About

The Vodka Brita Filter Hack or Running Vodka Through a Brita Filter is a life hack referring to the belief that pouring vodka through a Brita water filter makes it taste less harsh and easier to drink, some comparing it to the taste of water. People have tested this method throughout the 2000s with mixed results. In September 2022, pouring vodka through a Brita filter became a trend on TikTok as users decided to test it for themselves.

Origin

The idea that pouring vodka through a Brita filter, particularly cheap vodka, makes it more palatable, has been spreading online since the early 2000s. One of the earliest mentions online of filtering vodka through a Brita is a thread titled "Brita Your Alcohol," posted to the Physics^[1] Forums on November 18th, 2004. The OP mentions running tequila through a Brita filter, claiming it tastes better. One user comments, "This might make cheap grocery store brand vodka drinkable!!! I'm all over this." On February 7th, 2005, a user of the Home Distiller^[2] forums asked if distilling vodka through a Brita filter does anything.

On September 26th, 2011, Broward Palm Beach New Times^[3] published an article where they test several types of vodka through a Brita filter, finding that after four goes through the Brita a bottle of Skol was somewhat more drinkable. On March 30th, 2016, the BuzzFeedVideo YouTube^[4] channel posted a video testing the method, with numerous participants finding the Brita filter helped, garnering over 1.4 million views in six years (shown below). In December 2016, Thrillist^[5] tested several vodka brands through a Brita filter with mixed results.

Spread

TikTok Trend

In September 2022, TikTokers began testing the method for themselves, often by drinking unfiltered vodka, then filtering the vodka through a Brita filter and testing it again. On September 17th, 2022, TikToker^[6] @callmebelly posted a video testing the method, claiming the vodka tastes like "nothing" after being filtered, garnering over 5.5 million views in six days (shown below).

The video inspired numerous TikTokers to try the method for themselves over the following days. On September 21st, TikTokers^[7] @floridamomof3 posted a video testing the method, garnering over 1.3 million views in two days (shown below, left). On September 22nd, TikToker^[8] @han.walls posted a video testing the method, garnering over 3.2 million views in a day (shown below, right).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References