Trying India's BEST SELLING VODKA | Cheers! By The Urban Guide

Product reviewed

Vodka (marketed as India’s “best-selling” brand) called “Balwinder”, with mentions of labels such as “South of Sweden.” The video focuses on tasting and mixing, frequently comparing it to other premium vodkas—especially Belvedere and Grey Goose—and also mentions Absolute.

Key features / what’s emphasized

• Smooth drinking experience
  • Described as going “like water”
  • Not burning
  • Easy on the throat (“easy down the throat”)
• High intoxication effect
  • Even though it’s smooth, the alcohol is described as strong and intoxicating
  • Impact is said to be slow but effective (“you won’t realize when…”)
• Mixability
  • Sprite or peach soda are repeatedly recommended as mixers
  • Cranberry juice is mentioned; one taster suggests it masks the vodka flavor
  • Ice is also used in at least one mix
  • A warning is given: don’t over-mix with soda / “take” (as phrased in the video), because it can be “too much.”
• Strong price/value angle
  • Multiple comments suggest it’s enjoyable partly because it’s more “reasonable” than top brands
  • Price is repeatedly referenced as a major differentiator

Pros (as mentioned)

• Very smooth (often described as easy to drink)
• Intoxicating/strong effect despite smoothness
• Good taste with mixers, especially Sprite / peach soda
• Good perceived value for money (several ratings explicitly cite price as a reason)

Cons (as mentioned)

• Strong / potent
  • At least one speaker emphasizes it’s very strong
  • Some notice a more noticeable throat feel (e.g., “tearing”/liquor feel depending on taster)
• Not equal to top-tier premium
  • Comparisons suggest premium brands still win on overall experience (especially Belvedere / Grey Goose)

Comparisons made

• Belvedere
  • Used as a benchmark for smoothness (“Belvedere was just water”)
  • One speaker says Belvedere reaches a point above Balwinder
• Grey Goose
  • Referred to as a previous “favorite”
  • Later taste is said to be similar to Grey Goose (“tastes like Grey Goose”)
  • At least one rater implies the similarity is a selling point
• Absolute
  • Mentioned as having similar taste to Grey Goose (from one speaker’s perspective)
  • Another speaker references a prior video involving Absolute and contrasts smoothness

User experience (how it’s consumed)

• Shot-taking and small pours are discussed
• Sprite / peach soda mixing is treated as the go-to approach
• Cranberry juice mixing is described as making the drink taste mostly like cranberry juice (vodka flavor gets masked)

Ratings / scores mentioned (from different speakers)

• Out of 10
  • One speaker: 8/10
  • Another speaker: 6/10
  • Another speaker: 6 marks out of 10 (repeated multiple times)
• Marks breakdown (one speaker)
  • 6 marks: only because of price and intoxication
  • 3 marks: “for lovers of magic moments”
• Different overall stance
  • One speaker says Belvedere is still better overall, while Balwinder is liked for value

No single consolidated/average score is provided; ratings vary across tasters.

Unique points explicitly mentioned

1. Brand/personality/name: “Balwinder”
2. Claims about origin: Poland / Gurgaon (referenced inconsistently)
3. Framing as “India’s best-selling”
4. Smoothness: no burning
5. Described as going down like water
6. Intoxication is strong, with a slow but noticeable impact
7. Mixer recommendation: Sprite
8. Mixer suggestion: peach soda
9. Warning: don’t mix with certain soda “too much”
10. Cranberry juice makes it taste mostly like cranberry
11. Frequent comparison to Belvedere (“just water” benchmark)
12. Comparison to Grey Goose (taste said to be like Grey Goose)
13. Mention of Absolute being similar to Grey Goose (one speaker’s view)
14. Repeated emphasis on price/value as a ratings driver
15. One speaker calls it very strong and notices throat impact
16. Label/form factor discussion: “South of Sweden” / confusion stated
17. Humorous creator framing (e.g., “ISRO/Diwali” style) that affects delivery more than technical product facts

Speakers / viewpoints (who says what)

• Speaker emphasizing smoothness
  • Praises no burn, water-like feel, and strong intoxication
• Speaker emphasizing value & balance
  • Gives 6/10, citing price and intoxication as positives
• Speaker benchmarking premium brands
  • Suggests premium brands still have an edge
  • Calls Belvedere especially smooth (“just water”)
• Speaker focusing on taste similarity
  • Says it tastes like Grey Goose
  • Notes similarity between Grey Goose and Absolute
• Speaker flagging strength
  • Highlights it feels very strong despite being smooth

Concise verdict / recommendation

Worth trying if you want a smooth, mixer-friendly vodka with strong intoxication for a better price than top premium brands. But if you’re chasing the ultimate “premium smoothness” experience, the video suggests Belvedere (and by association Grey Goose) still come out ahead.