The Brita Hack That TikTokers Swear Makes Liquor Taste Like Water

TikTok users have been sharing a hack that'll make your cocktails go down even smoother — and all it takes is an extra step using your water filter. One user, CallMeBelly, showed off the trick in a video with his friend. They started off by pouring some Trader Joe's branded Versatile Spirit Vodka into their Brita filter. They then allowed the liquid to drip through to the bottom of the container.

Although they were doubtful that the filtering would do much, the taste test revealed that the vodka went down significantly smoother after testing both the filtered and unfiltered drinks. The duo even compared the taste to "nothing" and "water," and said they'd use the trick for future beverages, as well.

Some commenters shared that they had tried this trick before, and had also found success from it. One user noted that it may be especially helpful for drinking cheaper vodkas, since "good vodka is filtered five or six times."

@callmebelly

you brita get yourself a brita 👀 #lifehack #lofehacks #brita

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Other TikTok users were inspired by the video to try the trick for themselves. While some were skeptical and expected the change to be minimal, the added step seemed to make a difference for plenty of people. And, according to quite a few TikTok experimenters, the hack is legit. While the filtration won't enhance the actual quality of the vodka, the step could remove some lower-quality aspects of the drink, making for a smoother sip.

According to the Brita website, the company's filters use activated carbon to reduce any contaminants in the filtered liquid. And although the filters are meant to provide users with cleaner drinking water, they could make a difference for your alcohol, too.

This trick may be making the rounds on social media now, but it's been around for a while. Some commenters on CallMeBelly's video stated that they'd been doing the trick for years, having learned it before they could afford higher-end drinks. Others pointed out that the method was even featured in Season 4, Episode 7 of "Mythbusters," which aired back in 2006.

The experiment on the show had the same premise as the TikTok trend: Cheap vodka could taste just like high-quality vodka with the help of some filtration. The "Mythbusters" even filtered the vodka up to six times to see if the extra effort would make more of a difference. Ultimately, after rating the samples, they determined that while the filtration will help the flavor of the alcohol, it still won't be comparable to more expensive options.

At the end of the day, the extra filtration won't actually change the makeup of your cheap alcohol. More expensive vodkas go through extra rounds of distilling rather than filtration, which is actually illegal to attempt at home.

Still, if you're mixing cheaper liquor into a drink, a little extra filtering may help things go down a little more smoothly. (Though if you find yourself frequently enjoying drinks made with vodka, like a classic White Russian, it may be worth it to spring for something a little nicer to sip on.)