Vodka ranks second only to whisky among the world’s best-selling spirits. People buy more than 126 million cases every year, not counting moonshine. And in terms of strength, it has no equal. For example, the Polish brand Wratislavia Spirytus consists of 96% alcohol.
What is vodka?
In simple terms, vodka is a diluted ethyl alcohol produced from raw materials. Today, people produce and consume vodka worldwide, and it’s used in a wide range of cocktails and mixed drinks. Because of its relatively neutral taste and aroma, vodka is also commonly used as a base spirit for flavored varieties and infusions. However, it is important to consume vodka in moderation, as excessive consumption can lead to adverse health effects.
Each country has its own requirements for the drink’s base. In Ukraine, alcohol is distilled from grain crops. In Belarus, potatoes are used alongside grain, whereas in Poland and Germany, potatoes are used exclusively. In other EU countries and in America, any raw vegetable material is allowed. For example, in Minnesota, you can taste beet alcohol.
The choice of raw materials affects the taste:
- Wheat imparts a soft character to the drink, with notes of bread and a citrus aftertaste.
- Barley leaves a full-bodied feel, with an apple-like aftertaste.
- Corn has sweetness and floral flavor.
- Rye is spicy, with vegetable undertones.
- Potatoes impart a buttery, earthy flavor.
Regarding the raw materials, the drink’s strength requirements vary. In CIS countries, it is 40-45%. Here, fortified vodka has an alcohol content of 50-56%. In the European Union, this indicator starts at 37.5% and has no upper limit. This allowed Wratislavia Spirytus to avoid cultivating raw materials like potatoes and grains.
The brewing process proceeds roughly as follows:
- The fermented base undergoes rectification or distillation to separate pure alcohol from impurities. As a result of repeated evaporation and condensation, a product with up to 96% strength is obtained.
- The alcohol is mixed with pre-treated water.
- The resulting composition is filtered.
- Flavored alcohols (infused with herbs, pepper, honey, rye bread) are added.
Finally, the fully finished product is filtered again and bottled.
Absolut (Sweden)
This distillate is among the top three bitters and is sold in 120 countries worldwide. At one time, selling the state producer to the Pernod Ricard concern allowed it to cover the country’s foreign debt. The first drink appeared at the end of the 19th century and was characterized by continuous multiple distillation.
The logo, rendered in large letters with a dot, conveys full flavor and superiority over competitors. The bottle serves as the basis for various artistic additions that decorate the drink. Dried fruits and cereals, which form the basis of the alcoholic bouquet, are supplemented with artesian water.
Armenia Pomegranate (Armenia)
By appearance and taste, Armenia Wine’s Armenian composition is not immediately identifiable as wine or vodka; the producer infuses pomegranate peel into “Lux” alcohol, imparting a distinctive color and flavor. Adding sugar syrup further alters its organoleptic properties. Such vodka is considered fruity. It is soft, sweet, and slightly tart. The alcohol is barely noticeable, and the pomegranate flavor is pronounced. The drink is transparent with a crimson tint. The pomegranate logo emphasizes the vodka’s unusual composition.
Beluga (Russia)
A line of malt vodkas. After distillation, the alcohol is mixed with Siberian water from an artesian well 300 meters deep. Three months of sedimentation helps develop persistent combinations and flavors. Sand-silver filtration guarantees maximum safety. Honey and milk thistle are included to support health and reduce the alcoholic flavor.
The container design and logo repeat the name; the bottle depicts a beluga, a northern-hemisphere inhabitant.
Belvedere (Poland)
Polish rye drink has a sharp, structured flavor. After distillation, the alcohol retains cereal-characteristic notes. Artesian water is purified 11 times, making it among the purest waters used in the industry. The logo depicts the city’s oldest distillery, where the brand has been packaged since 1993. As part of the LVMH luxury group, the brand receives special attention for its quality and advertising.
Belver Bears (Poland)
A bottle with a bear makes a great gift if you have $ 7,000. This is how much elite alcohol costs in an unusual bottle with blue illumination. It was created especially for VIP halls of the Cannes Film Festival. Therefore, the main thing here is the entourage. Otherwise, elite alcohol meets all the usual standards. A pleasant bonus is the insistence on citrus fruits.
BlaVod (England)
The first black vodka is unique among transparent vodka varieties. It appeared in 1996. Its distinctive feature is a dye derived from black acacia. The flavor is alcoholic, velvety, and spicy. The black logo with red lettering fits perfectly into the image of an unusual alcohol.
Chambord (France)
Much more famous is the raspberry-and-blackberry liqueur of the same name, which the French kings drank. The company’s vodka is a similar product made with blackberries and hibiscus, but stronger. The logo, a crown-bearing seal, attests to the drink’s antiquity and its suitability for the monarchs’ table.
Chase (England)
The English orange-flavored alcoholic drink is ideal for the holiday table. The brand’s page shows how vodka is made, with the process demonstrated live. The brand’s logo is fresh, modern, and elegant, and its image-building approach matches.
Ciroc (France)
Cold fermentation of French grapes from the village of Cordes-sur-Ciel creates a unique base for vodka production. Small copper distillation cubes maximize flavor retention. The logo’s large, exquisite blue letters denote the grape bouquet of the strong alcohol.
Cristall (Russia)
In 1987, the famous Moscow plant, where “Stolichnaya” was developed and “Moskovskaya Special” was bottled, was taken into private ownership and was named “Kristall.” This date can be considered the lineup’s birth year, which includes five drink types: Kristall, Pure Kristall, Moscow Plant Kristall Premium, and Staraya Moskva. In 2016-18, the plant and the recipe underwent a complete renewal.
The flagship drink CRYSTALL has a strong, quite sharp flavor. It is considered a vodka classic. Grain alcohol contains no additives and is characterized by a grain-alcohol flavor with slight bitterness. Alkosfot adds lactulose, which helps protect the liver and reduces hangover severity.
The design emphasizes the Russian Empire’s crown. It appears on the cap, label, and logo, and on the bottle’s transforming top. The emblem commemorates the producer’s centennial history, dating back to Emperor Nicholas II.
Crystal Head (England)
You can’t miss the skull-shaped bottle. Yes, and the logo resembles the era’s inscription, when decapitation was common. However, this whole entourage has nothing to do with a fine recipe. The Canadian spirit is made from fermented sweet corn and local water. It is distilled, filtered the traditional way, passed through 10,000 semi-precious stones, and then through an additional filter. The result is a kosher alcohol with a creamy, slightly citrusy flavor.
Danzka (Denmark)
After fermentation, hard wheat varieties undergo Scandinavian distillation in 6 columns. The producer held a long-term monopoly in the Danish market, so its products became the country’s face. And DANZKA was designed to incorporate all the characteristics and flavors of Denmark. The red logo suggests the drink is the homeland’s heart. Although the local distillery no longer owns it, it still incorporates the best of Danish technology and production secrets.
Diva (Scotland)
Scottish wheat drink of triple distillation. Its main highlight is filtering crushed gemstones through sand. This purification is believed to be superior to charcoal filtration and imparts a distinctive flavor. To highlight the vodka’s high quality, the manufacturer adds a few valuable stones to the bottle. This significantly increases the drink’s price and gives it a royal design. A graceful inscription on the logo underscores the drink’s refinement.
Finlandia (Finland)
The pretentious name reflects the recipe common to most Finnish vodkas: six-core barley and glacier meltwater. Hence, the softness and purity of flavor have been appreciated since the 1970s. Another pleasant surprise is the lack of hangover. Reindeer and red sun are also common logos for Scandinavian products.
Five (UK)
The number in the name denotes the number of distillations in a Penderyn cube, yielding a strength of 43%. One ingredient is malt alcohol, which imparts a pungent rye aftertaste with fruity sweetness. The product has a laconic design: a black bottle with the Roman numeral V.
Grey Cardinal (Lithuania)
Bitter is produced in Lithuania at the factory opened in 1906. Technologies and raw materials were borrowed from different parts of the world. Organic wheat is grown in Italy; water is sourced from the purest European sources; packaging is produced in France; and linen filters were developed in Lithuania. The result is a very balanced drink. Keys with the royal symbol in the logo “opened” the door to the vodka’s universal recognition.
Grey Goose (France)
The French brand is made from wheat and is widely regarded as one of the best. The line includes classic and flavored versions with lemon, orange, ripe pear, nuts, and chocolate. There are six varieties in total. The main product is clear and buttery, with a macaroon aftertaste.
Although the brand is registered in France, its founder is a native American. He specifically came to the Cognac region to produce the finest vodka for the United States. The distillery draws water from the Alps and cultivates a variety of grains ideal for producing strong alcohol.
A blend of winter wheat is taken into production. The distillery distills the variety five times and passes it through copper filters to soften it. The original bottle, featuring a large image of a goose, is sealed with a real cork that preserves the drink’s flavors. The flying-bird logo matches the brand’s style.
The brand first appeared in 1996; a year later, Grey Goose was recognized as the world’s best vodka. That is why the large corporation Bacardi bought this brand.
Hlebnik (Poland)
The emblem, a coat of arms with a large letter “P,” is the trademark of the drink’s creator, Boris Rodionov, who developed the recipe in 1866. The alcohol is bottled in vessels molded to resemble old pharmacy containers used to store medicines and herbs. This emphasizes the product’s age.
The recipe resembles that of semigar, a type of malt distillate that served as the progenitor of Russian vodka. Three-fold distillation in a copper cube enhances the spirit’s organoleptic properties. It has notes of malt, linden honey, bread, and spices, with a long, warm aftertaste.
J.J. Kurberg (Estonia)
One of Estonia’s mood-enhancing beverages. The bright yellow-orange color is warm and pleasant. It warms you up and promises a rich flavor profile. The recipe was developed by a pharmacist in the late 19th century. The medicine is made from herbal infusions, with hops as the dominant ingredient. As a result, the drink calms, improves sleep, and normalizes mood. The alcohol is considered organic.
The vodka was named in honor of the inventor. Production is still carried out on the estate that KURBERG purchased. But modernized and renamed. The label and logo look like an old pharmacy prescription. J.J. Vodka. KURBERG is produced in a limited edition, so the cost per liter is higher than average.
JJ Whitley Artisanal (England)
The hot drink deserves close attention because it is made from alpha-alcohols, which not all manufacturers offer. Another advantage is its 18th-century recipe, one of the oldest. An apple infusion is added to wheat alcohol. The product then stands before bottling. The embossed bottle and logo feature a blossoming apple tree. A dark green hue enlivens the emblem.
Ketel One (Holland)
The alcohol is prepared unusually. Wheat vodka wort is first distilled in a column, and then part of it is distilled in special 19th-century copper pots, after which the drink is named. After combining both parts, bringing it to 40 degrees, and filtering, the result is a spirit with floral notes and a slight tingling of the mucous membranes. The Dutch masterpiece was created for cocktails, but it is perfectly drinkable on its own. The vintage inscription on the Ketel One logo attests to the recipe’s venerable age.
Koskenkorva (Finland)
This spring water barley distillate is named after the district where the Altia Group produces it. It ranks second in popularity among Finnish vodkas. It takes 18,000 grains to make 1 liter, and the strength increases in 250 stages. It should be noted that it uses a closed cycle and maximum self-sufficiency. The company has field pumping stations, and barley husks are burned to obtain energy for internal processes. The flamboyant logo is set in an unusual font, which underscores the drink’s originality.
Krolewska (Poland)
The brand was launched in 1994 at the Polmos Distillery. The product is made from elite rye grain alcohol harvested in the country’s cleanest regions. The wort undergoes triple distillation. This yields a softer, almost creamy flavor that sets it apart from ordinary rye products.
The sleek, elongated bottle with a long base, bright red cork, and label feels elegant and graceful, as the name suggests. The label depicts the very ancient St. Mary’s Church located in Krakow. This stunning place of truly royal beauty captures the city’s spirit.
Laplandia (Finland)
True Nordic vodka is not just premium but super-premium. The reindeer and golden sun on the logo confirm that. The idea for its creation was the purity and virginity of Finnish nature. It contains lake water that has been naturally purified over thousands of years through layers of sand. The alcohol is obtained from wheat grown on organic family farms. The wort undergoes a seven-fold rectification cycle. After blending, the drink ages for a month, then passes through cartridge filters.
Moses Date (Finland)
The matte bottle, featuring an image of Moses in prayer before whom the waters of the Nile part, transforms the brand into a work of art. The choice of subject matter signals to Jews that the product is kosher and was designed to celebrate Passover. The Jewish celebration of the Israelites’ exit from Egypt.
The alcohol is weaker than usual (32%) and contains not only ethyl alcohol from wheat but also cane sugar. The latter imparts a date-like flavor.
Neft (Austria)
Looking at the distillate’s design, you immediately realize this is an unusual drink. The spirit is bottled in miniature black oil barrels, each bearing a similar logo. This holiday entourage in the barrel is crystal-clear grain vodka with an aftertaste of meadow grasses and bitter almonds. The liquid is rectified for 50 hours, as the range of hues shows. The line also includes red-and-white oil with the corresponding package design.
Nemiroff (Ukraine)
Ukrainian honey-cumin vodka, known worldwide, has been produced in the city of the same name for over 150 years. Its modern recipe was introduced in 1997, and after 10 years, it was recognized as one of the world’s best. The lineup includes various varieties, such as honey-flavored and pepper-flavored. The alcohol is filtered through birch charcoal. The unusual relief bottle design and winged logo speak to originality, the drink’s lightness, and the soft taste typical of honey-based products.
Nordic (Finland)
The bottle’s design, featuring snowflakes and snowy landscapes, suggests the drink is produced in Finland’s cold lands. The impression is further enhanced by a logo featuring a compass and the signature “Nordic Cold.”
The barley spirit is made from six major grain varieties. A long rectification process yields up to 200 purifications. The water is taken from a glacial spring in a remote Finnish village. The drink takes on a very light barley flavor with a hint of licorice.
Pincer Shanghai Strength (Scotland)
The strongest drink has an alcohol content of almost 89 degrees. The Scots produce it for the Chinese market. Of course, you can’t drink it undiluted. The black logo is central, and the image of a dried thistle indicates that the composition uses this plant’s extract.
Purity (Sweden)
Since its introduction in 2007, the drink has received more than 200 awards. What makes PURITY vodka special? First, it’s organic. The alcohol is produced from raw materials grown without chemical inputs. Secondly, distillation using specialized equipment enhances the product’s taste.
Swedish master blender Thomas Kuuttanen helped develop the technology. He founded the distillery in an ancient castle near a healing spring and drew production water from its artesian wells.
Wheat-barley spirit is distilled in copper and gold rectification columns up to 51 times. The slow process takes up to 3 days and produces a rich aftertaste. The layered-letter logo indicates this process. After mixing the spirit with water, the spirit is not filtered, as both components are pure. The final mixture is slightly viscous and sweet.
The brand offers three products with different distillation levels. It is recommended to be consumed diluted with pure water, with the addition of zest or juice.
Rain (USA)
The drop-shaped bottle immediately draws attention to the American product. The logo, with drops and the inscription “water,” reinforces the impression of crystal purity and transparency.
RAIN vodka is corn-based, typical of strong American spirits. The spirit undergoes seven distillations, which minimize the taste of alcohol. The variety is filtered through carbon dust and diamonds to achieve perfect purity.
Reyka (Iceland)
The distillery, which produces vodka, is owned by the renowned Scotch whisky producer William Grant & Sons. The company’s products are always unusual, and REYKA is no exception.
The Icelandic product has a rich, multifaceted taste with smoky, anise-like tarragon notes. The name suits it. REYKA means “smoke.” The water used in the product is sourced near an active volcano. As a result, smoke rises from hot springs, the air smells of smoked meats, and a constant haze hangs over the distillery. The water, filtered through the lava, takes on a useful composition and becomes purified.
The alcohol is produced from Scottish barley and wheat. Distillation occurs in a specially designed copper apparatus. Subsequently, the lava is filtered through pulverized lava. After mixing with water, the vodka is bottled. The result is a distinctive alcoholic beverage, and gastronomic tourists do not pass it by without trying it.
The drink’s logo is simple and clean, just like its ingredients.
Russian Standard (Russia)
Water from Ladoga Lake springs and winter wheat put the drink on par with most elite spirits. Four filtrations and a second pass through carbon filters ensure a smooth, easy drink. The lineup has four varieties: Original, Gold, Platinum, and Empire. The last one is the most luxurious, with 8-fold distillation. The bear and the eagle on the logo are symbols of Russia, known worldwide.
Russo-Baltique (Russia)
The most expensive brand, which includes a machine gun as a gift, features a vessel made of bulletproof glass with yellow-and-white gold trim. The automaton’s logo medallion completes the look.
SKYY (USA)
In America, this brand ranks first in sales and fifth worldwide. Unlike the usual corn vodkas in the US, SKYY is made from wheat, giving it a distinctive flavor. The classic blend is quadruple distilled and triple-filtered. Bay water gives the alcohol an American flavor. The drink comes in a bottle as blue as the sky, and the name and logo resemble clouds floating in it.
Smirnoff (England)
The world’s best vodka is made with raw materials sourced in Scotland, and birch charcoal is used for filtration. The recipe dates back to the early 19th century, when the Smirnoff family owned the factory. The world owes the masterpiece its appearance to them. Russia lost the rights to the recipe during the revolution, when Smirnov left the country and sold his secret abroad. The Diageo group now owns the brand. Only the logo remains. The double-headed eagle, as if carved from ice and silver and crowned with a victorious red ribbon, testifies to the drink’s greatness and renown.
Soplica (Poland)
Polish organic vodka has been produced at the Gniezno plant since 1888. The name comes from a poem and is the main character’s surname. The company’s founder, Mr. Kasprowicz, sought to capture Polish spirit and history in this line. The logo features an old manor house and a signature that preserves traditions passed down through generations. The bottles have special embossing to deter counterfeiting.
The classic 40% variant is prepared on grain alcohol. Other drinks in the line are produced with fruit and herb additives and more closely resemble tinctures and liqueurs, with an alcohol content of 28%. During rectification, they add molasses and spirit juices. The full recipe is kept secret.
Stolichnaya (Russia)
The right to use the trademark “Stolichnaya” is in serious dispute, as it is the most famous Russian drink brand, with a history dating back to the USSR. Now, the vodka is produced at the private plant “Kristall.” The label is decorated with gilding, which conveys an air of elitism, and the upward-facing logo suggests improving quality each year.
According to the recipe, “Lux” alcohol is filtered with charcoal and quartz sand. Refined sugar is added in the final stage, thereby eliminating the spirit’s pungent flavor.
Summum (France)
The Cognac region of France proved ideal not only for producing the eponymous drink but also for a range of premium alcohols. The vodka’s name, translated as “top,” says it all; it’s one of the best on the market. The distillery slowly mixes rectified wheat alcohol with pure water every two weeks. This process gives the drink an airy, silky texture with notes of vanilla and wheat. There is a bitter aftertaste, as with most strong-grain varieties.
Beyond the classics, the brand offers lemon vodka and pepper vodka. The logo radiates sharpness, coldness, and crystal clarity.
Svedka (Sweden)
This vodka has notes of soft grain alcohol, ocean breeze, and sweet citrus. The brand sourced its raw materials in southern Sweden and distilled them five times. The brand’s largest consumer is the USA, where it is appreciated for its pleasant flavor profile. The large logo is designed to distinguish the drink on the counter as truly Swedish.
Three Olives (England)
The vodka was launched in London in 1998. The crown logo immediately conveys the country of origin and the alcohol’s high quality. Made from winter wheat, the drink undergoes four distillations that soften the flavor and add mineral notes. The water used in production is sourced from Lake Wales. The cocktail lineup includes 35% ABV flavored versions.
Vermont Spirits White (USA)
This vodka brand epitomizes the spirit of Vermont. It is handcrafted from Vermont maple trees. Maple wort is used to produce vodka, which is already unusual among grain spirits. Distillation units are customized. The tree-shaped logo is recognizable and memorable. It indicates an unusual raw material.
Vincent (Holland)
Vodka is named after a famous artist. Its brushstroke logo resembles the element “Starry Night”. It is based on a blend of the finest wheat spirits from France, Germany, and the Netherlands. On the palate, wheat notes are paired with a mineral finish.
The collection includes a classic version and a line of fruit-flavored products (apple, berries, orange, pineapple) for different sensations. The products are the basis for a wide range of cocktails.
Vox (Holland)
The drink is prepared at an ancient distillery opened in 1828. Vodka from the Netherlands is distilled five times to achieve a mild flavor. The tall, elongated letters of the logo indicate the container’s shape and the spirit’s production from the finest ingredients. The mixture of wheat alcohol and pure water is considered classic in vodka, so the bread-like flavor and slight bitterness will appeal to connoisseurs of the natural drink.