The 13 Best Vodkas to Buy Now
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Vodka remains the most popular spirit in America in terms of overall sales, but it often gets a bad rap from whiskey drinkers who think of it as a clear, flavorless, charmless alcohol vessel. That was certainly the case for decades, but the fact is that vodka has changed quite a bit in recent years. The TTB even updated its definition of vodka by removing language that says it is “without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color” recently. There were already some distilleries making vodka that actually has character, aroma, and taste (although still no color for the most part), mostly in the craft world but with a few major players in the mix as well. We put together a list of 13 vodkas in various categories that you should try now, whether you’re looking for something to sip or mix up a classic or modern cocktail. Give them a try and see what you think.
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Best Overall: Harridan Vodka
This small brand from the Empire State is leading the way with a flavorful, soft, higher-ABV vodka that works well in any cocktail you can think of. It’s produced in upstate New York from a mashbill of organic corn and bottled at 88 proof rather than the standard 80. The result is a complex and interesting vodka with notes of vanilla, citrus, and spice—one of the best examples of this spirit that you can find.
Best Flavored: St. George Green Chile Vodka
Flavored vodka is pretty common, but let’s be honest—most of it isn’t very good. A notable exception to the rule is St. George Spirits’ Green Chile Vodka, which is flavored with jalepeños, serranos, habaneros, and bell peppers. That green pepper flavor really comes through along with a bit of heat, making this the perfect vodka to use in a Bloody Mary or enjoyed over some ice.
Best for a Martini: Reyka Vodka
We’re not in the business of drink shaming here, so if you want to make your Martini with vodka instead of gin, more power to you. But one vodka to consider using is Reyka, an Icelandic brand owned by Scottish company William Grant & Sons. It’s made using glacial-fed spring water, dstilled on a Carter head copper still, and filtered through lava rock. And it’s a mild and very drinkable vodka that will work well in a Martini, whether you like it dirty, dry, or with a twist.
Best Japanese: Haku Vodka
Suntory is best known for its whisky, but the company also makes some very good gin and vodka. The latter is called Haku, which means “white” or “brilliant” in Japanese. The vodka is distilled from rice and filtered through bamboo charcoal, resulting in a crisp spirit with sweet, spice, and citrus notes that is versatile enough to use in any cocktail.
Best Newcomer: Weber Ranch 1902 Vodka
This new vodka comes from the founder of Patrón along with a few of his board members. It’s made from 100 percent Blue Weber agave, which is usually used to distill tequila. The agave is harvested and distilled in Mexico and then brought to Texas where it’s redistilled and filtered before bottling. There’s a soft creaminess to the palate, which has notes of vanilla, espresso, black pepper, and a bit of subtle lemon. Overall, this is a tasty and interesting new addition to the vodka category.
Best Irish: Drumshanbo Sausage Tree Vodka
The Irish make great whiskey and gin, but at least one distillery is also distilling some vodka worth trying. The Shed Distillery’s Drumshanbo Sausage Tree Vodka is distilled from Irish grain, nettle, and sausage tree fruit, an African tree that bears sausage shaped fruit. The vodka is slightly sweet with hits of vanilla and citrus on the palate, and certainly one worth checking out.
Best Splurge Vodka: Belvedere 10
There’s a lot of cheap vodka out there, but there are also some bottles that are actually worth splurging on. Belvedere 10 is one of those, an elevated version of the core expression. This was released to mark the beginning of the brand in 1910. It’s made from rye sourced from one field, and the vodka is allowed to rest for 10 months to marry flavors before bottling. Look for notes of vanilla, pear, and honey on the palate.
Best for Sipping: Painted Sky Vodka
This vodka is crafted at New Mexico’s Vara Distillery in Albuquerque. It’s made from a grape spirit base that’s distilled to a high 90 percent ABV. That’s then cut to 40 percent and filtered through activated carbon. Like Vara’s gin, this vodka is excellent and works well in a cocktail. But try sipping it neat as well to uncover notes of citrus and cream on the palate.
Best Wheat Vodka: Rieger’s Premium Wheat Vodka
There is a whole lot of vodka out there made from a wheat base spirit, but not all are created equal. One of the best comes from Kansas City distillery J. Rieger & Co., a 100 percent wheat vodka that outshines many of its competitors. There’s nothing flashy about this particular expression, it’s just a solid entry in a crowded field that stands out for being crisp, simple, and subtly sweet, a good choice to consider for any cocktail.
Best Craft: Shiner Vodka
Shiner is an iconic Texas beer made at the K. Spoetzl Brewery between San Antonio and Houston. But last year the brand opened its own craft distillery, where it uses the same malt it makes its beer with to distill spirits. One of those is Shiner Vodka, which is distilled 20 times. That might seem like overkill, but the result is more like an unaged whiskey than a vodka, with notes of malt and vanilla on the palate.
Best Luxury: Chopin Vintage Vault
This high-end vodka costs $3,000, but there’s a reason for that. It’s a 30-year-old vodka—that doesn’t mean 30 years in a barrel like whiskey, that means this Polish potato vodka was distilled as part of Chopin’s first release in 1993 and kept in a vault for three decades before being bottled in a crystal decanter. It’s a true luxury expression, with notes of vanilla, apple, and grapefruit on the palate.
Best Under $100: Kástra Elión
Kástra Elión is a Greek vodka distilled from olives and grain, but that doesn’t mean it tastest like Kalamatas, but it is great for your Martini needs. The 30-day resting period it undergoes to marry the flavors gives it a smoothness with hints of vanilla, pepper, and a soft minerality.
Best Under $50: Fortress Vodka
Fortress Vodka is produced by Fort Hamilton Distillery in Brooklyn, NY. This operation is focused on making rye whiskey, but also has this affordable vodka in its lineup, distilled from corn and water from the Catskill Mountains. Skip the Tito’s and grab a bottle of this instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are different types of vodka?
There is really just one type of vodka: a clear spirit that can be distilled from pretty much anything, from wheat to corn to grapes to potatoes to whey. It’s often distilled many times over and filtered to remove impurities, which traditionally resulted in a spirit without much flavor or odor other than alcohol. As mentioned in the intro, that has changed in recent years, and you will now find that certain vodkas do indeed have their own unique character–although some people still just want a truly neutral spirit.
How should you drink vodka?
The short answer is however you like it. There is no wrong or right way to enjoy vodka. That being said, while it’s a good idea to at least taste a vodka neat to really discover its character, this spirit is most often used in cocktails ranging from classics like the Martini, Moscow Mule, and Cosmpolitan to modern creations. Some people like to store vodka in the freezer so they can sip it ice cold–go ahead and try that if you like, but it will likely reduce the flavor.
How did we choose the vodka on this list?
We considered different factors when picking these vodka, with the emphasis being on taste. Because after all, despite a bottle’s availability or the hype surrounding it, that is the most important thing. Tasting vodka involves a combination of sensations, including the nose, palate, mouthfeel, and finish. And each category has different characteristics, so part of the process is to consider how an individual pick fits into its style overall. The bottles on this list represent the best vodka brands based on all of these options, providing a good overview of selections you can easily purchase in person or online that are good examples of each individual category.
Why should you trust us to pick the right vodka?
Jonah Flicker has been writing about whiskey and other spirits for a decade, visiting distilleries around the world to meet the people behind the bottles and find out more about their stories. He is a judge for the John Barleycorn Awards and New York World Wine and Spirits Competition, and his work has appeared in many national other lifestyle outlets besides Robb Report, including Esquire, Food & Wine, Men’s Journal, CNN, USA Today, and more.
