In college, a popular choice for a fun night out was mixing cheap vodka with Red Bull—often resulting in a drink that tasted more like gasoline than anything else. Despite the overwhelming taste and worries about our health, we powered through, eager to enjoy the buzz that followed. We frequently heard rumors about filtering cheap vodka through a water filter, but we never tried it—mostly because we didn’t own one and were simply too impatient with our drinks.

Interestingly, this myth has lingered over the years. Some assert that running low-quality vodka through a water filter can enhance its taste, prompting tastings and experiments among curious drinkers.

Research indicates that this practice does indeed yield some results. While you won’t transform a handle of Kamchatka vodka into high-end brands like Ketel One, taste tests have shown a slight improvement in flavor when filtering cheaper vodkas through devices such as Brita filters. The science behind this is straightforward: premium vodkas undergo rigorous distillation and are filtered through activated carbon, which helps to remove impurities, making them smoother.

Once cheap vodka is filtered, some unpleasant tastes may diminish, leading to a better drinking experience. However, the effectiveness varies depending on the brand of vodka, the quality of the filter, and the palate of the testers involved.

In conclusion, while this hack can soften the blow of cheap vodka, it won’t completely replicate the experience of drinking a premium spirit. For those hoping to avoid a nasty hangover, unfortunately, this method doesn’t offer a solution. The search for that elusive hangover remedy continues.

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