Brightly lit and decorated with bold wall murals of a London bus and the Statue of Liberty, Bottoms Up is hard to miss—not least because of the row of supercars regularly parked outside at night. But don't let that scare you. The eclectic menu of European-style dishes (with the odd Thai favorite) is pretty affordable, emphasizing the fact that this is a casual place, as much about drinking as it is dining. 

"Cheers" in Russian is what people say when they down chilled thimble-like shots of the clear liquid called “vodka,” meaning “little water” in Russian. A keg of the stuff (12 ltr.) no longer costs one and a half cows (as it did in Russia in the 17th century), but some super premium vodkas now cost an arm and a leg.

How to best enjoy vodka?
Put a bottle of vodka in the freezer until there is a thin ice layer on it. Try not to drink alone and try not to drink directly from the bottle—highly improper according to Russian vodka ethics. Try to drink your vodka at a gulp (at least one deciliter, if you’re Russian), accompanied with pickled cucumber and zakuszka (Russian “tapas” such as boiled potato, onion, sausage, dried and smoked fish, and ham).

Premium, Super Premium, and Flavors
How does a vodka maker peddle a drink that is supposed to shine for its lack of character, for its absolute neutrality, for its near-complete lack of taste? For Absolut, it was creative ad campaigns that focused on image and the release of a broad range of flavors that contradicted the whole purist philosophy of vodka. But then Grey Goose introduced the idea of a super premium (using glacial water and French winter wheat), paving the way for over-the-top filtrations, distillations (Smirnoff Triple-Distilled) or both (Imperia is crystal quartz-filtered and distilled EIGHT times).

But with literally dozens of varieties out on the market today, it can be bewildering to choose which one is right for you. That is why BK is ready to sacrifice its brain cells (one glass kills up to 2,000 brain cells, which are not regenerated) for your benefit.

Absolut Apeach, Raspberri and Pears
We really enjoy unflavored Absolut, but they do also make great flavored vodkas. While most flavored vodkas end up tasting like cheap candy, Absolut manages to keep the crispness of the vodka intact while adding natural tasting aromas. Our tip: keep things simple by mixing these with tonic, not juices. B799 (Pears), B841 (Raspberri, Apeach), at Villa.

Smirnoff Triple Distilled
The world’s largest vodka producers know what they’re doing. Even the regular Smirnoff beat a lot of premiums in blind tests. The Triple Distilled premium has an even smoother feel and a cleaner finish. Ideal for a martini. B640, try Tops.

Finlandia Cranberry
Vodka with cranberry juice is a popular mix, but this Finlandia is already infused with a cranberry flavor, meaning it’s best to save it for something very acidic like a grapefruit juice (not widely available here). Or just drink it neat, extra-chilled (to offset its excessive sweetness), in a shot glass. B585, try Tops.

Russian Standard Original and Imperia
According to its makers, the Original is the number one premium vodka in Russia. And who knows their vodka better than the Russians? As for the Imperia, it’s filtered and distilled to exacting standards. This vodka really deserves to be drunk on its own; it’s smooth, crisp and clear. B760 (Original), B1,990 (Imperia), at Italasia.

Puriste
Austria’s response to Grey Goose? While the Gallic vodka is actually a bit sweet and disappointing for its price, Puriste six-fold distillation offers a firm clear taste that’s worth the extra cash. Can you taste the Austrian Alps water? Hard to say. B2,545, at Italasia.

Essentials
Italasia: Three branches. Try 1/F, CRC Bldg., All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Rd., 02-685-3862. Open daily 11am-8pm. www.italasiagroup.com.

Tops: Over 70 locations in and around Bangkok. www.tops.co.th/locations_bkk.htm.

Villa Market: Eleven branches in Bangkok (the original one is on Sukhumvit 33). 08-9991-1199. Open 24/7. www.villamarket.com.