Your Complete Guide to the 15 Best Vodka Brands
Hey vodka lovers! Are you looking to up your vodka game and discover some new brands to try? As a fashionista and cocktail enthusiast, I‘ve spent years tasting my way through the vodka aisle. I‘m excited to share my insider knowledge with you!
But first – what exactly is vodka? By definition, vodka is a clear spirit that‘s made by distilling any fermentable ingredients like grains, potatoes, or even fruits. While vodka originated in Eastern Europe around the 9th century, today it‘s produced worldwide.
Premium vodka brands differentiate themselves through their base ingredients, distillation methods, and filtration processes. Some major vodka trends in recent years include organic and gluten-free expressions, unique flavor infusions, and bottles that double as art pieces.
According to data from the International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR), global vodka volume sales reached 305.8 million nine-liter cases in 2020. The top 3 vodka brands worldwide by volume were Smirnoff, Absolut, and Khortytsa.
To help you sort through the overwhelming options, I‘ve hand-picked 15 of the absolute best vodka brands based on my personal tastings and research. These range from smooth sipping vodkas to budget-friendly mixing vodkas. I‘ve even included some flavored vodkas for those who like to get creative!
Whether you‘re stocking your home bar cart, searching for a special gift, or just want to discover a new go-to vodka, this guide has you covered. Let‘s raise a glass and meet these 15 game-changing vodkas!
1. Tito‘s Handmade Vodka
Tito‘s has become my house vodka over the years. I always keep a bottle on hand for mixing up Moscow Mules or Vodka Sodas on the fly. This corn-based vodka from Austin, Texas has a cult following for its clean flavor and affordable price.
Tito Beveridge started making vodka for his friends as Christmas gifts before launching his microdistillery in 1995. He pioneered the use of corn instead of the usual grains or potatoes. Tito‘s is distilled six times in old-fashioned copper pot stills, then filtered through activated charcoal.
Tasting Notes: Tito‘s has a clear appearance and clean nose with subtle notes of sweet corn. The palate is smooth and slightly oily with a black pepper kick on the finish.
Stats: From 2013-2020, Tito‘s went from selling 1.3 million cases per year to 10.8 million, making it the top-selling spirit brand in the US (Impact Databank).
How to Drink It: Try Tito‘s in a classic Moscow Mule with ginger beer and lime. For a wintery spin, mix up a Tito‘s American Mule with apple cider, cinnamon, and ginger beer.
750ml bottle | 40% ABV | $20
2. Grey Goose Vodka
When it comes to luxury vodka, Grey Goose is king. Produced in France, it‘s made with just two ingredients – soft winter wheat from Picardy and spring water from Gensac-la-Pallue. The wheat is fermented and distilled only once in five cascading copper stills to preserve its character.
Fun fact – when Grey Goose creator Sidney Frank first brought the vodka to market in 1997, he chose the name "grey goose" because it sounded French and would appeal to Americans! Decades later, Grey Goose remains the top-selling premium vodka.
Tasting Notes: Grey Goose has an understated nose with faint notes of citrus and almonds. The voluptuous palate reveals flavors of toffee, black pepper and anise, resolving into a long, smooth finish.
Stats: Grey Goose sold over 4 million cases worldwide in 2020, making it the 11th best-selling vodka brand (Drinks International).
How to Drink It: Grey Goose‘s crisp, well-balanced flavor makes it perfect for sipping neat or shaking into a vodka martini. For a sweet spin, try a French Pear Martini with Grey Goose La Poire, elderflower liqueur, lime juice and simple syrup.
750ml bottle | 40% ABV | $33
3. Crystal Head Vodka
If you want a vodka that doubles as a piece of art, look no further than Crystal Head. This naturally gluten-free Canadian vodka comes in a show-stopping skull bottle designed by artist John Alexander.
Crystal Head uses a blend of peaches and cream corn sourced from Ontario family farms. It‘s distilled four times and filtered seven times, with the final three filtrations through Herkimer diamond crystals. No additives like glycerol, citrus oils or sugars are used.
Tasting Notes: The nose is sweet and creamy with marshmallow and vanilla bean notes. The lush palate has flavors of white pepper, lemon cream and fudge, with a soft, dry finish.
Stats: In a 2021 blind vodka taste test by the IWSR of over 130 vodkas, Crystal Head scored in the top 10 for aroma, palate and balance.
How to Drink It: Crystal Head shines in dessert-style vodka cocktails. Mix it into an Espresso Martini with cold brew coffee, coffee liqueur and simple syrup. Or pair it with white chocolate liqueur in a sweet Chocolate Martini.
750ml bottle | 40% ABV | $50
4. Haku Japanese Vodka
Suntory, the legendary Japanese whisky distiller, brings its mastery of fermentation and blending to vodka with Haku. This premium rice vodka highlights the purity and versatility of Japanese ingredients.
Haku starts with 100% Japanese white rice fermented with koji (a mold also used to make sake, soy sauce and miso). The mash is distilled in pot and column stills to preserve the rice‘s subtle flavors. It‘s then filtered through bamboo charcoal and blended with pure groundwater.
Tasting Notes: The delicate honeydew melon and Asian pear notes on the nose are captivating. Haku feels round and plush on the palate, with a creamy sweetness giving way to white pepper and ginger on the finish.
Stats: Beam Suntory has invested $6 million in marketing Haku since launching it in the US in 2018, according to Ad Age.
How to Drink It: Haku‘s nuanced rice flavor makes it great for Japanese-inspired cocktails. Try it in a Moshi Moshi, a riff on a Moscow Mule with matcha, lime juice, simple syrup and ginger beer. Or mix up a Kawaii Kitty with Haku, sake, elderflower liqueur, and grapefruit juice.
750ml bottle | 40% ABV | $28
5. Ocean Organic Vodka
Close your eyes and imagine sipping vodka on a pristine Hawaiian beach. That‘s the vibe of Ocean Organic Vodka in a bottle. This unique spirit is made from organic sugar cane and Pacific Ocean deep sea water.
Ocean Organic starts with organic sugar cane cultivated on a family farm in Maui. The cane is pressed, fermented with a special yeast, then distilled up to 40% ABV. It‘s blended with desalinated ocean mineral water, sourced from 3000 feet below sea level off the Kona Coast. No chemicals, GMOs, gluten, or artificial ingredients are used.
Tasting Notes: The nose has delicate sugar cane sweetness and hints of sea spray. The lush palate tastes clean and mildly sweet with flavors of coconut water, vanilla and minerality.
Stats: Ocean Vodka has earned over 70 awards, including a Double Gold Medal at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
How to Drink It: Ocean‘s fresh island flavor is perfect for a Hawaiian Martini with pineapple juice, coconut water and a dash of lime. Or mix up a Blue Hawaiian with Ocean, blue curacao, pineapple juice and sweet and sour mix.
750ml bottle | 40% ABV | $33
6. Chopin Potato Vodka
Chopin is a premier Polish vodka that takes the concept of farm-to-bottle to the next level. Named after the famed Polish composer Frederic Chopin, this vodka is crafted entirely from potatoes grown on the Chopin distillery‘s own farm in Poland.
The potatoes are harvested, washed, cooked and mashed, then fermented for three days. The mash is distilled four times in a copper column still and filtered five times for exceptional smoothness. It takes around 40 potatoes to make each bottle!
Tasting Notes: Chopin has an understated nose with earthy notes of baked potatoes and vanilla. The weighty palate is silky smooth with a faint sweetness, black pepper spice and long finish.
Stats: Chopin‘s Young Potato vodka was ranked the #1 potato vodka and #14 vodka overall by The 50 Best in 2021.
How to Drink It: Chopin has the character to stand up in spirit-forward vodka cocktails. Try it in a Vesper Martini with gin and Lillet Blanc, or a Kangaroo Cocktail with dry vermouth and orange bitters. You can also sip it neat at room temp to appreciate its nuances.
750ml bottle | 40% ABV | $35
From small-batch American craft vodkas to innovative imports, these 15 vodka brands are challenging the notion that all vodka tastes the same. I hope my tasting notes, background info and cocktail ideas help you discover a new favorite!
Remember, drinking vodka should enhance your life, not cause problems. Sip in moderation and never drive under the influence. If you‘re pregnant or have health issues, it‘s best to abstain.
I‘m always searching for stellar new spirits to share with you. Shoot me a comment with your favorite vodka brands or vodka cocktail recipes! Until next time, as the Russians say – будем здоровы! (Let‘s stay healthy!)
