Vodka is currently the strongest alcohol in the world thanks to the brand Spirytus Rektyfikowanym which has 192 proof or 96% alcohol by volume. To compare, most vodkas have an ABV of 40%, while non-spirits like wine have an average of 11.6%. Due to the strength of Spirytus, it’s banned in some countries and American states. Black Cow & English Strawberry is a bright blend of smooth, creamy, round vodka mixed with locally sourced fruit from the United Kingdom.
Belvedere Intense 100 Proof
Overproof alcohol, or alcohol with over 50 percent ABV, has its own market. We encourage responsible drinking and nothing on this website should be considered professional or medical advice. Generally rectified spirit has a maximum limit of 97.2% ABV or a maximum level of 95.6% ABV when distilled using conventional processes. Georgie Darling specializes in writing about dining, travel, and fashion for Luxe Digital.
- Vodka is one of the world’s most popular spirits, yet very few people in the US seem to fully appreciate it.
- “It’s earthy, funky, and vegetal with a rich character.” He says it’s the vodka to reach for if you like your martinis big, bold, and garnished with a blue cheese–stuffed olive.
- As the world’s first pure milk vodka, the mouthfeel is creamy and complex.
- You can choose between its Lake Bartężek and Smogóry Forest versions, and each is noteworthy.
- The Swedish brand also has a noteworthy line of flavored vodkas, with the most iconic being Absolut Citron — a popular choice for whipping up a classic Cosmopolitan.
- Despite this country’s relative lack of fervor for vodka compared with, say, whiskey or gin, we surfaced with a surprisingly diverse selection of favorites.
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We can confidently say that Crystal Head has some of the best, most out-there packaging on the market. But this brand is about more than just good looks — and its products are tasty and versatile enough to keep you coming back for more. It’s an extremely prevalent top-shelf option, so you’ll have less trouble finding it when traveling or patronizing a liquor store with a limited selection. It’s a reliable standby that delivers on quality every time — as long as you’re willing to pay the price. Most people know that Tito’s vodka is popular, and we agree with the masses on this one. Tito’s is a Texas-made vodka made from corn — and people can’t get enough of it.
- According to Atlas Obscura, Americans have had a torrid love affair with vodka for decades.
- As one of the world’s most versatile spirits, a good, cheap vodka is a staple bottle, while a top-shelf vodka can be the perfect addition to a dinner party.
- One of the key selling points of this perennially popular clear liquor is the fact that it can go with and enhance just about anything.
- Quite frankly, we can’t think of anything Tito’s doesn’t work well for, making it an easy, versatile, and crowd-pleasing choice.
- It is very fruity, playing with citrus and orange freshness, as well as cucumber, raspberry, and green apple.
- According to the brand’s tasting notes, the Buddha’s Hand Citron is a deluxe upgrade to your typical lemon vodka with plenty of aromatics and flavor notes.
& Co Triple Distilled Vodka
With choices like Makrut Lime and Mandarin Blossom, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill, artificial-ingredient-laden shooters. There’s even a unique, aromatic, premium Distiller’s Exclusive Fennel Vodka. If you’re feeling adventurous, try it as the brand suggests with tonic, simple syrup, and rhubarb bitters. Beyond its classic version, Ketel One also offers a few simple flavors along with its Botanical line that contains zero added sugar or artificial ingredients. If you want to use a flavored product, this presents a good alternative to many other brands’ offerings. Each bottle of this vodka comes in its own individual small barrel that keeps it cool for about six hours at a hot temperature.
This American spirit has a big reputation and is famous for being practically tasteless. Despite Everclear being a pop culture hit (even inspiring the name of a rock band), its sale is illegal in multiple states including California and New York. The options are endless when you’ve got the best vodka on your bar cart. If you drink this, you need to do so with extreme caution as it could bring on serious side effects like alcohol poisoning. If you want to learn more about vodka, you can see our related posts on why vodka burns, the best chasers for vodka, and the pH level of vodka. In contrast, vodka with a proof of 90 or higher doesn’t get as much trouble getting approved, although they do face the danger of getting banned for being too powerful.
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If you’re a flavored vodka fan, Grey Goose offers a wide selection of such offerings, as well. We’re especially fond of the bottles in its Essences line which are infused with real fruit and botanicals. After you’ve stocked your home bar with a bottle of the stuff, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the kinds of drinks you can mix with Polmos Spirytus Rektyfikowany Vodka. If you have tasted Everclear, you have an idea of what this alcohol can offer.
Best over Ice
Instead, the vodka is smooth, rich, and has just the slightest hint of tang and pepper (via Kástra Elión). It’s a great vodka to stir into your next Bloody Mary or enjoy shaken, not stirred, in a martini. Although their filtering and distillation process is top-secret (via Khor), the team of master distillers does use copper pots and stills to remove any and all impurities out of their vodkas. The result is a product packed with unadulterated, pure vodka taste and devoid of any distractions. We recommend enjoying it ice-cold and neat or over whisky rocks so that you can get the full impact of this great spirit.
And I was a judge on the gin panel at the American Distilling Institute’s International Spirits Competition in April 2023. If you want to imbibe, but you prefer not to taste a lot of alcohol, Stolichnaya Vodka is mild, neutral, and easily muted. On its own, it finishes quickly and has pleasant notes of cool aloe, fresh lime, and peppery nettles. But when mixed with other ingredients or served over ice, it fades into the background. Right out of the bottle, Pinnacle Vodka tastes remarkably close to a dirty or vermouth-forward martini.
According to company information, each bottle of Żubrówka has specially dried blades of bison grass from the Białowieża forest infused during the distillation process. Evidently, this delectable grass is harvested from the wild by specialized “pickers,” making Żubrówka Bison Grass vodka even more intriguing. The mineral edge makes it a great vodka to drink with a sprig of rosemary tucked inside. You can also enjoy it on the rocks as a tasting vodka or neat if you don’t want to dilute it. If you’re sampling Ocean Vodka in its native Hawaii, swap out ice for whiskey rocks that won’t melt on you in the hot sun. If you prefer your vodka mixed rather than straight or on the rocks, Hangar 1 pairs perfectly with rich herbal drinks or light fruit cocktails.
It’s no surprise that the perfect accompaniment to a vodka made from glacial water is ice. While we’d be happy to sip this vodka on the rocks any day, it also makes an excellent dry martini. Despite the craftsmanship that goes into this vodka — and strong vodkas the fact that it tastes as good or better than most ultra-premium options — it’s still reasonably priced.
Made with Swedish water and Swedish winter wheat, Absolut Vodka is a premium Swedish vodka that can be enjoyed in countless ways, from neat to straight-up sipping. Owned by renowned designer Leon Verres, Billionaire Vodka is the most expensive vodka brand in the world. As well as being produced with an original Russian recipe, the spirit is filtered with diamonds. It comes decorated with almost two thousand diamonds set in gold and, despite the price tag, is sold out worldwide. However, watch out for potential cross-contamination and hidden gluten in vodkas that may add flavorings or other ingredients after distillation. For flavored vodkas, it can be more difficult to fully guarantee that flavored ingredients haven’t come in contact with any trace of allergens during the suppliers’ production processes.
