured four ounces into a glass and four ounces into the reservoir of the Brita. As I took a sniff and small sip of the control vodka, I immediately questioned why I was doing this. It had a serious bite and a burn and overall was fairly unpleasant. I held up the glass of the filtered vodka. There was almost no smell. I took a sip, and the burn was nearly gone. It tasted so watered down that I was concerned there wasn't any alcohol left in the actual glass.

"A Brita filter is not going to change how concentrated the alcohol is," said @drchrispharmd in a TikTok video. "What it is gonna do, it's gonna help remove congeners, the organic compounds that can make hangovers worse."

According to Mayo Clinic, congeners give some alcohol its flavor and can also contribute to hangovers. While darker liquors are likely to have more congeners than clear liquors like vodka, any alcohol can still cause a hangover.

Even with the subtle taste, I could still tell it was vodka, but isn't alcohol supposed to taste like...something? Let's just say I would never pay $16 for a vodka martini made with the filtered vodka. I'm sure even a super-smooth top-shelf vodka has more flavor.

Unlike vodka, tequila is all about flavor, so I was more intrigued by this part of the experiment. I cleaned out the Brita, rinsed the filter, and poured four ounces of cheap tequila in the pitcher.

The control tequila hit me with a strong aroma. Its taste had a hint of sweetness. Again, with the filtered version, you could still tell what you were drinking. The smell was less pungent, and it gave a slight zip at the tip of the tongue, like a bit of spice. It tasted like a six-ounce ice cube had melted in four ounces of tequila. And I'd much rather have the original cheap tequila in my margarita than the flavorless, bland alternative.

Does a Brita make cheap liquor better? More like blander. Alcohol is supposed to have a flavor and a smell, whether it's good or bad. Even if the congeners were removed, I'd still take a regular hangover versus a potentially weakened hangover after drinking dull drinks all night.

Whether you're taking a shot during a night out or sipping a cocktail at the end of the day, isn't the burn, intensity, flavor, and potential regret part of the whole experience? Why else would anyone drink vodka straight aside from the buzz? When it comes to cocktails, I don't think a lifeless, Brita-filtered spirit could even hold up. If you're running your alcohol through a Brita, you might as well just drink juice or order a Shirley Temple.

Allison Arnold is the Associate SEO Editor at Delish, where she writes about kitchen gadgets and food and culture. She likes exercising almost as much as eating, and has a thorough Google Maps ranking system for her favorite restaurants and bars. You can find her spewing hot takes on the food world and planning her next trip, all with multiple cans of seltzer open at a time.

Acorn Squash

Here's The Best Sheet Pan We Could Find

25 Life-Changing Amazon Products For Under $10

Celebrate The Season With A Beer Advent Calendar

7 Tools The Pros Swear By For Your Home Kitchen

6 Best Countertop Ice Makers

The 9 Best Coffee And Espresso Machines

The 15 Best BBQ Rubs For Every Kind Of Cookout

What Is Evaporated Milk?

TikTok Loves This $29 Diet Coke Mini Fridge

How To Find The Right Coffee Maker For You

The Difference Between Anchovies And Sardines