The options are endless when you’re looking for the best bottle of Vodka.
You’ll find plenty of top-shelf options, one more expensive than the next. But you won’t find a guide to help you break down and understand which brand you never knew you wanted.
This is that guide.
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 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 of the top brands in the world and a buyer’s guide to 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 Vodka, as well as the key tasting notes and vocabulary you’ll need to become a true aficionado.
The 23 Best Vodka Brands you can buy
Before introducing the 23 best Vodka brands you can buy, here’s a quick table to break down our picks for the top 5 Vodkas by category.
| RANK | BRAND | BEST FOR |
| 1 | Absolut Vodka | Best Overall |
| 2 | Beluga Vodka | Best End high End Option |
| 3 | Smirnoff | Best Value |
| 4 | Ciroc | Best For Brand Prestige |
| 5 | Purity Vodka Signature 34 | Most Easy to Drink |
The following are the 23 best Vodka brands that you must try:
Absolut
Introduced in the year 1979, Absolut Vodka has gained quite popularity ever since. In fact, it has become one of the leading brands that offer the most actual tastes of Vodka. As a result, Absolut Vodka has become one of the premium choices in the nightlife culture.
The brand follows sustainable farming in southern Sweden. Here the brand produces and uses the winter wheat for the authentic taste of the Vodka. In fact, the water that Absolut uses filtered water from 140 m deep wells. That also means that 60% of Absolut Vodka is sterling water. So it is not just pure but also gives you the best experience when it comes to consuming Vodka.
Some of the best-sellers of their wide range of Vodka flavors include Absolut Vodka (original), Absolut lime, Absolut 100, Absolute Juice apple, Absolut Raspberri, etc.
Overall, Absolut Vodka is a unique and best-selling brand that has won hearts from its collaborations, creativity, taste, and quality.
Tito’s
Tito’s Vodka is a finesse on its own. It is a famous Vodka brand that is absolutely handmade. This enterprise began by the Fifth Generation in 1995.
This handmade Vodka is naturally gluten-free, making it the first choice of a better option for people looking for a gluten-free drink. However, it also adds an extra sizzling taste to the exotic cocktails made with other ingredients. It has won the distillery of the Year by Beverage World and Unanimous Winner, Double Gold by SF World Spirit Championship.
There is only one original Tito’s Vodka, so you can have it the way you want. Take shots, make cocktails, or add flavors; it’s all up to your creativity and requirements.
Grey Goose
Grey goose is one of the original Vodka brands that give you the authentic taste of real Vodka. This brand began its Vodka production in France in the ’90s. However, since 2014 Bacardi has been the prime manufacturer of Grey Goose Vodka.
Grey Goose was introduced in the US in 1997, and ever since then, it has become one of the first choices for those who seek to experience the solid aroma of Vodka. In fact, in the original and the other flavored versions of Grey Goose, you can find 100% French ingredients. Thus, it truly immortalizes the essence of French authenticity.
It is an affordable Vodka brand for adults of all ages and is perfect for infusing other ingredients and flavors. The best-selling Grey Goose Vodkas are Grey Goose Vodka Original, La Poire, L’Orange, Le Citron. They have also introduced unique Vodka like the Limited Edition Night Vision Bottle.
It is an excellent blend for cocktail refreshments for a party of any type.
Smirnoff
Smirnoff Aisa famous Vodka brand owned by the British company Diageo. The brand was initially founded and began in Moscow by Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov. However, in 1999 Smirnoff Ice became a popularly loved malt liquor soda amongst the drinkers.
This Vodka brand has an exciting history of the uprising as a brand. However, with passing years, it became famous for its marketing by offering cocktails all over the country. Over the years, this brand has manufactured innovative products with different flavors like Smirnoff lime Vodka, Smirnoff green apple, Smirnoff cherry Vodka, Smirnoff SMASH strawberry lemon, and other 20+ different flavors.
However, Smirnoff Vodka is made with corn. Therefore, it is gluten-free unless you mix it with other flavors and ingredients.
Skyy
Skyy Vodka is a San Fransisco-born Vodka brand entirely manufactured by grains and water from the US. It is a top-notch Vodka that offers a smooth taste with an exemplary fragrance. Indeed, Skyy Vodka is quite possibly the most favored martini base worldwide and was first launched in 1992.
This perfectly blended Vodka is made with water enhanced in Pacific Minerals. These minerals come from the San Francisco Bay Area and are filtered through California Limestone. The brand has kept innovating the process of making Vodka over and over again so the consumers can taste the ultimate of pure Vodka. It has also won 90 points and a gold medal from the Beverage Tasting Institute.
Skyy Vodka is gluten-free, quadruple-distilled, and triple-filtered through the California Limestone for a smooth and refreshing experience. Skyy Vodka is an affordable Vodka brand that offers various flavors, including SKYY Infusions Citrus, SKYY Infusions Blood Orange, SKYY Infusions Watermelon, and SKYY Infusions Pineapple, etc.
Crystal Head
Crystal head Vodka is a famous Vodka brand run by Globefill Inc. in Canada. It was founded by an actor known as Dan Aykroyd in 2008. However, ever since introducing this Vodka, Crystal head Vodka has become a famous brand that has sold over 50 million Vodka bottles in 70 countries. It has a unique taste and is preferred for the ultimate nightlife scenes globally.
Crystal head Vodka offers five variants, including the original drink, and all five products are made in different processes and with other ideas. However, their original Vodka is made with water locally sourced from Canada. It is distilled at least four times to blend the pristine water with the neutral grain spirit.
Once done, the Vodka gets filtered another seven times, 3 out of 7 times through the layers of Herkimer diamonds. Finally, it comes in the brand’s iconic skull-shaped glass bottles from Europe.
As of the original Vodka, you can enjoy a silk-like taste, with no aroma and color. You can also try the other Vodkas by the brand, including Aurora Vodka, Pride, John Alexander, and Onyx. It is not so affordable. However, it is genuinely worth the cost.
Ciroc
Ciroc Vodka is another popular brand that makes Vodka from grapes. These grapes come from the Charente Maritime region of France and are sold by a multinational British-based alcohol manufacturer.
Ciroc Vodka is a luxury drink that comes in various sizes and flavors that suit your mind. It is a modern-day Vodka best for exclusive cocktails like CHAMPAGNE COSMO and VODKA CÎROC AND TONIC.
This brand comes from a generation of winemakers from the 15th century. Other brands make Vodka from wheat or potatoes; this notorious company uses five times distilled Vodka from the best-quality French grapes. They offer various flavors like Crisp Apple, Aromatic Red Berry, and Tropical Mango. They also have a limited edition of Summer Watermelon Vodka.
Ciroc may not be an affordable Vodka brand, but the brand wins the heart regarding the aromas, flavors, and smoothness.
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam Vodka is a premium drink that offers a supreme taste to your tastebuds. This brand chooses the most refined quality corn to create its first-class Vodka. The Vodkas are distilled five times and filtered three times. This makes your mouth feel the smoothness of the Vodka.
New Amsterdam Vodka is the perfect mix for cocktails and tonic drinks for the ultimate refreshment. It also gives you the aroma of fresh and sweet citrus for an absolute silk-like finish.
Apart from that, this brand also gives you tons of options to choose from. Some of the best-selling flavored Vodkas of New Amsterdam are Grapefruit, peach, watermelon, apple, raspberry, mango, lemon, coconut, etc.
This is an affordable yet one of the best-tasting Vodkas for cocktails.
Ketel One
Ketel One is a famous Vodka brand distilled by the Nolet family in Schiedam, Netherlands. This distillery was initially established in 1691 by Joannes Nolet. In the current years, the 10th and 11th generations of Nolet distillers are the living owners of this pristine brand.
Ketel One Vodka is a passion drink that is very smooth in taste and made with the best possible ingredients. Their original Vodka comes in a slightly tangy flavor and is crisp. In fact, the fragrance of Ketel One Vodka is to die for!
Just when you open the bottle, you will smell the sweet aroma of honey and citrus. You can also try the other best-selling flavors of Ketel One like Cucumber and Mint, Grapefruit Rose, and Peach and Orange Blossom.
The quality of this brand’s premium Vodka is top-notch, and come at a reasonable price for people of all kinds and taste.
Svedka
Svedka is a great brand that produces the best-quality Vodkas in the world. It is a Swedish Vodka, as the same says Svedha, a combination of Swedish and Vodka. To make their premium Vodka, Svedka uses American corn and distills it at least four times.
This is to clench out the purest taste of original Swedish Vodka. They depend on the high-quality corns that give an authentic taste to their Vodkas.
Svedka Vodka has been complimenting cocktails with its perfect blend and aroma. As a result, it is popularly desired worldwide to serve drinks you have never had before. You can enjoy Svedka in various flavors, including Citron, Strawberry Lemonade, Blue Raspberry, Cucumber Lime, Peach, Mango Pineapple, Raspberry, Vanilla, etc. and Rosé, Cherry, and Clementine.
Svedka is one of the finest choices when it comes to affordability, quality, and taste.
Belvedere
Belvedere is a Polish Vodka brand named after the Belweder. Belweder is a popular Polish presidential palace located in Warsaw. Belvedere is produced and distributed by LVMH in the Żyrardów, a town in Poland.
Belvedere is a naturally made Vodka. It is made from the purified water, best Polish rye, and is distilled by fire. Moreover, Belvedere contains no additives and is gluten-free. It has a smooth and velvety texture with some brazil nut characteristics. In fact, it is preferable for making exceptional cocktails like Iced Latte, Belvedere air, Super Cocktails, etc. You can also check out the other flavors like Black Raspberry, Mango Passion, Bloody Mary, Lemon Tea, Pink Grapefruit, Orange, Ginger Zest, and Citrus.
Belvedere is a top-shelf Vodka that gives you the ultimate silk-silk taste in your mouth and can be enjoyed any time of the day.
Effen
Effen is one of the smoothest Vodka brands that give you the best taste of their premium Vodka. It is distilled under dutch experts and uses the finest quality ingredients to prepare the night’s spotlight.
Effen is a brand with the partnership with the famous rapper 50 Cents and has become one of the first-class choices for party-lovers and bartenders. These Vodkas are a great base for cocktails and are rightly distilled, which gives you the perfect taste and smoothness when you take sips. In addition, it has a superior water-like taste and is a light Vodka with a crisp.
In fact, Effen Vodkas come in various flavors. Some of the best-selling flavors are Cucumber Vodka, Black Cherry Vodka, Blood Orange Vodka, Raspberry Vodka, Yuzu Citrus Vodka, Green Apple Vodka, and Pride 365 Vodka.
Effen Vodka comes at a reasonable price and is ideal for parties.
Pinnacle
Pinnacle Vodka was introduced in 2002 by the infamous White Rock Distillery in Lewiston. Currently, Pinnacle Vodka is owned by Beam Suntory and is distilled in France. The brand uses French wheat to create a perfect blend in the glass.
Pinnacle original Vodka is made with the best ingredients. Their Vodkas are distilled five times which offers a smooth velvety taste. Plus, it is made so that you can easily mix it with other cocktail ingredients in no time.
Their original is the purest form of Vodka one can taste. It is affordable and is excellent for moods of all kinds. Side by side, they offer a wide range of Vodkas, including the original PINNACLE 100 PROOF, cucumber, pineapple, grapefruit, cherry, peach, whipped, raspberry, and citrus, along with guava lime and apricot honeysuckle.
Burnett’s
Burnett’s is one of those gluten-free Vodkas made with the best quality ingredients available. It also is one of the purest Vodkas in the alcohol industry.
Made in America, this authentic Vodka goes through triple charcoal filtration and is distilled quadruple times. This gives the Vodka a smooth and silk-like texture that gives you the ultimate Vodka experience without burning your throat.
Plus, it is an excellent choice for making exotic easy to make cocktails like Martini and Cosmopolitan. You can also enjoy a wide range of flavors, including Burnett’s Original 80 Proof and 100 proof, cranberry, Apple, blue raspberry, coconut, grape, pink lemonade, mango pineapple, lime, etc.
It is a budget-friendly Vodka that you can enjoy any time of the day. Most of the flavors, along with the original, are available in 750 ml bottles.
Stolichnaya
Stolichnaya is a famous Soviet Vodka brand that is made with the best quality rye grain and wheat. This renowned brand was introduced in 1901 and has been one of the world’s best and creamiest Vodkas.
Stolichnaya Vodka is made with the perfect winter wheat that perfectly balances the flavor of the Vodka with its character. In addition, the brand uses an ultra-modern distillery that distills the Vodka three times and filters it four times.
These procedures result in one of the smoothest Russian Vodkas in the world. Stolichnaya Vodka is excellent for cocktails and other mixed drinks that suit your requirement.
Stolichnaya Vodka has a reasonable price along with a remarkable reputation. You can also check out the other flavors like Stolichnaya 100 proof (blue label), Stolichnaya 80 proof (Cristall or gold), Stoli Cranberi (Cranberry), Stoli Blueberi (Blueberry), Stoli Blakberi (Blackberry), Stoli Citros (Citrus), and Stoli Gala Applik (Apple).
UV
UV Vodka is not a regular bottle of Vodka. Instead, it is the sunlight-activated bottle of Vodka that shines bright and gives off the best vibe.
The famous Phillips distilling company distills UV Vodka. They distill Vodka four times and only offer natural flavors in their flavored Vodkas. Another reason why UV Vodka has gained popularity amongst young party lovers is because of its new bottle that sparks after the sunlight rays hit the bottle.
UV Vodka comes in over 20 different unique flavors. Some of the best-selling flavors include UV blue, UV Cherry, UV orange, and UV Sriracha. On the other hand, it is one of the least expensive yet most popular Vodka brands. You can mix it with other ingredients or drink as per your mood.
Chopin
Chopin Vodka is a one ingredient vote ka distilled four times from wheat, rye, or potatoes. It was first introduced in 1992 and later in 1997 in North America. Ever since then, it has been one of the most popular Vodka brands amongst Vodka lovers.
Chopin allows you to choose from three different Vodka types like Chopin Rye Vodka, Chopin Wheat Vodka, and Chopin Potato Vodka. Overall, it is a strong brand with solid alcohol that offers a creamy and smoother taste. In addition, they offer flavors of different kinds like Dorda Double Chocolate Liqueur and Dorda Sea Salt Caramel Liqueur.
Chopin is a brand that promises a comfortable and smooth drink to enjoy every sip of Vodka, and it is worth the cost.
Beluga
Beluga is a noble Russian Vodka that is produced in Mariinsk distillery. It is considered one of the largest Russian Vodka manufacturing companies in the world.
Beluga Vodkas are made with the best quality natural ingredients and go through first-class technology that eliminates unwanted additives and adds a flavourful aroma to the drink.
The brand also offers a wide range of Beluga Vodkas like Beluga Noble (original), Beluga Noble Night, Beluga Transatlantic Racing, Beluga Gold Line, Beluga Transatlantic Racing Navy Blue, Beluga Allure, Etc.
Beluga overall is an expensive and luxury drink that is suitable for cocktails as well.
Hangar 1
Hangar 1 was first introduced in 2002 by the Hangar 1 distillery from Alameda, CA. It is a perfect American Vodka that is distilled from the best quality wine grapes and midwestern grains. This brand also has a slight tint of floral scent. The experts make sure the taste of this Vodka is sweet to the mouth and is perfectly blended with ingredients of other sorts.
Hangar 1 Vodka is smooth to the throat and the soul. It offers an excellent Vodka drinking experience for newbies as well as professionals. They also offer unique flavors like Mandarin blossom flavored Vodka, Buddha’s hand citron flavored Vodka, Straight American Vodka made with grains and grapes, honeycomb Vodka, smoke Vodka, cardamom Vodka, and fennel Vodka.
Hangar 1 is a premium quality Vodka that may be expensive but worth the price and time.
Spirytus Rektyfikowany
Spirytus Rektyfikowany is one of the strongest Vodkas that you must never consume neat. It is a rectified spirit belonging to Poland and offers an incredible amount of pure alcohol. This is strictly for those who have experience in drinking Vodkas.
Spirytus Rektyfikowany has an ABV of 95% and is only recommended as a base for other liquors or cocktails. This notorious Vodka is made from ethyl alcohol. However, it is mainly used for medical purposes and making herbal liquors.
It is pretty expensive, but a recommendation only when your motive is to get drunk on cocktails.
Chase
Chase is one of the few Vodkas made with the best British potatoes. It is an authentic British Vodka that offers excellent quality and provenance.
Chase Vodka is a perfect blend of smooth finish, buttery texture, and creamy vanilla that will make your drinking experience worthwhile. This original British Vodka production begins in a copper pot and ends as the perfect mix for cocktails. Then, it goes through mashing, fermentation, and distillation to create the best flavor.
In fact, Chase Vodka is not only the perfect option for Martinis, but it has also been awarded Gold in the San Francisco world spirits competition. You can also check out the other flavors, including Chase Oak Smoked Vodka, Chase English Rhubarb Vodka, Chase Elderflower Liqueur, and Chase Aged Marmalade Vodka.
Black Cow
Black cow Vodka is made from the milk of the cows who graze on the grounds of the Black Cow distillery. It is one of its kinds of Vodka that has gained popularity all around the world.
Black cow Vodka is one of the smoothest Vodkas you can ever taste. It was first introduced in 2017 and is manufactured in West Dorset, United Kingdom. The black cow was invented by a dairy farmer called Jason barber.
Black cow Vodka is easy to drink and can be used as the base of other mixed drinks. You can also check out the different flavors like Black cow and English strawberries, and black cow Vodka negroni.
Zyr
Zyr is the smoothest tasting Vodka you’ll ever find. It is a Russian Vodka brand that offers surprising smooth sips. Zyr is made up of fresh and good-quality grains. It is also very earthy and contains zero additives.
This Vodka is a perfect blend of the typical winter wheat and rye of Russia. The ingredients are distilled at least five times, filtered nine times, and then blended with crystal-like water, giving a clean and pure Vodka taste.
Zyr comes at a reasonable price and different measuring variants. It is a great cocktail base, as well as for on the rocks.
The Beginners Buyer’s Guide to Vodka
Let’s be honest; we are all filled with awkward first-time experiences. However, we make sure you do not have to face the same when it comes to buying Vodka and drinking Vodka. The following is a mini-guide that will lead you to a successful and sweet Vodka experience of your life:
The type of Vodka
You can find various varieties of Vodka in the market. While some prefer flavored ones, the rest believe the tasteless, colorless, and odorless Vodkas to be the best choice. So before you purchase any, look for recommendations or perform a little research that will give you a broader idea of the taste and flavor of the Vodka.
The quality of Vodka depends on its cost
Vodka requires repeated distilling and filtering. However, both these processes are time-consuming. And the more filtered and distilled versions they offer, the more they charge. Since cheap Vodka will have the tendency to burn your throat and tongue, you will not quite enjoy your first Vodka experience. The expensive brands offer smooth Vodka that runs down the throat without any burning sensation. Nevertheless, you can also try affordable brands that will give you a good experience.
Vodka may give you hangovers
Most alcohols end up giving hangovers, and the same goes for Vodka. However, with Vodka, you will not feel nauseated. Instead, you may feel dehydrated and get headaches the following day after a long Vodka night. But, if you purchase the purest Vodkas with few impurities and congeners, then you may have the chance of controlling your hangout experience.
How is Vodka made?
Vodka originated in Russia and is now a famous drink for cocktail lovers. It is described as a clean, distilled alcoholic beverage. This is ordinarily made from water and ethanol and flavorings once in a while for flavored Vodkas.
In recent years, the primary substances in Vodka are fermented grains, including corn, rice, rye, wheat, molasses, and fruits for flavor. The producing method additionally calls for water, malt, yeast, and flour for the ultimate Vodka.
While Malt functions as a fixing that assists in converting graining starch into sugar, on the other hand, yeast enzymes help the food cells to separate oxygen from the grain. This extraction produces liquor or Vodka. The cycle starts with the following process:
- Boil grains alongside water and malt
- This results in fermented or aged sugar.
- Then, the solid leftover materials are drained from the leftover fluid. This method is also known as the wash.
- When the wash is placed into a tank, on the other hand, yeast is put into it.
- Then the washed liquid is added to a firmly fixed tank or container.
- The firmly fixed tank rests for 2-4 days. During this cycle, the proteins convert sugars to ethyl liquor.
- The leftover fluid gets warmed and results in the middle of 30 and 40 percent liquor by volume (ABV).
- After the ultimate result, Vodka is then refined no less than multiple times to eliminate contaminations.
The Most Expensive Bottle of Vodka in the world
There are various Vodka brands with a price range from cheap to expensive. However, that’s not the case in some brands. And, yes, we are talking about the most expensive bottle of Vodka in the world. Surpassing the list of thousands of Vodka brands, Billionaire Vodka is known to be the costliest Vodka brand.
It is worth 7.25 million dollars.
The billionaire Vodka is an authentic presentation of alcohol by the Leos Vertes Luxury Group. They offer the purest and the best 5 liters of Vodka to their prosperous customers. And apparently, it is not just a regular Vodka made out of natural ingredients. It is something more expensive and big.
The billionaire Vodka is a Russian recipe with pure distilled wheat and multiple filtered crystal and clear water. In fact, the other secret recipe is the water flowing over real diamonds worth millions of dollars. Once the Vodka is ready, it gets filtered in the eyes and then through the Nordic Birch Charcoal. Lastly, it passes through to the crushed diamonds and costly stones.
You can say that the Billionaire Vodka is diamond alcohol that shows off your success. This luxury Vodka comes in expensive interiors and exteriors as well. Covered in faux fur, The Billionaire Vodka speaks rich.
Glossary of terms. What do you need to know for Vodka?
If you are already a fan of Vodka, then here are some common liquor terminologies that you must know:
Charcoal filter
This means the Vodkas are filtered to the level of no trace of fatty acids in the drink. It also helps to create the purest Vodka.
Distilled from potatoes
Since potatoes do not have a higher yield than grains, Vodkas are made from potatoes expensive to produce and uncommon in the market. Vodka distilled from potatoes has a creamy texture and taste, almost like velvet.
Vodka belt
This word has no formal definition; however, it is considered as an essential terminology in the world of Vodka.
It represents the Vodka belt made up of the Nordic states like Norway, Iceland, Sweden, and Baltic states like Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, along with Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, and Russia. In fact, almost 70% or more of the Vodka production market belongs in Europe.
Highballs
High balls are generally made with distant spirit or ice.
On the rocks
On the rocks means your drink is poured over the ice cubes in the glass.
ABW
This means alcohol by weight.
ABV
This means alcohol by volume.
Methodology, how we select the best Vodka Brands
We require several other features that describe the best Vodkas, not just the quality and quantity. Here is how we select the best Vodka brands:
The main ingredients used
To make Vodka, wheat and water are the two main ingredients that almost every brand requires. However, the only differences are the quality of the wheat and water used during the process of manufacturing Vodka. And to make the perfect Vodka, one needs the correct balance of protein, starch, and filtered water.
The secondary ingredients
The secondary ingredients depend on the irrigation of the crops, the number of times the water has been filtered. Not just so, it also depends on how pure the water is. While some brands look for continuous filtration, others purify the water from charcoal.
The process of purification
Purification plays an essential role in manufacturing a great sip of Vodka. It not only makes Vodka clean and distilled but also defines the perfect taste of the Vodka.
