A Complete Guide to the Most Popular Brands of Vodka

A Complete Guide to the Most Popular Brands of Vodka

Tracing its roots to a small town in 9th century Russia, vodka has exhibited remarkable longevity, solidifying its position as the most popular vodka and the best-selling spirit on the market today.

While early vodka was exclusively derived from potatoes and subjected to a single distillation, the modern-day production of vodka involves a diverse range of ingredients and a meticulous process of multiple distillations to achieve the desired end product. Additionally, to meet the criteria for being classified as vodka, it must reach a minimum alcohol by volume (ABV) of 40% or 80 U.S. proof.

Given its widespread acclaim, it comes as no surprise that a multitude of vodka brands are available, each offering its unique history and distinct distillation methods to cater to the diverse preferences of consumers.

If you walk into your local liquor store or get on ShopSK.com, you will see an array of different types of spirits but many different types of vodka too. It can be hard to know which is the best for your cocktail making.

Read on to learn more about different vodka brands and how the best brands vary in taste. A Complete Guide to the Most Popular Brands of Vodka.

What Is Vodka?

Vodka is a clear distilled liquor that can trace its roots back to Poland, Sweden, and Russia. It's made from distilled water and a variety of grain types, including:

• Rye
• Wheat
• Barley
• Rice
• Corn

Some modern brands of vodka are stretching beyond those known grains for production and distilling using more unusual ingredients like potatoes, milk, grapes, apples, quinoa, and even milk.

As more brands have joined the vodka marketplace, they've become more specialized, with various price points and features. One thing many vodka brands have done is to include some of their vodka options infused with other flavors.

Whether you like your vodka straight up or in a craft cocktail, the wide range of brands gives you an abundance of options. Now, let's look at some of the most popular brands.

Absolut

Not only is Absolut among the best-known vodka brands, but it's also one of the best overall. One thing that makes Absolut noteworthy is that it contains no added sugar to production, which can't be said of many other vodka brands.

Absolut has a crisp, clean taste without any added flavors. It presents its iconic apothecary bottle with wheat aromas. This Swedish brand is the perfect vodka on the rocks or in a cocktail.

When mixed in a cocktail, the sweet notes of the vodka really shine. 

Beluga Gold Line Vodka

Everything about Beluga Gold Line Vodka is luxurious and specialty, right down to the handmade bottle. The wire muzzle holds the cork and accentuates the delicate specialty bottle.

The rest period for Beluga Gold Line Vodka is 90 days, allowing it time to achieve its smooth taste and balanced structure.

Made from ingredients such as rice extract, Rhodiola Rosea extract, and purest artesian water, it's easy to understand how this is a refined vodka at the top of its class.

Belvedere

Vodka aficionados will argue over who first brought vodka to the marketplace, the Russians or the Polish. Either way, Belvedere is a polish vodka earning all its acclaim.

Belvedere gets made from Dankowskie Gold rye, then put through a quadruple distilling process. It's this process that makes Belvedere to be known for its ultra-smooth flavor.

Another feature worth noting for Belvedere vodka is that it's completely additive-free, including sugar or glycerin.

Cîroc Vodka

Cîroc Vodka is another celebrity entry into the liquor business. Sean "Diddy" Combs is a partner and big promoter of his vodka brand.

It's worth noting because of its unique flavor and quality. Unlike many vodkas, which get made from some type of grain, Cîroc Vodka comes from grapes from the Charente-Maritime region of France.

It's made using a charcoal filter and features a one-of-a-kind sweet, medium-bodied flavor profile. Cîroc is one of the best brands that has forayed into the flavored vodka market and done well.

It currently has seven flavored options, all painting the smooth, unique flavor of the original. If you're a Cîroc fan, you can also watch for limited-edition specialty flavors.

Crystal Head

Crystal Head gets its attention from both its fun skeleton head bottle and its unique, slightly sweet flavor. This Canadian vodka gets made from peaches and cream corn, giving the vodka its hint of sweetness.

Part of Crystal Head's distillery process includes being filtered through layers of quartz crystals known as Herkimer diamonds. Depending on the vodka drinker, fans notice hints of vanilla, peach, black pepper, lemon, and other fruits.

It's worth noting this brand comes from actor Dan Aykroyd and artist John Alexander who were responsible for designing the brand's iconic bottle to represent life.

Grey Goose

Grey Goose is a top-shelf vodka coming to the US from France and longtime Cellar Master Francois Thibault.

Somehow Thibault has mastered taking the two ingredients and turning them into this classic vodka brand. Grey Goose is made from single-origin Picardie wheat. Then spring water from their natural well in Gensac-la-Pallue is used with it.

Grey Goose is widely regarded by bartenders everywhere. The vodka brand also has a successful foray into infused flavored vodkas, including its three classic flavors of La Poire, L'Orange, and Le Citron.

The specialty flavors are infused with natural fruit and botanical essences and make additional flavors like Grey Goose L Orange Vodka, Watermelon & Basil, and White Peach & Rosemary, to name a few.

Ketel One

While many vodka brands boast about the standout flavors that are a part of their vodka, Ketel One is actually not that at all. Instead, it maintains a spot on this list because of its smooth taste that doesn't include excessive flavor notes.

It's a reliable vodka that is consistently good and has a lower price point than many of the other stars on this list. Many appreciate the clean, smooth flavors of Ketel One, making it a nice vodka to drink on the rocks or in simple cocktails like a martini.

Tito's

One of the most popular spirits brands coming from the US is Tito's. It's distilled in Austin, Texas, at the first legalized distillery since the era of Prohibition.

Tito's has garnered acclaim for several reasons. Many appreciate that it's gluten-free, being with corn. Others appreciate that it's made with the classic pot still method, which is rare for vodka makers. 

Tito's does have hints of sweetness with a black pepper taste, yet it's hugely popular for cocktail making, with its sweet and savory undertones.

Choose from the Best Brands of Vodka

Of all the types of liquor, including white rum, whiskey brands, tequila brands, and other different kinds of spirits, vodka is interesting because of all the different methods for distilling and ingredient choices.

Read more regarding the different types of tequila.

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