For me, any Vodka will do, it is the worst of the spirits in my opinion, I just drink it to get wasted and mix with anything. Always resembles paint stripper in many ways. But if I was going to buy somebody a Vodka as a present then I would go for Smirnoff. Nice looking bottle and not ultra cheap.
A good vodka is nothing like paint stripper though. A good vodka is best had with no mixer and it's goes down too easily. Between Smirnoff and some of these then we're talking the difference between an Indian whisky and a fine single malt. I don't drink vodka much although when I was in Russia I sampled a lot and the difference in quality is massive between your average bottle here and those from over there.