20 Best Vodka Brands to Drink

Tito’s uses corn rather than a typical grain mash or potatoes, resulting in a spirit that is truly gluten-free. That isn’t the only appeal of the Texas-based brand. This vodka made a name for itself as a remarkably smooth option, perfect for mixing or drinking straight. Using a traditional pot still process ensures the high quality of this vodka. 

This Polish brand uses a 600-year-old process to craft vodka. Belvedere uses rye grown in the country and has produced the spirit since 1910. The rye creates a balance between sweetness and spice, with notes of vanilla contrasting warmer pepper tones. Nutty flavors come through in a remarkably smooth finish.

This vodka is a Swedish variety, first introduced to the US in 1979. However, in its home country, the spirit has been sold for over 100 years! American audiences took to the vodka due to its creative bottle design and distinct flavor. The brand uses Swedish water and a winter wheat grain mash to set itself apart.

Another European brand, Ketel One, comes from the Netherlands, using 100% wheat grain and copper pot stills. The resulting vodka showcases a bright, crisp flavor. The texture of this spirit is another reason this variety ranks among the best vodka brands. This vodka’s body has a silky consistency, leaving a lingering finish that's perfect for cocktails. 

Chopin showcases vodkas with distinct tastes from one ingredient fermentation. By producing potato, wheat, and rye varieties, Chopin debunks the assumption that vodka is flavorless. Their rye vodka contains peppery notes, while their potato-based spirit provides a distinct creaminess. Finally, their wheat vodka has a sweet, delicate flavor and a light-bodied character.

Corn from Canada creates a subtle sweetness with vanilla hints in Crystal Head Vodka. The brand sources the grain locally, from the area close to its Canada-based facility. Filtration is an integral part of the process of creating this spirit. Crystal Head filters vodka seven times, making a clean-tasting vodka with a velvety texture.

Pinnacle Vodka produces its spirits through a five times distilled process giving this vodka crisp flavors and a smooth finish. These spirits cost a little less than others on this list but don’t sacrifice quality when creating this affordable option. The mellow taste of this vodka works well with added flavors, and the brand offers wide varieties. 

Superior wheat grain is the secret to this Effen vodka brand from Holland. EFFEN uses the region’s purest water, bringing a clean, fresh taste to the spirit. The flavor of the vodka also has a crisp character with a smooth balance carrying through the finish. Unlike other brands, this spirit contains little alcohol aftertaste.

For those looking for a richly flavorful vodka in place of a cleaner-tasting variety, Beluga Vodka provides an excellent option. This Russian vodka uses artisanal water to highlight the sweet cereal flavors imbued in the vodka from the wheat grain mash. A lingering finish accompanies the vodka with hints of citric tartness. 

While other vodkas use grains or potatoes to create their vodkas, Ciroc takes a different approach. The brand distills the finest French grapes to create its spirit. This unique method gives the vodka a fruity body with a light amount of sweetness paired with a citrusy aroma. These flavors mellow through the finish for a crisp sip. 

Stolichnaya creates a sweet vegetative flavor in their spirit paired with citrus undertones. Unlike other vodkas with clean finishes, this brand creates one with lots of sweet tastes with peppery notes. The vodka comes in a range of flavors and artfully decorated limited-edition bottles if you want to add some color to your liquor cabinet. 

The northern location of Finland makes growing grain difficult. However, this Finnish brand grows a special Suomi barley that thrives in the region. This barley ripens under the midnight sun during the area’s unique summers, helping to create an extremely clean-tasting Finnish vodka. Pure glacier spring water gives the spirit a silky smoothness.

This Northern California brand takes a unique approach to its ferment. While most brands use grains and a few use grapes, Hangar 1 uses a combination of both. Grains and grapes create a floral aroma and palate of Asian pear and honeysuckle. Since fruity notes characterize the vodka, it makes a great mixer in many cocktails. 

Barr Hill Vodka creates a product unlike any other on this list! The brand was founded by a distiller and a beekeeper who decided to use honey to make their spirit. Fermented pure raw honey produces a vodka filled with floral notes and rich sweet tones. The brand consistently wins awards for this unique spirit. 

This longstanding brand’s vodka has been produced in Ukraine since 1872, and while the company constantly strives for improvement, the recipe remains mostly unaltered. The spirit presents a strong character, with a crisp, clean taste and hints of linden flower. Nemiroff has received numerous international awards for taste. 

One of the best vodka brands for those looking for an organic option, Humboldt produces its spirit in California. Like Barr Hill in Vermont, this brand takes a different approach, using organic sugarcane in its ferment. Cocktail lovers favor this vodka for its clean, sweet flavor, perfect for mixing in drinks. 

The American vodka brand turns Midwest crops into a clean yet complex vodka. The four-corp blend includes winter wheat, light rye, potatoes, and corn that is white from the Red River Valley. The resulting spirit contains layers of flavor from this one-of-a-kind formula. This vodka has the best attributes of other varieties. All rolled into one delicious spirit.

This New York brand seeks to defy convention and takes its name from the word for a bossy or belligerent woman. Harridan uses a 100% corn mash to produce its 88-proof spirit. The organic and gluten-free option provides several sweet-tasting notes, like vanilla and toffee. Some bright hints of citrus and pepper are also present.

Haku Vodka utilizes one of the most common grains in Japan, white rice. The Japanese vodka brand is based in the country from a region specializing in growing and producing rice-based products. Using this grain creates a sweet, delicate flavor in the vodka that builds into a more complex taste. The sweetness lingers through the finish.

Prairie provides another organic option using only corn. The spirit has won several awards for both taste and texture. Expect a creamy mouthfeel and sweet flavor. This vodka stands out for its pleasant aroma, with notes of pear and melon, making it a lovely option for cocktails featuring lots of spirits.