The options are endless when you’re looking for the best bottle of Icelandic Vodka.
You’ll find plenty of top-shelf options, one more expensive than the next. But what you won’t find a guide to really help you break down and understand which brand of Icelandic Vodka you never knew you wanted.
This is that guide.
Icelandic Vodka might not be your first choice for an on-the-rocks sipper.
But on this list, you’ll find absolutely divine flavors, and you will learn to enjoy Icelandic Vodka like you never have before.
And of course, if you prefer a nice cocktail instead, our recommendations will work brilliantly with all your favorite mixes.
Below, you’ll find our list for the top brands in the world and a buyer’s guide to Icelandic Vodka, as well as answers to how it’s made and what types are there.
Finally, we’ll round off this article with tips on how to drink and really enjoy Icelandic Vodka, as well as the key tasting notes and vocabulary you’ll need to become a true aficionado.
Best Icelandic Vodka Brands to Try
Here’s a list of the top Icelandic Vodka brands you can buy. We have also introduced the other brands that offer Icelandic vodkas to try.
| Rank | Brand | Best for |
| 1 | Katla | Best Overall |
| 2 | Reyka | Best High-End Option |
| 3 | Ursus | Best Value |
| 4 | Icelandic Mountain | Best for Brand Prestige |
| 5 | Black Death | Most Easy to Drink |
This is an in-depth explanation of the top Icelandic vodka brands which includes a list of 5 brands along with a brief description of their company, products, and popularity.
Reyka
Reyka is one of the best Icelandic vodkas produced in the world. It is also the purest vodka made in the vodka belt. The word Reyka refers to the ‘smoke’ in Iceland.
Reyka is famous for producing the world’s first green vodka using geothermal and hydrothermal renewable energy. The brand uses clear glacier water to blend their spirits, which gives an impeccable and superior quality grain vodka.
The company uses Icelandic tap water for the distillation process at a distillery in the rural town of Borgarnes, near the capital city of Reykjavik. They source the grain spirit from Scotland’s William Grant and Son’s company.
This grain spirit is used in producing the legendary Reyka vodka through renewable energy sources. The other unique quality of this vodka is that the company uses a rare Carter-Head still distillation unit, which is one of the six on the entire planet.
The copper inside this still rectifies the neutral grain spirit, and the vapor passes through lava rocks, which produces a lighter and crisper spirit with an assortment of flavors, including citrus, floral, and juniper.
The lava rocks also filter out the impurities before the vapor condenses into pure vodka. This vodka is made in small batches and bottled by diluting it with subterranean Icelandic water. This water comes from a glacier spring that runs through a four-thousand-year-old lava field.
Through its profits, the company is also famous for supporting the threatened species of an iconic bird, the Atlantic Puffin.
Icelandic Mountain
Icelandic Mountain Vodka is made from the land of fire and ice. This vodka is distilled seven times for extra smoothness and purity.
This is one of the best pure Iceland vodkas, gluten-free and made with Icelandic water. It is one of the crispiest vodkas globally, which has a smooth and clean taste.
Icelandic Mountain Vodka is a grain-based vodka that received gold medals from the Beverage Testing Institute Tastings.com in 2017.
The crystal-clear vodka has a creamy texture with aromas of peach jam, pistachio paste, and lychee that gives a medium to full body finish with a mint cream after taste. This vodka is rounded and full of character with balanced aromas and flavor profiles.
Black Death
Black Death is one of the quintessential vodkas crafted in Iceland. It is a triple-distilled vodka that is made from French sugar beet.
The origin of this vodka dates back to the 19th century in Siglunes in the North of Iceland. This vodka is based on the recipe of a bartender.
The Black Death Vodka has won a gold medal at the international wine and spirit competition, which became the factor for the brand to become wildly popular globally.
This vodka has a unique consistency and quality with a refreshing, clean, and warm finish. It has a silky-smooth texture and distinct flavor with subtle notes of caramel and honey toast.
Ursus
Ursus is a traditional Icelandic Vodka that an Icelandic distiller family first developed in the 20th century. However, since 1995, it has been distilled and bottled at the Hoorn distillery in the Netherlands. The British spirits company Diageo later bought this vodka brand.
The brand produces three types of vodkas apart from the Ursus unflavoured vodka. These include Ursus Roter, Ursus Lemon, and Ursus Black currant. The vodka is bottled in a glass bottle with a cute polar bear label depicting the Icelandic glaciers.
Ursus Plain vodka is a clean and refreshing vodka that is distilled from grain spirit.
Ursus Roter is the only red vodka drink that is distilled from fine grain and flavored with natural sloe berries. These berries give a natural sweetness and color to the drink. It is one of the best mixable vodka drinks with juices or soft drinks for making delicious cocktails.
Ursus Lemon is a flavored vodka that has a crystalline texture with the aroma of lemon zest, sweetness, and citrus kick from natural, real lemons.
Ursus Blackcurrant is a flavored vodka with wonderful aromas and real black currant flavors.
Katla
Katla is one of the most delicious vodkas made in Iceland. It is pure vodka that is made using grains and naturally soft water from Iceland.
This vodka was awarded a grand gold medal in 2015 from the Monde selection competition.
The brand shares its name from one of the largest volcanoes in Iceland. The distillery is run by the fires from the mighty volcano known as Katla.
They make this vodka using renewable geothermal energy in an artist and cell, which crafts a pure and perfect vodka. The spirit undergoes plenty of distillation to achieve the desired purity and characteristics.
Katla vodka has a rich and smooth flavor profile with pleasant aromas and a distinct smooth finish.
Why Are Icelandic Vodkas So Pure?
Iceland is one of the best magical parts of the planet that has massive glaciers, volcanoes, and steaming geysers with the purest water and cleanest air.
The snow-capped mountains and Icelandic water surrounding the region are rich in minerals, making it one of the most pristine waters found on earth.
Most companies make the purest vodkas by using Icelandic water for the distillation process. The blending of the distilled spirit with the refined Icelandic water results in pure and smooth tasting vodkas.
Is Vodka Expensive in Iceland?
Iceland has higher taxes for alcohol, which makes vodka expensive in the country. Alcohol tax is levied by alcohol volume, making it expensive to get your hands on high-quality vodka.
Top Ways to Enjoy Icelandic Vodkas
Icelandic Vodkas are naturally flavorful, pure, and smooth-tasting drinks. You can simply savor these vodkas in the following ways,
Neat
The best way to experience Icelandic Vodka is by pouring it in a glass and drinking it straight. Do not add any water or mixers.
On the Rocks
You can enhance the flavors and taste of Icelandic Vodka by adding a few ice cubes to the drink.
Shot
Enjoy shots of Icelandic Vodka with or without ice cubes. You can even freeze the vodka bottle for maximum taste.
Icelandic Cocktails
If you love sipping on a variety of vodka cocktails, try making these versatile yet tasty drinks with Icelandic Vodka,
The Midnight Sun
Mix Icelandic Vodka with blood orange liqueur and orange slices to make a refreshing cocktail.
Icelandic Espresso Martini
Blend espresso with Icelandic Vodka and simple syrup to whip up a quick bitter drink.
Puffin Collins
Mix Icelandic Vodka with pink grapefruit juice, cherry, and elderflower cordial to make a wonderful drink.
Herbal Cocktail
Mix cane syrup, rosemary leaves, and lemon juice with Icelandic Vodka to create a herbal cocktail.
Icelandic-Fashioned
Mix club soda, lavender honey syrup, angostura bitters, and Icelandic Vodka to make a delicious cocktail.
Icelandic Fizz
Make a fizzy cocktail by mixing Icelandic Vodka with cola, beer, lemon soda, and simple syrup.
Icelandic Bloody Mary
Whip up a super cool blood Mary by mixing Icelandic Vodka with tomato juice, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
Icelandic Pink Lemonade
Mix cranberry juice, lemon juice, seltzer water, simple syrup with Icelandic Vodka to make pink lemonade.
Icelandic Mule
Make a scintillating mule by blending Icelandic Vodka with Ginger beer. Garnish with lemon wedges.
Icelandic Vodka Sour
Mix Icelandic Vodka with lemon juice, bitters, egg white, ice cubes, and garnish with lemon or orange fruit slices.
Icelandic Cosmo
Mix Icelandic Vodka with white cranberry juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and garnish with fresh red cranberries.
