Because the U.S.’s best-selling spirit, vodka is a beloved staple for a motive. It shines in traditional cocktails just like the Martini and Bloody Mary and is beloved in creations just like the Moscow Mule and Espresso Martini. And whereas tequila and whiskey could also be closing in on vodka’s reputation on-premise, the impartial spirit isn’t going wherever anytime quickly.
That’s why we nailed down the very best bottles to present your family members this yr. From approachable, budget-friendly picks with crisp profiles to delicate Japanese expressions harking back to sake, each house bartender wants at the least one nice vodka available. Hold studying to find the seven greatest vodkas to present this vacation season.
Greatest Price range Vodka: Helix 7 Vodka
Greatest Splurge Vodka: Reisetbauer Axberg Vodka
Greatest Vodka for Newcomers: Damaged Shed Vodka
Greatest Vodka for Geeks: OKA Model Vodka
Greatest Vodka for Cocktail Lovers: St. George Spirits All Objective Vodka
Greatest Vodka to Impress: Kástra Elión Vodka
Greatest Vodka for Tequila Lovers: Weber Ranch 1902
Greatest Price range Vodka
Helix 7 Vodka
This 40 p.c ABV Icelandic vodka delivers a crisp profile with refined floral and fruit notes that punch properly above its $20 price ticket. Distilled from French winter wheat and Iceland’s barely alkaline glacier water, the vodka is exceptionally clean-tasting with a impartial end that’s appropriate for sipping neat in addition to mixing into your favourite cocktails.
Common Value: $20
Ranking: 91
Greatest Splurge Vodka
Reisetbauer Axberg Vodka
Austria’s Hans Reisetbauer could also be greatest recognized for its world-class fruit and vegetable eaux de vie, however the model’s vodka is to not be missed. Axberg, which takes its identify from the city it’s produced in, is constituted of the Mulan wheat selection that grows in abundance in Higher Austria. Based on the distillery, this particular kind of wheat is thought for its lack of sugar, fruited sweetness, and clear size — all elements of that are on full show on this beautiful sipper. Floral, perfumed aromas with a reasonable fruit character greet the nostril and switch onto a velvety palate with a protracted, lingering end.
Common Value: $42
Ranking: 94
Greatest Vodka for Newcomers
Damaged Shed Vodka
When in search of a great vodka for somebody new to the class, it’s greatest to go for a bottle that’s not overly advanced however nonetheless provides sufficient nuance that it may be loved in a Martini, shaken over ice, or poured neat. Enter: Damaged Shed Vodka. Distilled from whey protein and a mix of mineral and spring water, the vodka provides a crisp, clear profile that borders on glacial mineral water. Bottled at 40 p.c ABV and delivering a wealthy, rounded mouthfeel, it’s a bottle good for these simply dipping their toes within the vodka pond.
Common Value: $26
Ranking: 91
Greatest Vodka for Geeks
OKA Model Vodka
Produced from Japanese rice and sake brewer’s yeast, OKA Model Vodka is a standout in a class typically criticized for its lack of character. Not like the vast majority of vodkas, OKA is distilled via a pot nonetheless somewhat than a column nonetheless, a course of that permits the spirit to retain a wealthy taste. The model additionally filters the vodka via regionally sourced Japanese bincho tan, an artisanal charcoal the model says has been measured because the purest carbon charcoal on this planet, leading to a spirit with a singular taste and texture Bottled at a barely elevated 43 p.c ABV, the vodka delivers delicate white flower, jasmine, pink berry, and candy rice notes which might be positive to enthrall any spirits lover.
Common Value: $27
Ranking: 94
Greatest Vodka for Cocktail Lovers
St. George Spirits All Objective Vodka
With regards to making cocktails, it’s necessary to have a vodka with good texture and St. George Spirits All Objective Vodka is a strong, full-bodied vodka that gives advanced depth. Based on the model, pears are the key to the vodka’s seductive texture and refined aromatics. To make the spirit, the group distills the model’s flagship brandy to a punchy 95.1 p.c ABV earlier than it’s blended with a grain-neutral spirit and filtered to take away impurities. This expressive vodka delivers an abundance of sunshine, fruited sweetness and refined salinity that stand out in every part from a Moscow Mule and a Cosmopolitan to a easy Vodka Soda.
Common Value: $27
Ranking: 94
Greatest Vodka to Impress
Kástra Elión Vodka
Distilled in Greece, Kástra Elión is produced from a mix of olives and grain, leading to a savory and luxurious vodka that’s good for stirring into Martinis. Bursting with character, the spirit opens with welcoming salinity and surprising fruit notes that steadiness the tangy olive taste. Whereas solely 40 p.c ABV, the palate is weighted and viscous, abandoning hints of cracked black pepper and additional virgin olive oil that we all know will fulfill any cocktail lover within the throes of Martini Insanity.
Common Value: $55
Ranking: 94
Greatest Vodka for Tequila Lovers
Weber Ranch 1902
Envisioned by the identical minds that formulated Patrón, Weber Ranch 1902 is an unconventional vodka that’s constituted of one hundred pc Blue Weber agave. First distilled in Jalisco, the agave distillate makes its strategy to the Weber Ranch Distillery in Texas the place it undergoes additional rounds of distillation in pot and column stills. The ensuing vodka delivers vegetal notes together with delicate fruit for a profile solely distinctive to the class. Whereas the spirit stays a vodka at its core, it drinks comparatively much like Mexico’s beloved spirit, making it the proper bottle for any agave geeks in your life.
Common Value: $28
Ranking: 93
