The word vodka is derived from the Slavic word for “little water,” and is meant to capture the essence of the original description of the spirit, “aqua vitae” or “water of life.” The first time the word shows up in documents is in Poland in the 1400s. Though only appearing in the 15th century in writing, there is little doubt that the spirit was being produced at least by the 9th century, primarily for medicinal use.

Although there is still a great amount of disagreement and debate, it seems more than likely that vodka traveled from Poland to Russia probably sometime in the 14th century. Even if the Russians didn’t invent vodka, they have certainly made it their own, as vodka has come to be identified especially with Russia and Russian culture. Several other countries in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia also adapted and adopted vodka as one of the spirits of choice. Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Russia make up what is commonly called the “vodka belt.” These countries represent the places where traditional methods for producing the spirit first started and were refined.

The Worldwide Vodka Market

Vodka consumption and production is no longer confined to the countries of the vodka belt. In fact, the most popular spirit consumed in the United States is not whiskey, but vodka. And vodka makes up about 29% of the total spirits sold around the world in the multi-billion dollar global liquor market. Today, the leading vodka producers by volume include the United States, the Netherlands, and France, alongside the traditional producers Poland and Russia. In France and the United States, distillers are also pioneering the use of alternative raw materials to craft their spirits.

Vodka Trends

There are a number of different trends in the vodka market today:

Premiumization

Premiumization refers to the marriage of luxury and exclusivity with mass marketing. Over the last couple of decades, the liquor world has seen several high-priced ultra-premium vodkas come to market.  Vodkas like Grey Goose have marketed themselves as luxurious ultra-premium vodkas that are worth the extra cost because the raw materials they use are unique, their production process guarantees a better quality spirit, and their packaging is beautiful. Though the market has started to move back towards more reasonably priced vodkas, premiumization is a marketing and production strategy that is here to stay.

Flavoring

It would be a mistake to say that flavored vodka is currently a new trend, since mass appeal for flavored vodka really started about 30 years ago under the leadership of vodkas like Absolut. Thankfully, the trend for more and more bizarre flavors petered out. (I mean, do we really need bubble-gum flavored vodka?) Recently, though, flavored vodka has made a bit of a comeback, though the flavor profiles featured have comes almost exclusively from nature. Lemons, apples, honey, spices, these and other flavor additives have made a strong push back into the market.One of the most unique sub-trends in this resurgence has been the use of botanicals. Marketed as a healthy alternative, these vodkas are using mint, cucumber, and orange blossom to bring new and energetic flavors to the vodka market.

Small Batch Craft Vodka

Like the craft beer craze, vodka has recently seen a number of small batch producers appear on the scene. From Japan to England to Iceland to the US, these producers are often focused on keeping in the flavors that are sometimes removed through more industrialized distillation methods.

Alternative Raw Materials

Most folks don’t realize it, but vodka was not originally produced using potatoes. Rather, grains (usually wheat or rye) and sugar beet molasses have been the staple base materials from which the ethanol alcohol in vodka is produced.But vodka can actually be made from any sugar- or starch-rich plant matter, including potatoes, corn, grapes, and even soybeans. This fact actually caused a bit of a ruckus in 2007 when a disagreement over whether spirits produced using non-traditional materials could really be called vodka.

An agreement was reached in favor of the non-traditionalists and since then the market has seen a proliferation in the use of alternative raw materials. On the flip side, using alternative materials has also freed up distillers to experiment in new ways, resulting in many new and unique vodkas coming to the market.

Methodology

Our ranking is based on a meta-data analysis of reviews from industry experts, vodka lovers, and mixologists. And, of course, because we take our methodology very seriously, we tested the vodkas ourselves. We then created a scoring system to generate this list of the best vodkas. In our analysis, we found the following categories essential for our rankings:

• Price: Some vodkas are expensive and not worth it. Some cheap vodkas are basically paint thinner. And then there are a rare few vodkas that are worth just as much — or more — than you’ll pay for it. 
• Mixability: Vodka is an essential ingredient in any number of cocktails. You want to make sure your vodka mixes well!
• Flavor and finish: If you’re new to the world of vodka, you might be surprised how much variability there is in flavor and texture. Why not find a good vodka that pleases the palate?
• Production process: Distillation, filtration, raw materials — they do make a difference in the final product.

Check out our list before you purchase your next bottle of spirits!

What is the best vodka to drink straight?

When drinking vodka straight, flavors, aroma, and finish are all essential characteristics to keep in mind. A popularly quoted definition is that good vodka should be “tasteless, odorless, and colorless,” but vodka can and does have unique flavors and aromas. Most of these flavors are the result of the combination of the production process (i.e., distillation, and filtration), the raw material (i.e., the primary plant matter from which the spirit is fermented and the water source used), and various additives or infused flavors.

Wheat- or grain-based vodkas will often have a well-developed grain taste. Hard water with more minerals tends to impart a more mineral after-taste. Almost all vodkas include some form of additives, and one of the most popular is honey.  If flavor and aroma are especially associated with base ingredients, the finish tends to correlate to the vodka’s production process. Distillation and filtration processes can lead to a smooth finish, which is very desirable for sipping. Additives like honey and spices can also add to the overall quality of the finish.

Chilling your vodka is a surefire way to increase the smoothness of your spirit as it goes down. When choosing the best vodka to drink straight, you will generally want to avoid almost any vodka that comes in a plastic bottle, because those spirits are generally of lower quality. However, you can find some great low-priced vodkas that are good for sipping straight, like Russian Standard, that come close to ultra-premium vodkas like Stolichnaya Elit.

What is the healthiest vodka brand?

This feels like a trick question. To be sure, any alcohol that is over-consumed is not good for you. According to some doctors and healthcare experts, spirits should be avoided altogether. But, if consumed in moderation, vodka, like any spirit, can be enjoyed with minimal risks to your health. People who live outside the countries of the so-called vodka belt tend to drink vodka in mixed drinks. And mixed drinks tend to be loaded with sodium and sugar. So, if you want to talk about the best or healthiest way to consume vodka, it’s going to be sipping it straight or on the rocks.

Among the vodkas with the lowest calorie count are Ketel One, Absolut, Belvedere, and Stolichnaya, all of which have about 96 calories per 1.5 ounce shot. Ketel One has also recently launched a series of flavored vodkas that feature botanical infusions, which they advertise as “diet vodka.”

There are also vodkas that are distilled from non-GMO organic plant materials, like wheat, rye, and sugar cane. In addition, if you have any trouble with gluten, there are a number of gluten-free options. Potato-based vodkas are the best gluten-free choice. In the end, what will make your consumption of vodka healthy is if you moderate and drink responsibly!  

What should good vodka taste like?

Taste is definitely in the eye (tongue?) of the beholder — though I think most vodka drinkers can agree on the difference between good quality vodka and paint thinner. Taste profiles can be determined by a number of factors, like production process, raw materials, and any flavor infusions or additives.

Traditional vodka producers located in places like Poland and Russia tend to prefer more robust tastes, which are the result of water with a higher mineral content. These “old world” vodkas are often distilled from raw materials like potatoes. But it’s important to remember that vodka was not originally distilled from potatoes. Instead, it was first distilled from grains or sugar beet molasses (potatoes only made their way to Europe in the 16th century).

The taste profile of vodka is much like other spirits or alcoholic beverages. There’s an initial or entry taste, a flavor that becomes dominant once the spirit has coated the mouth, and then a final finishing flavor. Peppers and other spices, vanilla, lemon, orange or citrus, and hints of grain or vegetative material can all be part of the flavor profile of a vodka. Deciding which you prefer is a very personal decision. However, a smooth finish is probably going to be very desirable for most drinkers.

What is the best vodka?

How do you decide what the best vodka is? Do you want a vodka steeped in tradition, or one that represents innovation and experimentation? Does “best” mean most popular, or best-selling? Or does it have to do with flavor and aroma? Or maybe it has to do with the base ingredients and additives?

To help you choose what the best vodka is for your personal tastes, we have created a ranking divided up into a number of sub-categories: Best Russian Vodka, Best Flavored Vodka, Best Potato Vodka, and Best Cheap Vodka. To create this ranking, we assessed each spirit based on the following categories:

• Price: With the move to bring more high-priced vodkas to market, it’s especially worthwhile to weigh whether or not a vodka is overpriced.
• Mixability: Vodka can be consumed straight or in mixed drinks, so making sure that your vodka is flexible is important.
• Flavor and finish: Does it actually taste good, and is it smooth going down? Or is it a bit like drinking gasoline?
• Production process: The ingredients and methods of production can and do affect the quality of your vodka.

These and other factors led us to choose Stolichnaya Elit as the best overall vodka. Before you plan your next run to the liquor store to stock up on your favorite spirits, check out our list!