vodkaIt is one of the best selling spirits on the market. It is also one of the most misunderstood. The most important of these misunderstandings is thisvodkait is tasteless. That's just wrong. Although its neutrality is appreciated by mixologists, it can be salted, peppered or vegetable; it can be reminiscent of citrus fruits, caviar or the earth itself.
As with other spirits, there are many factors that go into making a quality bottle of spirits.clear things. First you have the mash bill. Potatoes, rye and wheat are the mainstays of most vodka expressions. There are also some distillers out thereCorn, grapes, beets and even quinoa. Then there is the distillation and filtering process. Most vodkas are distilled multiple times. As for filtering, the short answer is the more you filter the vodka, the more refined (and expensive) it will be. As with bourbon, rum, or any other spirit, the combination of these factors—ingredients, processes, and artisanal techniques—determine how delicious the juice is in the glass.
With that in mind, we've highlighted the top tenWodkasbelow to your specific price points. Are these the best vodkas in the world? That is hard to say. New expressions appear daily. Right now, these are our favorite $10-$100 bottles. Take a look and see how wrong your "all vodkas taste the same" friends are.
Related:The best single malt whiskey in every price range from $30 to $120
$ 10 - Smirnoff

ABV:40%
Distillery:Smirnoff Vodka, Illinois (Diageo)
Average price: $ 9
And leader:
America's signature vodka (via Russia) is shockingly drinkable for a bottle that comes in a plastic bottle. The juice is made from non-GMO corn. It is then charcoal filtered and cut with sparkling water to put it to the test.
Flavor notes:
Clean is the word most associated with Smirnoff. The nose has a light corn edge. This note becomes slightly sweet when a little alcohol with a light spicy note appears. The finish is very neutral to almost easy to drink.
In summary:
This Ted Danson approved vodka is the perfect base for cocktails. Do yourself a favor and get a bottle.
PRO-TRICK:Grate an inch of fresh ginger into your Smirnoff. Close again and leave on the shelf for 24 hours. Strain the ginger from the vodka and pour the clean juice back into the bottle. Store the vodka in the freezer. So the next time you make a Moscow Mule, use this ginger-infused vodka as the base.
You can thank us later.
$20 - Tito's handcrafted vodka

ABV:40%
Distillery:Fifth Generation, Austin, TX
Average price: $22
And leader:
Austin's Tito's Vodka is a pretty solid bottle of vodka at a very affordable price. Vodka is distilled from yellow corn and undergoes six distillations.
Flavor notes:
There is a slight mustiness on the nose of this vodka, leading to hints of yellow corn. The taste is initially very neutral. Then, as the sip heats up, notes of vegetable pepper and slightly sweet corn are added. The finish is fast and very slim.
In summary:
This is a versatile drinker. You can throw, mix and throw a highball with some fizzy water. dealer choice.
$30 — Chopin Sweet Potato Vodka

ABV:40%
Distillery:Polmos, Siedlce, Poland
Average price: 30 $
And leader:
This Polish vodka looks like a classic but dates back to the early 1990's. The distillery sources its potatoes from fields around the distillery within a 25 mile radius. Potatoes are cooked in their skins before fermentation. The wash is then distilled and highly refined in a copper kettle.
Flavor notes:
On the nose there is a natural minerality that leads to an almost wet grassy note. The palate is very smooth with hints of bitterness behind a real earthy aftertaste. A spicy note of black pepper sets in late, while the lingering smoothness brings a pleasant finish.
In summary:
This certainly works like a sipper with a drop or two of bitters (in a well-chilled glass). Also try this vodka as part of a Hilde - it's a champagne shot followed by a vodka shot in quick succession.
$40 - Absolute Elyx

ABV:43%
Distillery:Absolut Distillery, Åhus, Sweden (Pernod Ricard)
Average price: $42
And leader:
Absolutely Elyxis Absolut's answer to the premium vodka market. Vodka is made from winter wheat grown on a single farm in southern Sweden in the Middle Ages. The vodka is made in Absolut's Åhus distillery, which is fully furnished with antiques and is located right on the outskirts of the small village.
It's a super refined vodka that lives up to the hype.
Flavor notes:
The sip opens with a field of wheat after a storm. Freshly baked bread with a crust of butter lies next to a greasy nut. A mild spiciness comes late with a nutmeg feel. The finish is slightly long, full of that bready nature and very satisfying.
In summary:
You can easily drink this vodka with a stone or two. It's also a very solid cocktail base with that slightly higher ABV.
$50 - Nikka Coffee Vodka

ABV:40%
Distillery:Nikka Whiskey Distilling, Tokyo, Japan (Asahi Group)
Average price: 52 $
And leader:
This vodka has a sophistication and uniqueness that helps it stand out. The wort is a mixture of corn and malted barley. The distillate is then filtered through white birch charcoal and then sampled with soft local spring water.
Flavor notes:
This is the perfect balance between neutral and hearty. The nose brings hints of the sweetest malts with an orchard fruit vibe. The palate delivers these notes while leaning toward an almost stone fruit sweetness, with a grainy underbelly. The finish is warm with a velvety texture that will leave a smile on your face.
In summary:
This is so smooth and drinkable that it will be difficult not to simply try it neat or with a single stone.
$ 60 - Crystal Head Wodka Aurora

ABV:40%
Distillery:Globefill Inc., Newfoundland, Canada
Average price: 60 $
And leader:
Dan Akroyd's Canadian Vodka is a solid entry in the vodka pantheon. This phrase uses English wheat in wort. The distillate is then filtered seven times through Herkimer diamonds (actually quartz). The bottle is certainly a gimmick here, thoughIt isKind of cool, especially with the Northern Lights color on the skull.
At least this is a conversation starter.
Flavor notes:
There is also a clear wheat feel with a hint of vanilla beans. The flavor goes in that direction, adding a minty note alongside a mild spiciness. The finish is short, warm and slightly sweet with another hint of vanilla.
In summary:
That's good enough to justify the price. The addition of mint and vanilla adds a nice change from the usual vodka neutrality, especially when you add some ice.
$70 - Stolichnaya Elit

ABV:40%
Distillery:SPI Group, Riga, Lettland
Average price: 69 $
And leader:
There's a lot that makes Stoli a great vodka, especially for Elit. The juice is mainly made from special winter wheat grown in a very isolated part of Russia, cut with a small percentage of rye (also grown in a very rural area). Then there is the spring water, silica sand filtration, charcoal filtration and another round of silica sand filtration that the distillate goes through to make it pop.
Flavor notes:
You'll be greeted by freshly sliced green peppers, some vanilla, a hint of fresh mint, a sprinkling of white pepper and a nice splash of bright citrus. The palate leans towards these notes, adding a light toffee sweetness with a super clean body.
In summary:
This is one of those vodkas that has it now. It's also a bottle you can find for a much better price (around $50) if you're in the right region. It works as a simple one or two stone sipper or a fantastic martini base.
$ 80 - Chops

ABV:40%
Distillery:Carbonadi Distillery, Piemont, Italien
Average price: 80 $
And leader:
by Ricky MillerCarbonadi is a premium vodka for the 2020s. The Italian juice is made from winter wheat and is treated by artisans from northern Italy at every step of the process, resulting in a Black Diamond filtration process and micro-oxygenation (a process used to soften wines).
Flavor notes:
Carbonadi hits the "high-end" vodka notes at the top. Next to the wheat is a bit of vanilla. A note of toasted coconut follows with hints of fresh mint and hints of spice. It's attractive.
In summary:
The complexity of this sip makes it easy to drink and pair with vodka, especially with Goan curries or other flavored dishes.
$90 - Graugans VX

ABV:40%
Distillery:Gray Goose Ditllery, La Vallee de l'Oise, France (Bacardi)
Average price: 90 $
And leader:
France's Gray Goose was specially developed for the US market. This very sophisticated expression of the Maison borrows from the refinement of cognac through vodka production. The juice is based on winter wheat and cut with local spring water to create the easiest vodka drinking experience. A little (five percent) brandy is then added to the vodka. This makes it technically more of a "spirit" than a "vodka". But that's really splitting hairs.
Flavor notes:
This sip is equal parts floral and fruity. Ripe stone fruit mingles with wildflowers and honey sweetness. A burst of bright citrus comes late to counteract the sweeter, floral and fruity edges and helps bring a real smoothness to the entire sip.
In summary:
This is made to sip like a vodka. Maybe add a stone if needed, but try first.
$100 – Beluga Gold Line

ABV:40%
Distillery:Mariinsk Distillery, Mariinsk, Russia
Average price: 100 $
And leader:
This vodka was born far away in the depths of the Siberian forest of Russia. The brand's Gold line takes its very solid base and adds more layers of filtering and amps up the distillation process by adding milk thistle, oat and rice extracts. After multiple quartz filtration, the vodka rests for three months before being bottled, which gives this drink an extra nuance.
Flavor notes:
The nose and taste have a herbal wildflower nature that draws you in. The vodka's graininess is subtle while a creamy nature predominates. The grammage, flowers and sweet edges are perfectly balanced while the sip fills your senses with every note.
In summary:
This is a great pairing of vodka, especially with seafood. It might sound cliche, but it goes really well with caviar. If that's too rich for your blood, try cold-smoked salmon, oysters and crab.
FAQs
What is the number 1 vodka in the world? ›
1. Smirnoff. Created by a Russian serf named Pytor Smirnov, the world's best-selling vodka has been sold since 1864. In 1886, Smirnov penned an exclusive contract to supply vodka to the Tsar of Russia.
Which vodka is best in taste? ›- Best Overall. Hangar 1 Vodka. ...
- Best for Sipping. Absolut Elyx Vodka. ...
- Best Flavored. Square One Organic Cucumber Vodka. ...
- Best for Bloody Marys. Absolut Peppar. ...
- Best Polish. Belvedere Smogory Forest Single-Estate Rye Vodka. ...
- Best for Moscow Mules. Tito's Handmade Vodka. ...
- Best Organic. Humboldt Organic. ...
- Best Potato Vodka.
In 2021, Tito's Handmade Vodka was the leading vodka brand in the United States with more than 11 million 9 liter cases sold. Other major vodka brands that year included Smirnoff, New Amsterdam, and Svedka. The beverage is made up of two main ingredients, namely water and alcohol from grains or potatoes.
What is the strongest vodka in us? ›Spirytus. Proof: 192 (96% alcohol). Made in: PolandApproved a few years ago to be sold in New York State, the Polish-made Spirytus vodka is the strongest liquor for sale in the U.S. “It's like getting punched in the solar plexus,” one sampler told the New York Post.
Is Tito's a cheap vodka? ›At under $17 a bottle, Tito's Handmade Vodka ($16.99, Total Wine) is the best cheap vodka you can buy for just about any kind of drink. You can enjoy Tito's straight or in cocktail thanks to its crisp, clean finish.
Should vodka be refrigerated? ›Spirits like whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, etc. don't need to be refrigerated because the high alcohol content preserves their integrity.
What is a premium vodka? ›Premium vodkas are different from the outset. They use a higher quality mix of ingredients as well as bespoke botanical infusions. More emphasis is put on producing a pleasing taste, removing the sharpness that can be found in cheaper brands.
What is top shelf vodka at a bar? ›Top Shelf: Bottles on the highest shelves behind a bar. Though there's no hard rule as to cost, these tend to be bottles that would retail for $50 or more in a store. Mid Shelf: Bottles on the lower half of the shelf behind a bartender. With liquor, this would usually be bottles that fall in the $25–50 range.
What is the number 1 vodka in the world 2022? ›The top vodka, winning both Master and Taste Master awards, was Belvedere Organic Infusions Pear Ginger Vodka. Belvedere is a Polish rye vodka. It's made at the Zyrardów distillery. The distillery, one of Poland's oldest, has been making vodka since 1910 and Belvedere vodka exclusively since 1993.
What is the number 1 alcoholic drink? ›Beer. Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage worldwide. In fact, after water and tea, beer is the most commonly-consumed drink in the world.
What are the top 10 vodka drinks? ›
- Bloody Mary.
- Cosmopolitan.
- Martini.
- Moscow Mule.
- Mudslide.
- Screwdriver.
- Sea Breeze.
- Vodka Cranberry (Cape Cod)